The aerial view of the property showcases its steep hillside. Photo: Kevin Mulkern Ideas From This Garden 1.   Existing native ulei shrubs grow slowly and respond well to pruning. 2.   Grass stairs make a walkable path around the yard. 3.   Fruit trees thank you with edibles. 4.   Plumbago shrubs thrive in full sun. 5.   Water feature adds tranquility. 6.   Green roof parking softens the driveway. 7.   Bromeliads work well in arid climates. 8.   Plumeria relocated from cuttings, such as these, can flower within the first year. 9.   Wedelia groundcover is suitable for a wide variety of conditions, but bloom best in full sun. 10. Driveway with drip irrigation allows water to drip slowly to the roots of plants.

Mulkern used keystone for some of the retaining walls, “which is made without cement,” he says. “For the other walls, we used natural rock on site, for what they call dry-stack walls.” These walls hold back the earth and add beauty to the landscape.

This yard is no doubt one of the largest we’ve covered. It came with its share of challenges, too. When everything about the landscape said no, Kevin Mulkern, of Mulkern Landscaping, said yes, finding a variety of solutions for each unique challenge. You can take inspiration from one or all of the many parts that, when fit together, create this alluring scene.

The 3-acre property sits atop a hardly walkable steep slope, with an even steeper driveway leading to it (see number 10, above). When the owner decided to landscape the property, he had to find someone who was willing to make the trek up and down, hauling much of the materials on his shoulders. Who would do such a thing? Mulkern would.

“Our legs got pretty strong, zooming up and down the driveway, which is only the beginning of the hill,” Mulkern says, laughing. “Everything had to be carried down on our backs.” But it was well worth it in the end.

Known as "hearts and flowers," these succulent plants are more commonly seen with red flowers. "They do really well in arid areas," Mulkern says.

When it came to design, Mulkern had artistic freedom, something for which many designers live. He took his cue from his surroundings and did what he thought would work best in the space. “Mother Nature kind of tells you what will grow and what is easy to take care of,” he says. “It doesn’t make sense to struggle trying to grow something that doesn’t want to be there.”

Using nature as a guide makes maintenance and choices easier, but that’s not to say the project was challenge-free. “There were some pretty big boulders precariously perched on this hill, so we cabled them and chopped them up into little pieces,” he says. Creating many little pieces eliminates the need to monitor the boulders, as is the case with netting them. “The owners were concerned about possibly having a rock get away and hurt someone down below … They wanted to be proactive. It’s nice to work with people like that.”

Mulkern used a moss-rock veneer, from Big Rock Manufacturing, and about 20 yards of natural rock to build the pond. The water hyacinths growing in the water act as a natural filtration system.

Another challenge? Wild pigs. “There were pigs that got under the fence and found the pond and were drinking from and swimming in it. They were as big as you! They were able to push under the fence and climb in,” Mulkern says. The solution? “We reinforced the bottom of the fence, putting in stakes and patches.”

Mulkern and his crew overcame each challenging piece of this puzzle and continue to do so today—revisiting for maintenance a few times per month. He attributes the success of the project to upkeep.

“It’s a lot of fun to have children, but then you say, whoa, I gotta change diapers!” he laughs.
“It’s really how the property is maintained that determines the success or failure of a landscape. I really enjoy being able to come see how things are going.” This may explain why Mulkern is still coming back to this property with a smile on his face.

The steep hillside turns easily navigable thanks to steps strategically placed throughout the yard.	Atop the guest house lies a green roof that also serves as an additional parking area. "Originally, it was going to be a cement parking area, but I thought it'd be nice to soften it," says Mulkern, pictured at left. Not only can cars drive on it, but it also has a drainage system and automatic sprinklers.
Next time you’re driving on H1, near the 6th Avenue on-ramp, take a very careful gander up Wilhelmina Rise. You’ll notice the splashes of orange coming from this yard. “These are some of my favorite bromeliads: aechmeas,” Mulkern says. “We just throw it in the rocks and they grow on it.”	One of the owner’s main requests was to incorporate some purple into the landscape because it is his daughter’s favorite color. Royal purple bougainvillea adapt fairly well to most weather conditions, too.

The edge of the hillside allows for perfect views of Diamond Head, the ocean and the city. Mulkern and his crew keep the landscaping at a low-enough level to prevent plant height from obstructing the scenery.