46 DIGS.NET
| 11.15.24
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P R O F I L E | J O H N S H A R P
utilize and are passionate environmental-
ists, so I brought in a bountiful pollinator
habitat in the species selections. There
was also a historic Ginger and Betty rose
and citrus garden that was important to
preserve." Mostly native desert speci-
mens were brought in as a counterpoint
to the existing more Mediterranean
palette consisting of olives, palms, citrus
and roses. The structural cacti, yucca
rostrata, barrel cactus, Mexican fence
post, and palos verde trees complement
the landscape.
Always finding the perfect plants, organic
textures and materials to create uniquely
art-driven and sustainable environments,
Sharp is never afraid to showcase his
own visual language. And it's always a
hit.
https://www.studiojohnsharp.com/
dining area, hot tub, kitchen, outdoor
theater and fire pit. "The client desired a
very meditative and soothing, jungle-es-
que environment and an existing mature
bamboo hedge, meaning that the back
slope was relatively shaded," says Sharp.
"Along the whole back hillside of the prop-
erty we sought to establish a feeling of
being transported to another world."
In Rancho Mirage, the Gerald and Betty
Ford estate project was inspired by Betty
Ford herself (the first lady of the United
States from 1974 to 1977). "The modern-
ist architecture of the house is regal and
sophisticated — presidential, if you will,"
says Sharp. "I sought to contrast this seri-
ousness with a whimsical and sculptural
landscape design direction. The owners
own an amazing collection of modernist
architectural pottery that they wanted to
