the homeowner loves. “For me, the atypical part of this project is the number of plants,” Westwood says, noting that the large urns around the pool contain nine different species alone. “There are probably over 50 different kinds of plants in the design. It’s based on geometry and shape.” Westwood traveled across the state to Homestead to visit growers and select unique options, ones that don’t normally make their way onto Naples lawns. “I was like a kid in the candy shop. If the client is open to it, you can try new, exciting things.” As much as Mross encouraged Westwood to bring in unusual plants in addition to more typical hibiscus and palm trees, there was one thing he would not have—mulch. “I hate mulch,” Mross says, pointing to the black pebbles that frame the neatly edged beds. “I hate a mess.” Westwood says the stones and edging have the bonus of making the landscaping easier to maintain while providing clear, clean lines. Throughout, Westwood worked to have the landscaping accessorize the architecture. “In all spaces, there are columns, gates, forming little vignettes,” he says. One element in the garden that didn’t need Westwood’s enhancement is the stainless steel sculpture by artist Peter Calaboyias,
EARTHLY DELIGHTS: At least 50 species of plants, including rare palms and succulents, thrive on the Mross property in manicured, often symmetrical patterns to cultivate a feeling of texture and depth.
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