Garden One
Four years ago, the owners moved from an ecologically diverse Houston, Texas to their current location. She had gardens in Texas and was accustomed to an area with several micro-climates and a variety of plant and animal species. The new, larger suburban yard had the usual foundation plantings and arborvitae, but none of the animals, including lizards and butterflies. Homesick for the rich variety of flora and fauna, she decided to create a wildlife oasis/corridor using Maryland Piedmont native plants. She created a design plan and started on a journey of research, discovery and transition. Four years of trial and error and meticulous record keeping have transformed the once typical suburban lot into an exquisite example of native Piedmont plantings. More than 100 varieties of labeled specimens grace the garden, which now attract pollinators, salamanders, birds, and mammals of all sizes. Although she is a Piedmont native plant purist, she also has organic vegetable and herb gardens and one non-native plant (can you spot it?). Entering the small front yard, you are greeted by a Never Forget Garden, a volunteer project that was occasioned by the national Society of the Honor Guard, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier to ensure the millions of America’s war dead are forever honored and remembered. Bee balm, Joe Pye, redbud, false indigo and blue flag iris fill out the crescent moon design. More native perennials and woody shrubs flank the front of the house. Edging the fence line are dogwood, Virginia sweetspire, blue star, golden alexander and more. The back of the yard has been designed as a natural meadow with a variety of native grasses, perennials, and small trees. Two raised vegetable beds and a series of hexagon-shaped herb gardens are at home in the side yard. A recirculating water feature emulates a natural spring. An amazing highlight is a beautifully designed set of four rain gardens with a simulated dry riverbed connecting them. In the past, runoff from the slope and the neighbor’s gutters led to a standing pool of water next to the house. Now, the rain gardens and permeable sidewalk have transformed this area into a practical and pleasing solution. Any gardener with a small, ordinary yard and desire to create an environmentally friendly and native garden will find this stellar garden inspirational.
Garden Two
The historic home has been around since 1837. Like many old country homes, the grounds and
gardens were as important as the main house.
There are four original structures including the main house, caretaker’s
house, spring house and smokehouse. The
stone barn ruins were re-configured as an enclosed garden including a
meditation garden. A variety of
pollinator plants invite multitudes of butterflies in the summer. The carriage house and the ice house pool were rebuilt in the
spirit of the original structures and a small greenhouse was added. The main house sits atop a slope with views
of 27 acres and is home to several champion trees. The bordering woodlands offer trails for restorative
nature walks. Ten acres of meadow filled
with wildflowers and grasses provide shelter and food for wildlife. The spring house still provides water that
feeds several ponds and leads to the Patuxent River. Over the last ten years the owners have
created an appealing, cottage-like effect
Garden Three
At the end of a long, tree-lined driveway, visitors will discover this home, circa 1856. Four years ago, the owners purchased the six acre historic property. The main house, loom house and smokehouse needed repair and restoration. The long- neglected grounds were a tangled mess of overgrown vines, invasives, brush and dead trees. A landscape designer, he began a renovation and ongoing metamorphosis to repair the notable structures and recover the natural habitat. Preserving the established, ancient hardwood trees was a prime concern. Mature gum, hickory, gingko as well as champion and nationally recognized specimens are only a few of the standing giants. After much clearing, grading, cultivating and transplanting, the patchwork of gardens began to fill out. Both native and ornamental plants were used to create the gardens and complement the historic structures. Many native woody shrubs, trees, perennials, and grasses provide year-round interest. Visitors are welcome to wander the pathed loops through the bordering woods The lower acre of the property is under development to become a natural meadow. There are peonies that date back to the 1800’s and a sapling tree cloned from the famous Eastern Shore Wye Oak. Under construction is a rainscape that uses runoff from an underground culvert to feed a rock-lined stream with two retention ponds. Visitors should keep an eye open for the gargoyle lurking in a tree stump niche.
Garden Four
Thirty years ago, the owners moved into a fixer upper that needed lots of TLC. The selling point was the quiet, woodsy neighborhood and the two acre lot that overlooked a picturesque pond. The new homestead was dubbed Pond’s Edge. Except for the large, mature trees, the landscape had minimal personality and no garden presence. Since then, they have been on a journey of experimentation and transformation. With an eye toward a self-sustaining landscape that would thrive for years with minimal maintenance, they began identifying the natural habitats and microclimates of the property. Many transplantings, modifications and innovative ideas have resulted in an ecosystem of multiple gardens. The front of the property is home to a tall tree garden with hellebores, coral bells, summer sweet and more. A stone drainage path curves down the slope of the garden. Further down the slope is the dog run and garden with a variety of grasses, perennials, woody shrubs and changing annuals. The lawn is in transition to a natural meadow. Several smaller gardens support deer resistant plantings. Various varieties of milkweed interplanted with butterfly bush, Joe Pye, beebalm, chokeberry and annuals provide food and shelter for many beneficial and pollinator insects. Rounding to the back of the property you will find more gardens. The grounds are a prime example of inventiveness, experimentation and an enthusiastic appreciation and understanding of the natural environment.
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- Create a focal point
- Frame the view
- Use mirrors and light
- Repeat design elements
- Joy in Repetition
- Right plant, right place
- Go vertical
- Use plants as screening
- Espalier
"Research shows that using native plants is the best way to create a haven for pollinators like native bees and butterflies and even to attract beneficial insects that will help the rest of your garden. Why? Over millennia, native insects and native plants have co-evolved and reached an intricate balance. Many insects can only eat the plants they co-evolved with.
Native plants provide the abundance of seed, berries, and habitat required by our native bird species. Not only that, but by supporting robust native insect populations, native plants are indirectly responsible for providing the insect food that most baby song birds require."
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/why-include-native-plants-your-garden/
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| Sandy Spring is located in the Piedmont plateau of Maryland |
