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Some of the most delicious garden are those that come together haphazardly , with no particular programme in mind . rather , they are the result of hard work , a skilful deal of trial and fault , and vast solitaire .
Azaleas and rhododendron blossom along a wood - chip path , under a canopy of improbable pine trees . ( picture by : Hugh Stephens )
When Chicago creative person Hugh Stephens retired eld ago and acquired this 25 - Akka hillside property in a rural domain outside Fennville , Michigan , the landscape lie in of overgrown yew hedges , rampant dapple of poison Hedera helix , and dead and die pine trees . Having little gardening experience and no estimate of what to do with such a immense amount of space , he simply set out out with a few flat tire of annuals and took it from there . “ Because I ’d lived in the city most of my life , there was no especial figure for the property , so what resulted was a teach - as - you - go - along style of gardening , ” he says .
Stephens was helped in his efforts by better half Jim Nulty , who moved from Indianapolis several years ago to join him . One thing lead to another , and they start up by removing Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree to make gay spaces where plants would thrive and clear shady spots of poison ivy to make elbow room for plush fern and hosta gardens .
Hostas amount up among spent daffodils , and will soon make full in the spots occupied by the wilting foliation . ( Photo by : Hugh Stephens )
They also reshaped a incline by moving large Rock , which opened up the chance for a rock candy garden . A field in front of the home was turned into a maze , with strategically mow way of life provide a contemplative 15 second walk for visitors . Wood - mulch trails march with rocks and fallen tree branches guide visitors through the tangle .
Cast concrete garden markers along the intersection of mulched trails head to garden of mixed perennials , annuals , and bulbs . ( pic by : Hugh Stephens )
In contrast to the shady wooded domain , the upper level of the prop is receptive to abundant sunlight . site there is a large plot of ground of aboriginal prairie , a vegetable garden fence in against deer , and three circular gardens of perennials and annuals edged with wine bottles one-half bury in the ground . “ As a weekend volunteer in prairie restoration with the Nature Conservancy in Chicago , I got interested in native grasses , so one of the first things I got start on was a small prairie in a sunny position behind the house , ” says Stephens .
aboriginal grass over in the prairie garden become smart as a whip wave of amber in the fall . ( Photo by : Hugh Stephens )
The landscape gardening style , if there is one , might be called eclectic . “ We do n’t have any peculiar preferent plants , and each year something new pull our attention , ” says Stephens . “ One year it ’s euphorbias , another it ’s hellebores and then amsonias , bonsai , and orchids . We ’ve added Star Gazer lily andNicotiana sylvestrisnext to the silver screen porch for beautiful scent in the eventide . We do n’t keep criminal record of the cultivars we have , and our dog is an expert at snatching plant rag , so we just enjoy what ’s here . ”
Strategically placed wooden decks with benches throughout the garden leave spots for visitors ( and the family frank ) to relax and enjoy the view . ( Photo by : Hugh Stephens )
Today the property is a well - orchestrated blend of woodlands , prairie , and manicured garden , offer up opportunities for discovery at every turn . “ Because we do all the work on the garden ourselves , we should be plan to make them smaller as we maturate . But like all gardeners , we tend to butt on out a little farther each year and add together beds in new sunny areas create when dead trees are removed . We ca n’t refuse making use of any new space that presents itself , ” Stephens says .
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The garden is particularly resplendent in early outflow , when daffodil and spring ephemerals begin blooming before the trees leaf out . Bloodroot , wake-robin , Dutchman ’s Breeches , wild powdered ginger , azaleas , Solomon ’s Seal , and twinleaf abound . The soil is perfect for rhododendrons , and many grow as tall as 20 feet gamey . ( Photo by : Hugh Stephens )
Hollyhocksbloom next to a homemade tower . ( Photo by : Hugh Stephens )
A covered gazebo offer a shady spot for morning umber before the horticulture begin and a restful place for a well - deserved trash of wine at day ’s end . ( Photo by : Hugh Stephens )
