Candace Clough Estate Gardener - DesignStory: Terraced Mountaintop Property

The clients, avid gardeners, were slowly developing the property with dreams of an extensive, English-style garden, but eventually the vast, open space proved too substantial a task and they turned to Candace. Requirements The clients had the following requirements for the project: Design around the natural stands of Mountain Laurel seeded by the birds attracted to the Goldenrod and Goose Grass on the property. No turf grass anywhere. Work with the existing terracing that had been graded into the front hill. Challenges Tie together four intersecting paths that amble through the property yet have un-repeated close-up interest. Will be viewed from multiple angles (not just one or two as with a traditional installation). Low water supply The Results...

		Steps and a gravel path will lead through the most complex part of the garden.
		These midsummer views include a lot of daisy forms - yellow: Rudbeckia 'Goldsturm' and Heliopsis 'Summer Sun' - white: Leucanthemum and Echinacea 'White Swan.' The blue spike flower, Russian Sage, is used as a 'tying plant' or common thread throughout the garden. As the seasons progress, this view will change into a bounty of grassy plumes from Miscanthus 'Morning Light,' yellow sprays of Solidago 'Fireworks,' Eupatorium 'Gateway' (a refined version of our native Joepye Weed) and purple umbels of Sedum 'Matrona' and 'Autum Joy.' The daisies will all lose their outer petals and stand as button-shaped seedheads to compliment the fall and winter textures.

		This will be the view looking back down the gravel path after walking up the steps towards the house. The concrete mushroom ornament sits at a focal point from the porch. The clients desired the stone wall to be hidden as the masonry is not attractive.
		The mushroom ornament is just visible through the purple spikes of Lavendula. Making a statement is the Miscanthus 'Cosmopolitan' a grass that dominates at over seven feet tall. The edges of the path are masked by a romantic, overflowing abundance of the light yellows umbels of Achillea 'Moonshine,' light yellow Yarrow low in the foreground, and Coreopsis 'Moonbeam' repeating the light yellow beyond the lavender. In the Spring, there are various shrubs, such as Chionanthus (Fringe Tree) or Syringa (common Lilac) that punctuate the landscape with their blooms. For the Fall, the Hydrangea 'Oakleaf' will bring its brilliant scarlet color to the palate.

		This area presented considerable challenges. It is between the native stands on the hillside up to the right and a shady hill dropping off to the left. The most significant challenge was the soil - saturated for most of the year then turning rock-hard in the summer - neither condition allowing for airspace in the soil particulates. Very few plants can adapt to this type of site.
		Rustic, narrow and covered with shredded hardwood mulch is a path less traveled though this more remote area. Native stands of Solidago - goldenrod are seamlessly incorporated with yellow composites of Rudbeckia 'Goldstrum' and the yellow-banded leaf of Miscanthus 'Zebrinus.' Native Rushes (Juncus) have colonized along the path. This plant is a bog plant that has adapted to the airless soil and tolerates the hard, dry conditions of summer. Other plants in view include: - Orange Hemerocallis (native daylilies) - Calamagrostis 'Karl Foerster' (an early blooming grass) - Native Redbud Trees - Sedum 'Matrona'

		The hillside down from the front of the house was previously graded with four terraces comprising three spans. These pictures show the existing plantings (trees and shrubs) to be incorporated in the design.
		The gravel path that connects the house to the driveway is now abundant with lush vegetation that provides a rich landscape when viewed from the porch or the driveway and an enticingly varied succession of interesting vignettes for the viewer walking along the path. The ornamental grasses work as a foil for the flowering plants, much like the greenery in a flower arrangement and they add the relaxing element of movement to the garden with every summer breeze. Ornamental grasses also minimize the maintenance work required in a large space as they require only to be cut down each Spring. The colors in these views come from: - Monarda 'Raspberry Wine' (magenta flowers) - Echinacea 'Magnus' (mauve daisies) - Buddleia (butterfly bush in purple, blue and white) - Spirea 'Mellow Yellow' (chartreuse foliage)

		Aesculus parviflora (Bottlebrush Buckeye) is one of the many species of shrubs used throughout this landscape. The tropical looking white spikes can be 12-18" and will result in buckeye nuts in the fall.
		A stone patio leading to three sets of steps posed a challenge in the backyard. The flat, barren area that required great accessibility seemed to demand turf, something the clients were strongly opposed to. An herb garden of free-form planting beds in a sea of gravel was the ideal answer - providing a functional as well as beautiful solution and softening the harsh straight edge of the patio area, evoking the feeling of an antique patina finish.
		Worthy perennials look good even when dead.

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