"Bernardo, the garden is absolutely wonderful — I love everything about it, and honestly think it’s one of the most beautiful gardens I’ve seen anywhere. The use of space is masterful, the change in levels makes it feel so much bigger, and there are so many fine places to hang out. The variation in texture and color and mood is amazing in such a small space, and it’s a pleasure to garden in. We’re very grateful to you for your beautiful design, careful execution and attention to details. So, thank you.”
Michael Pollan
28 Sep Berkeleyside
LOCAL GARDEN DESIGN FIRM CREATES URBAN RETREAT There is a new garden in North Berkeley its residents have lovingly named their “sanctuary garden.” Despite being adjacent to a fairly trafficked street, Justine Ganzenmuller and Christian Humann can step outside their home and – thanks to many layers of tall, softly swaying foliage and the gentle babble of a lotus-filled fountain and pond – feel like they’ve escaped the stresses of daily life.
“Thanks to Bernardo, our garden now is gorgeous and serene and gives us pleasure every single day. We removed almost everything from the old yard and started from scratch. I was so impressed with how Bernardo walked into the garden and immediately saw through the mess and knew exactly how to make it beautiful. The new space is low maintenance, drought tolerant, and incredibly elegant.”
SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE (HOME & GARDEN)
AN AUTHOR'S GARDEN OF EATIN'
Lopez shows off freshly harvested late-season vegetables — important for the garden of an advocate of locally produced food.
“Garden design” is just the beginning. With his aesthetic and his Dream Team, Bernardo took what was once my “back patio” and turned it into another room of my house. No, it wasn’t painful. No, it didn’t take any longer or cost any more than he quoted. (Well, except for when I was so thrilled with what I saw that I expanded the project—twice). And YES. It was a delight to work with people who never missed their marks.”
SECRET GARDENS OF THE EAST BAY (2007)
An innovative house remodel set the wheels in motion for the creation of a new garden. What was once a lush backyard of a classic bungalow is now an elegant, private hideaway, artfully integrated with a modernist perspective by landscape designer Bernardo Lopez. “Enter. Gather. Dream. Chill.” These words Lopez uses to capture the experiences he elicits in his gardens are here an invitation to enjoy with limited space a compound he has created for himself and his family.
“It was such a pleasure to work with Bernardo and his team. Bernardo had a vision which he was able to articulate—but I admit the result was better than I imagined. I really love the combination of steel framed planters, large boulders, and native plants. My house and landscape work together and fit the local area so beautifully. Every day I see people who stop to look at the plants, many of whom ask me about the work, and I have made new friends through the beauty of my new gardens.”