Salvage secrets

Recycled materials and colorful, graphic plants add whimsical punch to Bob Buchbinder and Lynn Pearson’s San Francisco backyard. In the center, landscape designers James Pettigrew and Sean Stout (organicmechanics.us) created a one-of-a-kind patio that’s 16 feet in diameter and made of granite remnants—mostly dumpster finds—mixed with sewer caps and bricks. In its center is a wood-burning firepit fashioned from an old metal wok that sits on a steel base that Bob made. From the patio, gently curving paths lead to a secluded bench, a restored shed-turned-backyard-getaway, and a dining area covered with a living roof of passion vines. Throughout, the lush plants need little care or water but look good year-round.

More: 7 ways to design a sustainable garden