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The Martian
Riverbed.

Pasadena, California
The Planetary Society · Landscape design

A Pasadena Exoplanet Garden

An ordinary city sidewalk planter becomes a miniature galaxy: a river of stone winding through boulders and succulents, held by bright turquoise walls and dotted with forms that feel both earthly and otherworldly.

Explore the project photographs, planting plan, and material studies. Select any image to move through the full gallery.

BeforeThe Planetary Society building and the original lawn and planting.
AfterTurquoise planter edges, river stones, and a boulder frame the building’s corner.
AfterRounded stones trace a flowing line through gravel, boulders, and sculptural planting.
AfterA bright planter edge brings color to the composition of stone, gravel, and planetary forms.
AfterPainted planter walls and a sculptural agave bring strong color and form to the riverbed.
AfterA rust-toned boulder rises among river stones and planet-like spheres.
AfterA textured sphere rests among gravel, stone, and agave forms.
AfterConcrete spheres and flowing river stones turn familiar materials into a cosmic composition.
Plans & materialsConcept and material plan
Plans & materialsPlant placement plan
Plans & materialsPlant palette
Plans & materialsReviewing the landscape drawings and planting presentation boards.

Interstellar topography.

The familiar scale of a sidewalk planter opens into a miniature landscape with the strange spaciousness of a planetary surface.

Nebula & stone

Flowing river rocks soften the strong, painted turquoise edges. Their shifting textures make the planter feel in motion.

Patina & cosmos

Oxidized metal agaves and concrete spheres give the scene its sculptural landmarks: one rooted in material, the other like a lone planet.

An earthly galaxy

Boulders, gravel, and succulents tell the story with raw elements. The cosmic feeling comes from how those grounded materials meet.

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The Martian Riverbed