In The Summer, In The City

The layered planting enhances the transformative effect of the entrance garden. A dogwood tree on the left is a focal point of the tree layer. The shrub layer includes both deciduous and evergreen shrubs. The ground layer has ferns, heucheras, peonies and golden coreopsis. The densely planted bed on the right has tall shrubbery that adds texture and color with their foliage. The plant denseness gives the narrow garden great breadth.

An arbor with clematis vines scrambling up draws you further into the woodland garden. The sound of the water grows nearer. As you pass under the arbor, you get a tiny glimpse of the water source behind the shrubbery. Just beyond the arbor at the place where the tall arborvitae stand you get your first surprising glance into the garden below and beyond.

Gonna look in every corner

Directly in your view at the far end of the garden is an inviting sitting area. As you make your way there, a few granite curbstones steps ease your entrance down to the lower level. Not until you reach the turn of the path with another welcoming bench do you get a full view of the cascading water that spills into the pond before you. Once you’ve reached the furthest end of the garden you have a spectacular view back towards all that you’ve just passed.

At each turn of the path there are feasts for the eyes, both in plant and art form. Bob Sendall designed the garden and it reflects his charm, joyfulness and creative talents. The art merged into the garden is a captivating mixture of classical and whimsical. There are Greek statuary pieces, glass gazing balls and playful, praying mantis sculptures. The latter plays homage to the Bob’s favorite organic insect control.

A regal touch is added with the waist-high, hand painted and glazed urns potted with ferns. They stand near a rustic iron arbor, hand forged by John Walters of Iron Eden to resemble entwined branches and twigs. The iron twig arbor was used on many happy occasions as a wedding arch before finding a home in Bob’s garden. Today, it distinguishes the entrance to the alfresco dining level near the back door of the home. For Bob, the positive energy shared by the arch culminates in his happy garden.

Evening in the city

“I usually garden at night,” says Bob, “the lighting is perfect for working and it’s my favorite way to relax after a long day.” He also especially enjoys the way the setting sun casts light on the waterfall and pond. Bob, the owner of All In Good Taste Productions, had already established his catering business across the street when the empty lot next to his home became available about twenty years ago.

Bob created the garden both for his personal use and as a venue for intimate dinners for his clients. In a small part of the garden he grows most of the basil his catering business needs during the summer. Tucked into the garden near the grill and in nearby containers, are fennel and other culinary herbs that can be harvested on a whim to flavor whatever delicacy is on the grill.

Bob has been gardening all his life. Having an outdoor space to spend time in is essential to his life and his business. And I suspect, essential to his happiness, as well. Anyone fortunate enough to visit this garden cannot help but be captivated by its joyful spirit and will surely join me in saying, “Great gardening, Bob Sendall. Thanks for sharing such a happy place."

Resources:

Waterfall and pond: Pond Creations; Iron arbor and garden stakes: Iron Eden