a 2020 garden for escape and remembrance
In September of 2019, a close friend asked if I would help her plant a garden and create an outdoor space for the family and pets. We excitedly began planning for a backyard transformation for the spring of 2020. Little did we know what lie ahead. Six months later, we found ourselves navigating a number of pandemic and lockdown-related challenges. Despite early indications that plant material would be hard to come by, we were relieved to find bountiful supplies of exquisite trees and New Hampshire grown perennials from our NH wholesale growers.
We were fortunate to be able to retain the services of Parker Garden Design for site prep and installation of large trees. In a few short weeks, we transformed a neglected backyard into a truly restorative and healing escape. The loss of a close loved one a few months later revealed just how important this space would become.
The space before renovation: April, 2020
breaking ground: 5/20
Working with the immensely talented team of Parker Garden Design, a simple layout was achieved ~ one that would accommodate 3 very large and very active poodles (poodles that liked to ‘dig to China’ as Galina would exclaim) in a way that kept the dogs happy and kept delicate plant material out of their reach.
Site prep included installation of a generous drip edge to prevent soil and mud from splashing onto the home’s siding. The yard area was then prepared and divided into two ‘play’ sections ~ one for the doggies and one for their humans. The human side included keeping a nice brick patio and removing overgrown and invasive plant material. Next came the addition of many yards of high quality garden soil, beautifully graded and ready for planting gorgeous trees and perennials.
The doggie side was left as an open area to run and romp, with the addition of a healthy layer of wood chips to deter digging and to keep things looking relatively tidy. The owners installed their own cute DIY gate right down the middle to separate the play areas. Drip installation was the last step prior to a generous layer of composted bark mulch.
We initially focused on dwarf and small stature conifers and deciduous ornamental trees. The sunniest section of the garden was planted with graceful perennials like foxglove, agastache and tall phlox. Over time, more small trees have been planted and the mulch path has been replaced with a moss path (installed in November, 2022)
The garden has become an extension of the home, providing a relaxing outdoor space for family and friends. Even though the poodles could easily jump the fence, they visit the garden ‘by invitation only’! The following images were shared by the homeowner:
Oct & Nov, 2022 installation of moss garden:
After a few years of struggling with the mulch path, we decided to try a natural moss path instead since I’ve had such great luck with my own moss garden. Native sheet moss was purchased from Moss Acres in Pennsylvania, making this a very fun and easy project. Prior to moss installation, Parker Garden Design spread beautiful composted mulch to nourish plants and protect plant crowns through the upcoming winter. Updates to come as we observe results in 2023!
