We were asked to continue with the front yard of last month’s Church Hill garden by planting flowers within a picket fence. The design gave the space a lovely English garden look with flowers in the front. Their existing knock out roses stayed, but we added Russian sage, a “Sonora” rudebekia, and two “Pinky Winky” hydrangeas to give the garden color lasting into the late fall. Powerful tumbled blue stepping stones add weight and power to the small space.
Church Hill - Before
Church Hill - After
This month’s largest job occurred in a garden space just off Patterson Ave. in west end Richmond. After days of clearing trees, shrubs, poison ivy, ivy, plastic bags, leaves and guck, we decided on a design. We started with the hardscape, of course.
This client chose 3 types of stone to blend into her new dry lay terrace, seat wall and sweeping stairway. The air of mystery is added by the existence of the multi trunked crape myrtle. Little did we know before we began clearing the lot that the neglected tree would become such a key element in the design?
Garden beds will be defined and lawns graded for aeration, seeding and planting later this summer.
This Westover Hills terrace was designed by Christie and the client with a diamond shaped pattern in black slate. The fountain is set off by the circular slate base. It is its own entity- half on and off the terrace, half in and out of the lawn. We will show more pictures next month of the entire job.
The client is considering a coffee table that has a gas fire pit within it. A pergola may be added later.
Christie lives in Manakin Sabot , Virginia where she manages a 3 acre garden. Her blogs are written from her 35 years as a personal and professional gardener.
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