Resilient Retreat

About

We had a unique opportunity with this garden, because prior owners had removed almost all landscaping for grass. We wanted something that would be self- maintaining, leveraging as many native plants as possible, while also providing visual interest and an interplay between modern landscaping and an historical setting in the heart of the city. From the back of the house, a more formal patio setting with a fountain gives way to a climate-ready rain garden that helps with storm water runof through a transitional gazebo. Inspired by Asia, the rain garden visually transports one to a place halfway around the world, especially after a rain storm, where one can almost see koi swimming between the stone steps. It’s also our point of view that gardens should be more than just a visual delight: they should also feed us, so many of the trees and bushes are fruit-bearing, and, during the warmer months, moveable raised beds take up space on the driveway to provide for the household, and they’re easily moved to storage for the winter.

This garden’s estimated size is 1/4 acre.

2025 Open Day: Saturday, June 14 

Hours: 10-4