The photos below show just one part of a multi-phase project that we think is fast becoming our best garden so far. Our goal for this entry garden was to create a serene, simple design that allows focus on the beautiful trunks of the Oregon White Oaks and the clean, contemporary lines of the house and entryway. From the driveway, visitors pass from a bold, colorful street planting, through hedge of golden bamboo (Phyllostachys aurea) into a quiet, sweeping, sword fern garden, with a few small trees and some Fargesia rufa, a clumping bamboo. Our favorite hardscape feature of the garden may be our drystack stone wall along the driveway (see a slideshow of its construction here). An ipe deck and boardwalk float over the fern garden, past a huge basalt bowl, to the front door.
While other areas of the garden feature diverse plantings and bold foliage, this garden focuses on the essentials. Although, this garden is largely a passageway, as opposed to an area to entertain, it seems to have a profound effect on visitors. Rather than rushing through the garden, the simple design encourages people to pause for a moment and enjoy a quiet moment, appreciating the view.
This is another garden that will be included on next June’s Study Weekend tour. For more information, stay tuned here or contact the WVHPG.
Mosaic Gardens Journal 
As a fellow designer, I am continually inspired with your beautiful craftsmanship and creative designs. Thank you for your art.
Thank you! It was lovely to meet you and the family at the Open Garden. Hope you are enjoying this wonderful summer as much as we are.
[…] includes some of Buell’s terrific photos. You may remember that space from our earlier post here. It’s an evolving space that will be open for the first time on next spring’s Hardy […]