Sonoma garden is a country retreat

After living too long on a postage stamp­-size lot, landscape designer Richard William Wogisch unleashed what he calls his "30-year-old desire to have a real garden" when he purchased a hilltop home overlooking the Sonoma Valley.

To maximize the view, he cleared out overgrown trees and shrubs. Then he developed a series of garden rooms using plants and materials that reflect the surrounding area's agricultural nature.

"I wanted a very regional feel," he says.

Although the garden's various plantings have different design themes ― a Mediterranean bed, a contemporary English border, and succulent groupings, for example ― all plants were chosen for deer resistance and their ability to thrive in the valley's climate.

Now the garden is a true creative outlet, from its plants to its playful accents. "If I can spend every hour of the day out there, I'm happy," Wogisch says.

Design: Richard William Wogisch, Sonoma County (707/588-9912)