Gorgeous firecrystals fire glass in handcrafted natural gas fire pit

Goodbye to grass! A colorful palette of long-blooming perennials, shrub roses and ornamental grasses create a charming front yard cottage garden, brimming with curb appeal.

www.jdpdesign.org

©Linda Oyama Bryan A carpet of lush turf frames the granite paver drive of this elegant estate. Over 6,000 impatiens dazzle views while entering the drive court. Groupings of loosely pruned hydrangeas, yews, and ornamental plantings provide a lush backdrop. The towering trees are carefully maintained by pruning, and root-feeding twice a year.

Ali Atri Photography

The master plan for this south-facing woodland property celebrates dramatic topography, muscular canopy trees, remnant fieldstone walls, and native stone outcroppings. Sound vegetation management principles guide each phase of installation, and the true character of the woodland is revealed. Stone walls form terraces that traverse native topography, and a meticulously crafted stone staircase provides casual passage to a gently sloping lawn knoll carved from the existing hillside. Lush perennial borders and native plant stands create edges and thresholds, and a crisp palette of traditional and contemporary materials merge––building upon the surrounding topography and site geology.

Landscape construction, masonry, architectural stone all installed by R. P. Marzilli & Company Keith LeBlanc Landscape Architecture Photography by Rosemary Fletcher

The bluestone patio was screened from the neighbors with a wall of arborvitae. Lush perennial gardens provide flower cutting opportunities and color to offset the green wall.

Architect: Andrew Skurman Architects, Landscape Architect: Terra Ferma Landscapes, Designer: Rebecca Bradley Interior Design, Photographer: Bernard Andre & Dave Edwards

Jim Bartsch

Photography by John Bloom

Hear what our clients, Karen & Robert, have to say about their project by clicking on the Facebook link and then the Videos tab. Tardiva Hydrangea flower into the fall as the Serviceberry displays red/ orange fall color. Project Partner: Hannah Goering Photography

Shoot2Sel

The property is one of the original farm houses located on the main street of a small town. It has been in the family for many years and our client just inherited the property. They were trying to have balance of preserving the old while realizing modern day living has its benefits too. The house had a large addition added using mostly old style materials, but designed with function and modern day luxuries. Our goal was to carry that theme to the outside. Our first problem we had to address was how to transition between the first floor elevation changes. The lower room was the husband’s office. He stated in the future he may have clients over and it would be nice to have an area to sit outside. The wife’s main concern was to renew the four corner garden. She also felt it was very important to be able to see it from the kitchen area. Finally there was an old wishing well stuck right outside the kitchen. They both felt it would be neat to be able to incorporate this in some how. They wanted a patio area with a built in grill to accommodate there family and friends. They also wanted to keep a large play area for the kids. We were able to pull this off successfully. We addressed the first issue by having a small lower level flagstone area. This area is large enough for 1 to 2 people to sit comfortably. It also provides a transition from his office to the larger patio area. We installed a simple small gravel sitting area opposite of the main patio. This provides our client a secluded place to relax or do business. Mrs.... told me she is amazed how much her and her husband enjoys this area. It is so peaceful looking at the small creek over a glass of wine. We built a natural limestone retaining wall to create the patio terrace. The stone was chosen to extend the houses architectural elements into the landscape. Irregular broken flagstone was used to give it a more casual feel. We installed three Serviceberries into the patio terrace to replace some trees that were taken down during the remodeling. She was very concern that they would block the view of the four corner garden. We new they were crucial to nestle in the terrace, so we placed them for a couple days for her to decide. Fortunately she agreed they not only kept the view open, but helped frame the garden. The four corner garden was designed to be viewed from afar and experienced up close. We wanted the space to have some formal structure while keeping with the casual farm house feel. Another natural limestone retaining wall was created. This leveled the garden terrace and helped associate it with the rest of the property. The four corner garden is nestled into the existing woods edge. This provides three distinct experiences to entering the garden; a more formal from the driveway, an open feel from the lower lawn, and a more natural / casual experience from the wooded area. The Plymouth brown gravel was used for the center of the garden. This helped highlight the stone post that was found during construction. The gravel also brings the sense of sound into the garden space. Lamb’s ear was chosen as a fun way to get kids interest in horticulture. The balance of using the new to create the old feel is what makes this project a success. The property has already hosted a local historical society event and won an award for its preservation efforts. When Mrs.... can’t find her husband, she knows he is either reading the newspaper by the grill or resting in the hammock along the wood’s path.

A mediterranean look in the desert with lantana added for color and softness. Pascale Sucato

A mass planting of Nikko Blue mophead hydrangea alongside an antique picket fence complete with hitching post. Lisa Mierop

This is a design draft - not the actual installation.