ActiveYards Arbor and Gate

Richard P. Rauso, ASLA

The goal of this project was to provide a lush and vast garden for the new owners of this recently remodeled brick Georgian. Located in Wheaton this acre plus property is surrounded by beautiful Oaks. Preserving the Oaks became a particular challenge with the ample front walk and generous entertaining spaces the client desired. Under most of the Oaks the turf was in very poor condition, and most of the property was covered with undesirable overgrown underbrush such as Garlic Mustard weed and Buckthorn. With a recently completed addition, the garages were pushed farther from the front door leaving a large distance between the drive and entry to the home. This prompted the addition of a secondary door off the kitchen. A meandering walk curves past the secondary entry and leads guests through the front garden to the main entry. Off the secondary door a “kitchen patio” complete with a custom gate and Green Mountain Boxwood hedge give the clients a quaint space to enjoy a morning cup of joe. Stepping stone pathways lead around the home and weave through multiple pocket gardens within the vast backyard. The paths extend deep into the property leading to individual and unique gardens with a variety of plantings that are tied together with rustic stonewalls and sinuous turf areas. Closer to the home a large paver patio opens up to the backyard gardens. New stoops were constructed and existing stoops were covered in bluestone and mortared stonewalls were added, complimenting the classic Georgian architecture. The completed project accomplished all the goals of creating a lush and vast garden that fit the remodeled home and lifestyle of its new owners. Through careful planning, all mature Oaks were preserved, undesirables removed and numerous new plantings along with detailed stonework helped to define the new landscape.

Designed and built by Land Art Design, Inc.

A beautiful shade garden.

Custom granite seat walls and firepit with Pennsylvania bluestone cap. Random pattern square cut PA bluestone patio surface. Red Laceleaf Japanese Maple enframes the view. Alan & Linda Detrick Photography

The garden 3 weeks after planting, on a foggy day. Photo by Steve Masley

Looking at this home today, you would never know that the project began as a poorly maintained duplex. Luckily, the homeowners saw past the worn façade and engaged our team to uncover and update the Victorian gem that lay underneath. Taking special care to preserve the historical integrity of the 100-year-old floor plan, we returned the home back to its original glory as a grand, single family home. The project included many renovations, both small and large, including the addition of a a wraparound porch to bring the façade closer to the street, a gable with custom scrollwork to accent the new front door, and a more substantial balustrade. Windows were added to bring in more light and some interior walls were removed to open up the public spaces to accommodate the family’s lifestyle. You can read more about the transformation of this home in Old House Journal: http://www.cummingsarchitects.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Old-House-Journal-Dec.-2009.pdf Photo Credit: Eric Roth

Outdoor living space featuring an 8-foot wide fireplace, grilling, bar, and dining areas.

As you enter the three season room through the interior home entrance you fall under the spell of outdoor ( and indoor) living at its best. Photos by Archadeck of Suburban Boston

stepper stairs with grass

This seating wall was embedded into a hill in the front garden, effectively lowering the visitor closer to eye level for better viewing of the unique foliage. Photo by Jay Sifford.

Lush plantings surround garden paths in this garden on the Southern Oregon coast. The rusting steel arbor at the top of the hill supports four fruiting pear trees. The ipe bench below the arbor is large enough to seat several people. This garden is battered by winds and browsed by hungry deer, but is nonetheless a testament to the incredible climate of the Oregon coast. See more photos of this garden at our website, mosaic-gardens.com. photo: Buell Steelman, Mosaic Gardens

Hanselman Landscape and Gardens

This is a 1920's tudor. Can you tell which parts were original and which were added? Great design makes the builder's job easy and MAKES the house.