This Long Island garden was designed along Edwardian lines, with a wonderful sunken garden at its centre. Enclosed by traditional hedges the garden areas form concentric rings, that ‘borrow’ the landscape of trees from neighbouring gardens, which we echoed by carefully placing new trees closer to the house, increasing the feeling of depth and making the garden feel much bigger than it actually is. At the heart of the sunken garden sits a fountain, surrounded by a series of rills and a flamboyant mixture of perennials and roses. A combination of antique Bluestone and very elegant, narrow bricks on edge form the main paths and edge the rills. The secondary paths, made of chippings, are softened with self-seeders such as Alchemilla mollis. The house is filled daily with flowers from the borders and a wonderful cut flower garden which is planted in a full spectrum of colour. Beyond the intensity of the flower gardens lies a cool woodland walk which surrounds the outside of the garden.
If some symmetry is something you’re into when it comes to gardens, then save this one in your inspiration folder. This is so elegant and I love that the colours are kept to a minimum in the main area. It’s picture perfect. Designed by Arne Maynard. Photos: Ngoc Minh Ngo.
