Six years back this backyard in Massachusetts was a failed landscape overrun with invasives like poison ivy, bittersweet and euonymus. But a few having a 2-year-old kid and a dog saw beyond the tangled lawn, attracted to the property’s woodland setting in addition to the city of Belmont Hill’s proximity to Boston.
Soon after purchasing the house, they called upon landscape architect Matthew Cunningham, who had a vision of a principal entry route through a colorful front lawn perennial garden and a calm backyard woodland garden. “My clients desired a rural feel with modern elements that could contrast with the simple and tasteful traditional lines of the house,” says Cunningham. They also desired for low-maintenance, drought-tolerant, critter-resistant and colorful plants at front.
Matthew Cunningham Landscape Design LLC
Sneak peek! Salvia, miscanthus and peonies combine cool and warm colors.
Matthew Cunningham Landscape Design LLC
“As soon as I saw the house, I had a vision of a perennial garden with a walkway route cutting it through,” says Cunningham. The front lawn enjoys full sun for the majority of the day, which produces a perfect microclimate for all these plants.
Matthew Cunningham Landscape Design LLC
At the end of the entry route, a breezeway connects the main house into the garage and functions as the most important threshold to the house. The back side of the breezeway is all glass and enjoys views of the garden.
Two big pots of miscanthus flank the front door. “We play with all the plants in those containers seasonally … we have also used big boxwoods and fuchsia to add color, texture and elevation next to the doorway,” says Cunningham. “The backyard is constantly evolving.”
Matthew Cunningham Landscape Design LLC
The mounded forms and spires of the perennials, ornamental grasses and inkberry comparison with all the boxy shape of the house.
“The plantings are seasonal,” explains Cunningham. Waves of color from various plants bloom during the season, whereas glistening and silvery leaves provide comparison for the majority of the year. The plant selection includes Russian sage, giant alliums, salvia and white peonies.
Matthew Cunningham Landscape Design LLC
Catmint and geranium rozanne add ever-blooming shade down the front street throughout the summer.
The walkway and the driveway are made from Chip and Seal, which comes with an asphalt base, then a layer of liquified tar topped with a layer of embedded crushed pea stones. This gives the look of stones without the scatter brought on by shoveling and plowing in winter.
Matthew Cunningham Landscape Design LLC
Purple coneflowers, Russian sage and ornamental grasses bloom through July and August.
Matthew Cunningham Landscape Design LLC
Astilbes, geraniums and caramel coral bells show the vast array of color and texture in the blossoms and their own leaves.
Matthew Cunningham Landscape Design LLC
“The recognized canopy at the backyard means that it enjoys dappled color all day long,” says Cunningham. Compared to this explosion of color out front, the garden takes its cues from its tranquil woodland setting. Plants like mountain laurel and ferns increase the softness and lush green surroundings.
Matthew Cunningham Landscape Design LLC
Large elements of the yard’s new layout include this dining patio and a yard patio, created by dry laid stone retaining walls.
“From the garden, we utilized the brick to make texture and patterns that were not too loud,” says Cunningham. While the house has a running bond-brick pattern, the bricks at the garden were turned on edge to make contrast and tone down the busyness of their routines.
Matthew Cunningham Landscape Design LLC
“I utilized manganese iron place brick to the backyard. I adore these particular bricks since they take on various colors,” Cunningham says. “In the morning, they have a rich mahogany color, while in the day they provide off iridescent purplish blue hues.”
Matthew Cunningham Landscape Design LLC
Beneath the dining patio is a yard patio that overlooks the surrounding woodland. No mortar was used in building these walls, and Cunningham raves about the landscape building company that finished the renovation, Gardenform.
Matthew Cunningham Landscape Design LLC
A hand-picked rock stairway connects either of the terraces into the remainder of the lawn. “The clients really wanted to use a local stone,” says Cunningham. Thus, he discovered this Goshen stone, a granite in a nearby quarry.
Pops of purple from catmint and allium tie the back garden to front.
Matthew Cunningham Landscape Design LLC
The terracing and use of stone walls provides crisp changes in quality.
Matthew Cunningham Landscape Design LLC
“The garden’s geometry pulls in the house and channels views to particular plants and areas on the property,” explains Cunningham.These horizontal bands of brick slit through an herb garden. “The voids between the bricks comprise creeping thyme, culinary thyme, rosemary and chives … the kind of plants that are aromatic underfoot,” says Cunningham.
Matthew Cunningham Landscape Design LLC
A narrow gravel walkway through the herb garden channels the opinion to a grove of existing paper birch trees. “All these beautiful trees function as living sculptures,” notes Cunningham.
Matthew Cunningham Landscape Design LLC
Carefully placed punches of color in the foreground have a dark cricketing background provided by conservation woodlands.
Matthew Cunningham Landscape Design LLC
Sedona, main critter of this garden, loves to hang out in this beautiful landscape, and seemingly likes to fit his Pucci-esque accessories into the perennials.
Matthew Cunningham Landscape Design LLC
This house’s landscape continues to evolve, and Cunningham is currently trying to establish bud on the boccie court. Following is a glimpse at the plan to help you put each the photos into their higher context.
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