In the fall of 2016, Cam and I set a plan to transform her recently purchased home’s landscape that was suffering from a case of the ‘blahs’ . Cam dreamed of a colorful, relaxed cottage garden to welcome guests to her charming Cape style house. Long term plans were to upgrade the patio area, driveway and both sets of steps, as well as to add a walkway to the front door. We knew this project would occur in phases, beginning with removal of existing yew hedges.
‘before’ October, 2016:
Phase 1 ~ May, 2017:
Remove overgrown foundation shrubs and remove turf to expand main planting bed
Purchase sun-loving plants to achieve the cottage garden aesthetic
Enhance soil with compost and amendments to improve structure and nutrients for plant health and vigor
Install plants for optimal viewing pleasure
Create a strong focal point with charming bird house
Click on an image to enlarge; click to the right or left on the image to navigate both ways; hover on the image for more information about this garden.
Phase 2 ~ 2017 & 2018
Installed evergreen shrubs on either side of front door/steps (chamaecyparis and pinus strobus "Merrimack")
Expanded cottage garden to opposite side of front door/steps
New brick walkway, stairs & sod by Tamarack Landscaping
a vibrant garden for a vibrant woman
This exuberant pollinator garden features plants in varying shapes, textures and heights. Specimens include peonies, iris, tall phlox, coral bells, penstemon, salvia, yarrow, allium, filipendula, cranesbill, persicaria and more. Its first summer, it was a buzz with various species of bees and butterflies. Finished with a whimsical birdhouse, a family of birds soon moved in. Cam’s new garden perfectly suits her personality, budget and the home's interior style. By the summer of 2018, plantings had filled in beautifully and continue to sustain many forms of beneficial wildlife.
A Word from Cam:
"Working with Barb Young has been such a delightful experience! I am a complete beginner when it comes to perennial gardening, and relied on Barb’s vast knowledge of every element of gardening to transform, with her help, my 75 year old tired landscape into the cottage garden I wanted. She listened to my desire for a garden full of bright color and easy care plants, worked within my budget constraints, and she even helped me plant the entire garden: no easy task since we were digging up a 75 year old lawn!
I’ve worked with landscapers in the past who gave me THEIR vision, but Barb Young transformed my front and back yards into MY vision. Barb is creative, knowledgeable, easy and fun to work with, and your neighbors will thank you for improving their view!"