Garden Description

Designers’ Philosophy

This garden typifies our philosophy. We believe in creating landscapes of rich experience and enduring value. Each of our gardens is personal, designed closely with the client to create an artistic experience meaningful to them, full of life and continual change. Our intent is that clients achieve a deeper, spiritual connection through their interaction with nature.

Sensitivity to the land and all its inhabitants is a core value. Landscapes should endure – indeed improve over time – without requiring high levels of water, chemicals or pruning. The use of native plants, “natural” water features and other elements helps to establish ecosystems and maintain the balance of nature.

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Design Intent

The homeowners are gardeners and entertain often. Since they had multiple decks and plantings in their backyard, they were initially interested in solving problems. Primarily, the steep steps and slippery lawn that led from the backyard to the wooded area beyond. Upon viewing the site, drainage issues and visually conflicting lines became apparent. A more comprehensive design would ultimately result in the best solution to the problems and open up exciting possibilities.

One of our primary goals was to bring the family “into the experience” of the garden, rather than just “viewing” it from across a lawn. We hoped to create an intimate setting, separate from the rest of their property, where they could be surrounded by beauty and tranquility.

Structural Solutions

• Layout of the structural elements took careful consideration. Many paths led into the small area, making it difficult to unify the multiple angles and to have something other than “spokes on a wheel”. By putting the patio on a 30 degree angle - which continues up the very substantial stone steps to the woodland - a dynamic energy, as well as a focal feature, is created.
  
  
  
• The curving stone wall defines the space; along with the steps, it creates a transition of shape and materials from the rectilinear patio to the “natural” woodland beyond. Although appearing “dry-laid”, it is actually mortared, making it substantial enough for climbing grandchildren.

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• By overhanging the pond with bluestone paving on two sides, the “built” landscape merges with the “natural” landscape, and brings the garden visitor further into an intimate experience with the fish, plants and water.
  
  
• A path up the steps leads through a circle of stone. Created from hand-selected barnstone, the circle is art, meditation circle, and imaginative play-area all in one. A large, horizontal stone provides a nearby perch for viewing.

Plantings

• To create the mood, a wide variety of plants were combined in lush, textural vignettes of foliage and bloom. Bamboo, along with bold foliage and grasses, provide a sense of “escape” - almost tropical. On the upper level, mostly native plantings blend naturally into the surrounding woodland.
  
  
• Foliage color is an important element in this design. Perennials with leaves of burgundy - such as Japanese painted fern and heucheras - echo the foliage of the existing Japanese maple. Highlighting the garden are chartreuse/gold/cream foliage plants, sprinkled through like sunbeams, brightening the shade. Care was taken to unify the design through colored foliage, but to retain “green” as the dominant color.

In this design, as in all our work, the challenges of the site were not viewed as problems, but as opportunities for greater creativity and enhancement. The objective of a garden is to enrich the lives of all those who enter.

Our Designer

Sabrena Schweyer, APLD, has been creating gardens of beauty and sanctuary for more than 20 years. She formed the landscape design and development group, Salsbury-Schweyer Inc., with her husband, Samuel Salsbury, in 1996. Known for personalized gardens, water features and environmentally sensitive landscapes, Salsbury-Schweyer Inc. has received many design awards, including top honors from APLD and the Perennial Plant Association.

Sabrena’s passion for nature began on the farm of her childhood. Her formal education in liberal arts and horticulture, includes studies with England’s National Trust. She has traveled extensively, studying plants and garden design and has built a solid reputation as a perennial expert and as a designer of European and natural style gardens. Her passion for the environment led to Salsbury-Schweyer’s current emphasis on “Sustainable Landscapes”. In addition to her role as owner and designer, Sabrena also lectures, writes and consults and recently was featured in Fine Gardening.

More about Salsbury-Schweyer, Inc may be found at www.salsbury-schweyer.com.