Cat-n-Fiddle Garden

About

As a professional landscape designer, you want to follow design rules, spacing, elements in interaction, understanding all four dimensions, clients’ skill level, or no skill level. But when given the time and energy to do your own garden space—let’s throw all that stuff out the window. I cram plants together, spacing be damned, let everyone have it out. I love foliage. These four separate spaces speak to that and to my interest in plants and foliage in this never-ending work in process. Designing and building a garden on less than 1/2 acre that takes you on vacation by walking out the back door. Spaces to unwind, dream, and just “chill out” in four distinct areas— 1. The front: what everyone else sees, and the separation from the rest of the neighborhood. Another challenge of living in a modern subdivision on a very small lot is to create uniqueness and four-season interest. 2. The walkway: a so-narrow space between two houses, with a variety to hold interest while approaching the back. The challenge was to make a 12-footwide space between two, 2-story houses interesting. Probably my biggest challenge of the entire process. 3. The deck garden: pots, pots, pots filled with annuals and tropicals including bananas, castor bean and elephant ears, and more. 4. The back garden and patio: deep shade, foliage and adjoining the Metro Park forest. It’s the hangout zone. Two water features/fountains, sculptural pieces, even an 8-foot Sasquatch await your arrival. For winter fun, a natural gas fire table in Corten Steel sits on a bluestone patio. Plantings go beyond ferns and include Heuchera, Tiarella, Heucherella, Brunnera, Actaea, Rodgersia, Darmera p., Persicaria, hinoki cypress, boxwood sp, Itea Opaca, viburnum sp., baneberry, hardy Colocasia, and more. I wanted to add enough evergreen/conifer structure to hold four season appeal—to create a space to interact with, even in Ohio’s winter landscape, either by being “in it” or viewing out the windows.

This garden’s estimated size is 1/2 acre.

Tickets will be available for this Open Day on Thursday, May 1st.

2025 Open Day:  Saturday, July 12

Hours: 10-4