Today’s Garden Photos of the Day come from Ruth Oliver Jolliffe in Mattapoisett, Mass.

This garden is all about clean, straight lines to create a beautiful, elegant space but then pushing against that rigidity with points of color, whimsy, and informality.

The corner of the checkerboard patio, made with a beautiful combination of different stones, and showing the border beyond in full spring color.

Another view of the checkerboard. What a cool paving idea! Using the contrasting pattern of stones creates a lot of interest, and the strict formalism of the square checkerboard is broken up by the small square bed of looser plants set into it. The border beyond is now protected by a fence to keep the rabbits out.

A view down the steps from the deck, with color brought in from the brightly painted walls and a note on informality from the plants that grow between the steps.

Sunset as seen from the deck. What an incredible view!

The view up to the house, looking over a long, rectangular pond set into the lawn. An enormous, brightly painted chair brings whimsy and color to the scene.

Another view of the giant, purple-and-yellow chair.

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