Patios, Walls, and Gardens- oh my

This was the first exterior landscape and hardscape project I tackled at The Island. A small bluestone patio existed behind the house but the rest of the space was collapsed and crumbling retaining walls with a pile of construction debris that had been covered in dirt and non-native plant overgrowth. I watched the space for 2 years to see how it was used by wildlife here before me before designing it. The placement of patios vs garden beds were determined based on where the snapping turtles and mallards had nesting sites in that area. They still use the beds each spring to nest and some have been expanded to accommodate them. The space was reimagined to include a second portion of the patio for dining that would overlook the waterfall. I wanted the patios to feel like you were in a secret garden, tucked away in a little enchanted space and encompassed by nature. My father designed and led the wall and hardscape rebuilds- designed to handle drainage issues correctly- reusing all of the original collapsed stones and more found on the property. The patios were built from second-hand bluestone and stones from our famous CT soil to create borders. Beds were planted with groupings of native plants, nearly all CT native species, selected for the site of each bed. This means as these beds approach maturity, we have almost never had to water. The colors and shapes around the patio change with the seasons and are planted for 4 season interest. Watching the hundreds of pollinators- bumbles, butterflies, hummingbirds- flitter around these plants while listening to the birds singing is truly what makes this space feel magical.