Garden for a New House

The list of "wants" was long and detailed for this large new house on a small plot in a wooded setting in a suburban development . The owners requested that the front should fit in with other neighboring houses but that the entire rear be used for gardening, games and swimming.

Photos 1 and 2 in the top row illustrate the simple treatment of the front with a paved short driveway edged with shade trees, additional trees planted along the road edge, and a simple knot garden at the front door. (photo 3).

In the rear I devided the space into four distinct areas: the pool with pergola, the game lawn with perennial plantings at edges, a fenced vegetable garden, and a wild garden with pond at the woodland edges. A stone paved terrace with balustrade to match the architecture of the house overlooks the rear and connects with steps on three sides to the 8 ft. lower ground level. A ramp provides easy access to the greenhouse. Retaining walls create raised beds along the terrace edge. Planting throughout includes small trees, shrubs, perennials, bulbs, grasses and groundcovers - both rare and common - for maximum impact year round.

The woodland garden acts as a reservoir for drainage from the property. A small artificial stream, pond and lavish use of ferns and woodland plants along a meandering path, create a serene and quiet retreat. A shaded bocce court and swimming pool add places to exercise when not gardening.

Suburban Garden | Italian Villa Garden |
Design for a Passionate Gardener | Garden Vignettes |