Clarkson Residence

An All-Season Perennial Display

This project is a contemporary interpretation of the traditional perennial cottage garden. The landscape renovation included the design of a linear garden bed along the front of the residence, as well as the adjacent sidewalk and step leading to the front door. The sidewalk materials were carefully considered to compliment the home, allowing the perennial border to come forward as a colorful focal point. 

This garden was strategically planned for layered seasonality; as one grouping of plants fades away, another reaches its peak display. The overarching goal was to consistently have something in bloom, in fruit, or of sculptural value throughout the year. The garden experience begins in Spring with a significant flowering bulb display of white and deep burgundy tulips paired with white daffodils. Drifts of blooming perennials emerge next, covering the garden with swaths of purple blooming Salvia, pockets of blue-eyed grass and Amsonia. Summer is welcomed with a variety of colorful species, such as the bright white flowers of Gaura, purple spikes of Astilbe, raspberry colored Monarda, and purple puffs of Stachys. Warm and cool season grasses such as Calamagrostis ‘Karl Forester’ and Panicum ‘Shenandoah’ bring structure and texture to the garden, while oakleaf Hydrangea, Hibiscus, Baptisia, and Eremurus serve as visual ‘treats’ throughout the year. As summer fades to fall, cooler temperatures initiate colorful fall foliage displays. A robust mix of burgundy leaves on the oakleaf Hydrangea, golden hued Amsonia, and red-tinted Panicum create a colorful backdrop punctuated by blooms of purple Aster and red Sedum. The garden is managed in a way so that many plants are left standing for winter interest, while some are cut back to reveal linear groupings of dwarf arborvitae that provide evergreen structure in the winter. This perennial garden has become increasingly captivating as the plants have matured and we are excited to see how it evolves over time.

Project Completion: 2019