Today’s photos are from Cindi Jacobs.
“Timing is everything” as the saying goes, and it was our time to release our home in Wayland, Massachusetts, after 24 wonderful years. While the home and gardens were beautiful and we raised our two children here, we decided to downsize and re-evaluate being full-time in New England. It’s been a bit of a whirlwind; however, I’d like to share the Wayland garden for the second and final time with Fine Gardening and folks who understand the labor of love.
Our firepit used to burn wood, but last year we opted to have propane. Old containers of geraniums (Pelargonium hybrids, Zones 10–11 or as annuals) give the garden a pop of color. This is a special place to sit and relax knowing the impending promise of much to come as the perennials begin to grow.
We completed a front yard makeover in 2019. We removed larger round shrubs and huge hydrangeas and used various evergreen shapes against the house to create a more open, cleaner, yet still welcoming vibe.
The large shrubs and plantings by the street remained, and lots more perennials were added every year. We continued the rock edging for several yards along the entire edging (not pictured here) and added another layer of rock for height, as in this photo.
I have many varieties of Hosta, which I LOVE very much. Here you can also see ‘Rozanne’ cranesbill (Geranium ‘Rozanne’, Zones 5–9), purple salvia (Salvia nemorosa, Zones 3–8), and lilies (Lilium hybrid, Asiatic group, Zones 4–9).
Here’s a summer view of the small rock wall. The hot pink spirea (Spirea japonica, Zones 4–8) and feathered coreopsis (Coreopsis verticillata, Zones 3–9) give lots of flow and color from the road and into the driveway. I planted this Japanese maple (Acer palmatum, Zones 5–9) as a baby tree and continued to cut it back every year to keep it small.
We had our wooden fence painted black, and I absolutely LOVED the transformation and how the greenery became even more vibrant. Roses and bearded iris (Iris hybrid, Zones 3–8) are against the fence, as well as balloon flowers (Platycodon grandiflorus, Zones 3–8) that will come up later in the season.
These last two photos are from the pool area. Summer plants fill in, so there are fewer weeds and continued clumps of color. Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia fulgida, Zones 5–9), coneflower (Echinacea purpurea, Zones 3–8), and bee balm (Monarda didyma, Zones 4–8) are plentiful.
Spring shows the 3/4 washed rock hardscape. Here you can find Penstemon digitalis (Zones 3–8), lillies (Lilium hybrid, Asiatic group, Zones 4–9), and catmint (Nepeta × faassenii, Zones 3–8), one of my all-time favorite perennials.
Comments
Lovely garden and great photos. I particularly liked the idea of painting the back fence black. Must be tough to leave.
Beautiful! Hope the new keepers of the garden appreciate what you have done & love it as much as you did! Good luck on your new journey!
I actually remember your garden! I remember seeing the photo of the wonderful plantings inside the pool fence around the pool...very impressive, very memorable!
I feel for you...having to move from your beautiful home & garden after 24 years of perfecting it....sigh...
Take lots of photos, more than you even think you want, and take starts of special plants along with you...it makes the next garden feel more like home.
That black fence and arch...oh I sure would miss that...the color is so earthy and gives it weight.
Good luck on your move and new garden...hope you share what you do at your next garden.
Thanks everyone! It was bittersweet. I did take plants as there is space where we are renting.
Not sure what the future dwelling will be, but we plan to have a little slice of paradise where flowers will bloom. 💚
It is all so beautiful. I know it must be so very difficult to leave it.
Your gardens are absolutely lovely, and because my husband and I are doing the very same thing this summer, I understand what you are going through. We've also been in our house for over 20 years and we'll be downsizing to a condo, so there won't be much to garden except for a few patio pots and a tiny area off our front porch. I hope to take cuttings and divisions from some of my plants this spring to bring with me...and I imagine you'll be doing the same. I wish you lots of happiness in your new home. I'm sure you'll make it as beautiful as this one!
It’s painful to leave ones gardens. When we moved that was very hard. Even revamping is not easy, I feel your pain. All the best of luck with your new endeavours. Alice
Don't know how you can stand to leave this beautiful home and the spectacular gardens you've created. It's all so very lovely! I cried like a baby when we drove away from our home and gardens of 20 years in Franklin Lakes, NJ. Still miss it after 6 years here in the Charlotte, NC, area. I wish you all the best wherever you end up and hope it will have space for you to keep gardening!
I plan/hope for a space. I need an area to go out into putter, and enjoy. Hope you have a space too.
You've brought tears to my eyes! To leave such a beautiful home and gardens must be very difficult. I, too, must think about the future but I'm lucky to have a garden helper now and won't go anywhere until I can no longer navigate the winding roads and my very steep driveway. That's what I say, anyway. Best of wishes to you and a great big "thank you" for taking the time to share your creativity with us all.
Thank you for sharing with us. So tough to leave a garden behind, especially one as lovely and mature as this one. I wouldn’t have thought of painting and arbor and fence black, but it really works and makes everything “pop”! All the best with your move.
Thanks everyone! Writing this and sending photos was therapeutic. The gardens were a lot to manage with 12 large beds. I hope to have a couple of beds to enjoy my favorites (roses, hydrangea, catmint, hosta) and colorful seasonal annuals in containers. 40 days till spring here!
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