Magnificent blooms in a landscape design

Synonymous with spring, tulips are among the first bulbs to announce the end of the snowy season. Their cup-shaped blooms top sturdy stems that reach more than a foot to greet the early-spring sun.

“We planted the bulbs in dense pockets in curvilinear forms to highlight the perimeter of the front landscape gardens and to achieve the dramatic statement the homeowners were seeking,” says Jon Spayde, landscape designer and president of Landfare, Ltd. “Tulips are among the hardiest of bulbs and will hold their blooms for several weeks, depending on availability of water,” he adds.

As guests are invited around the side of the two-story brick home, they are led along a phalanx of azaleas and hydrangeas skirting the deck and patio, which are adjacent to the rear entrance, to discover a hidden gem—a beautiful meditation garden, also designed and implemented by Spayde.

“We wanted to create a peaceful place where we could enjoy being outdoors, but feel as if we shut ourselves off from our daily cares,” the homeowner explains. “With our back yard facing a golf course, we enjoy the vast expanse of green, but also desire privacy where we can relax with family and friends,” she adds.

Encircled by a screen of six-foot arborvitae, the couple’s outdoor living space is accessed through an antique iron gate they rescued from a salvage yard. Mounted on brick columns, the entry gate is across the circle from matching gates on the other side, that perfectly frame the setting sun.

A custom-designed copper water feature is the centerpiece, amid a carpet of flagstone and pea gravel, juxtaposing graceful elegance with rustic comfort. Birdsong and gently falling water mingle to create a restful backdrop for conversation and relaxation.

“On warm summer evenings when everyone gravitates to our little bower and we light the candles and turn on the accent lights in the fountain, it feels like we are a million miles away, yet right at home,” she says.