This gated entrance garden, mature and formal, suited the house and neighborhood but needed modernizing. Born out of urgency brought on by the pandemic, the young family needed open air space to play and host friends. 

We heavily edited the old-school plant collection, and in its place came multiple play areas and a centralized stone patio. Our goal was to maintain the integrity of the original garden while shifting to a less formal vibe and employing regenerative practices. We reset the original brick pathways; installed less thirsty, lower maintenance plants; and improved soil health (an invisible yet key element in sustainability). By eliminating upwards of 40 balled boxwoods and simplifying the cacophony of overgrowth, the garden was transformed from stuffy to easy going—a textural space softened with native meadow grasses and complementary greens. The magnificent Pink Magnolia and unusual Dogwoods no longer fight for center stage.

A final nod to this garden’s formal roots, the entrance path is flanked by a drippy romantic Wisteria and a clipped Star Jasmine Belgian vine. From this lush hallway, the garden widens to beckon guests and welcome home.