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A bedazzling, functional and colorful garden. This was one of the most delightful projects that Stock & Hill has had the opportunity to create and our client had a lot to do with that experience. As a general rule, it is our goal to ultimately design a garden that reflects the owner’s character and interests. Our client was kind, generous and very energetic! She wanted a garden where her extended family could congregate and have picnics, play basketball and participate in growing fruits, vegetables, herbs and flowering plants while appreciating the beauty of nature. We incorporated all of these activities, but first, it was important to create a more flowing and cohesive piece of property. It was unclear as to which was the front door and/or the back kitchen door. We needed to define that, as well as, recognize that the owner and her visitors prefer to use the kitchen door. We were able to make both doors significant while making clear one from the other. The first addition we made was building a wrap around deck from door to door. This not only offered more functional space, but grounded the house to the property. From there we built new, generously wider cedar steps leading onto winding bluestone pathways out to the street. There is an arbor for the kitchen pathway designating it as, the welcoming entryway. This side of the house originally lacked dimension and interest, so we designed a garden house to the right of the deck. This is a place for writing, picnics and grandchildren to play. It is also a great spot to watch the basketball games on the new sport court. On the south side of this little house (which the architecture matches the main house) are vegetable garden boxes, built up with a beautiful eagle mountain rock with generous space, as well as, a lot of sunshine for successful produce to bring to the kitchen. This house is on a corner lot and everything is visible from the street, therefore, everything has to blend. One of the major concerns of the owner, as well as the neighbors, was where all the very old and prolific Blueberry plants were going to be incorporated? We used them to border the entire street side of the property, which people passing by have always enjoyed in past years. Not only do these plants connect the gardens two sides but they connect the community in a very nice way as well. The northwest side of the gardens is considered the front, and is not as busy as the southwest side, but still has a lot of interest. An eagle mountain rock wall defines the planting beds from the lawn on both exposures, however, on this side the focal point is a waterfall that “breaks” through the wall into a small pond in the lawn. This is where the main entrance was placed. Fences and screens were also built to create aesthetics as well as the function of keeping the basketball in the court and discouraging little hands from playing in the waterfall. There is also a beautiful pathway garden on the southeast side, defined in the front by a wrought iron arbor, a very pretty transition to the back space. There is low voltage lighting and a complete automatic irrigation system. This garden has become a well enjoyed gathering place for family, friends and neighbors. A true joy for all! |
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