The Daily Dig

If your going to have to have a fence, you might as well do it right, and while on a walk through one of my favorite Southern California neighborhoods, a swank collection of "Rancho Style" homes developed by architect Cliff May, I discovered a number of homes that have really done a fantastic job with the fences and plantings across the front of their yards.

Not only were the fences made of handsome and durable materials, I also really like the way they held the fence far enough back from the sidewalk to do a substantial planting of interesting plants that help soften the feeling of the fence, and in some cases adds another layer of protection from the street, (reads sharp agave or cactus) as a natural deterrent.

I was also impressed with the use technique and rage of materials employed in the actual fence construction. Wood applied horizontally, cinder block coated with stucco, and the mix use of concrete and sheet metal.

Give these Agave attenuata a few years and this will be looking really nice.

I really like the contrasts in colors here and the directional lines in the verigated foliage and the horizontal lines of the fencing.

Thinking another layer of stucco could be added here...

I really like the sliver on sliver on silver going on here with the sheet metal, agave and palm.

For more on the Cliff May Rancho Style visit

http://www.ranchostyle.com/