When this long time friend told me he had a project for me, I never suspected it would interweave so many practical and artistic components simultaneously. He had recovered beautifully from 2 knee replacements, but he and his wife both thought it would be prudent to reconfigure the steep access to often-used side door entrance.
He suggested we cut steps into the gravel driveway to meet the grade at the bottom step of his side porch. I asked them what they thought of no stairs at all? I explained how we could build over the existing landing and stairs so there was a direct and level path to his side door. They were both thrilled at the prospect.
When we met at the stone yard, they picked a unique violet Pennsylvania fieldstone for the stonewalls, and an Old Town Cobble Autumn Blend paver. The paver has red and purple tones to blend with the brick foundation and match the fieldstone.
After any great idea and concept sketch, there is always the more important execution of the job in real space. After we ripped out the 20 year old shrubbery, we saw clearly how the bed grade was going to be 2′ lower than the walkway!
What we constructed is a space that holds 2 sunken gardens with interlocking curves for the walls and seat walls. The terrace is fan shaped and big!
There is even a step built to easily access one of the sunken gardens. The cool thing is that you look at the back of the wall as you sit at the kitchen table. It is a freestanding design with 2 sides that you see. No need to cover up the stonework with plants, right? Wherever you drive or walk around the space, close up, or from the road, the design shifts.
A Sango kaku specimen tree with bright orange seasonal color and bright red bark fills up the space in the smaller garden. Abelia, heather, ajuga , fragrant viburnum and crape myrtle are other plants in the larger size bed. The ground cover, ajuga in both gardens will do away with any need for future mulch.
In the front, we ripped out huge junipers and planted 4 nanchez crape myrtles on each corner of the house, and Korean and American boxwoods in a line far off the foundation.
Another aspect of the project included redirecting the drainage. We also power washed the front brick on the house, and cleared a long bank full of 15-year-old shrubbery along the community road. The client and our company chipped in and planted 200 daffodils on the bank, so the whole neighbor hood can enjoy bright yellow flowers in the cold March weather.
Today when my client-friend called me to discuss watering needs for the winter, his first comment was, ” Well m’dear, I have to say…Every time I walk out my door, I am tickled right up to my earlobes! ”
I couldn’t ask for a better compliment.
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.
Leave A Comment