The Garden that Grew and Changed with Us

About

Our garden has been a much loved play yard for four sons and their friends, from pre-school through college years, and now for our ten grandchildren. And it has always been a welcome retreat from everyday life for my husband and me. When we bought our home, 40 years ago, the landscape had been badly neglected, so with the help of a talented landscape architect, we started over from scratch.

We removed shrubberies that blocked the front door, as well as truckloads of trees and bushes that surrounded the property. We created a front porch and entry, converted the side yard from utility space to landscape, removed small gauge tracks that circled the property and put in brick paths and added space for parking and basketball near the garage. Over the years, as our family grew and our needs changed, we added hardscape and made changes to the landscape. We put in a spa, fire pit, barbeque, and flagstone patios for morning and afternoon sun.

We expanded the patio when our family was spilling over the edge of the first addition. And we changed out the front lawn for trees and a stretch of ivy for mulch, trees, and concrete spheres we ordered from Arizona. Our focus has always been on maintaining a comfortable and functional garden, using mostly perennials that provide seasonal color and hardscape.

Our home is 100 years old this year and we are grateful for the years we have had here. The basketball net is ragged and only sees an occasional ball tossed its way. But we still love sitting in the shade of its trees or enjoying a sunny lunch. Its peaceful environment has been shared with family and friends. For us, it is a place to breathe deep and relax.

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

This Garden Host reports the following Terrain Notes about the garden: Please stay on the brick path and continue around the garden.

2026 Open Day Date: Saturday, June 6

Open Day Hours: 10am–4pm