s

Waterfall when new

Patio Detail 
(Crazy Quilt Mosaic)

This project is a good example of the incremental development of a garden master plan, based on the idea of creating many realms within the framework of shade gardens. Yearly building campaigns over the last ten years have allowed the budget to stay even with the structures. As time passes, we let the gardens’ changing ecology influence aspects of the design, though we remain faithful to the overall garden ideas. The pictures show aspects of the "garden rooms" at various points in time. The fence and "apple tree room", were the earliest projects. The raised bed back-dropping the tree is constructed of cast concrete foundation blocks dating from the 1910s and they instantly yielded an "always been there" look. The bridge and fish pond date from about 6 years back and are a study of geometric contrasts. The basalt "crevice garden" is about 5 years old. Among the other projects completed were an elaborate combined dry-well and gravel pathway system, a large grape arbor, extensive privacy fences, a "Jeffersonian" garden house, a large decorative concrete ring delineating the "central clearing", creative patio renovations, a pavilion and connected gazebo (see separate page entitled "Patio Pavilion"), ground contouring, boulder arrangements, sculptural benches and a place called "the beach". A gardener works closely with Levine in the ongoing planting program and this inspires further design ideas.