It seems right that every home with wonderful interior spaces should be surrounded by equally stunning gardens, doesn’t it? At my lake cottage, I’ve been hard at work on the inside stuff. But, unfortunately, I am an abject failure when it comes to gardening. Once, I made a feeble attempt to bring the courtyard at my Atchison home to life, only to be told by dear friends that the plants I’d been cultivating were poison ivy. Oops!
Apparently once you have picked the right shrubs, perennials and annuals for your garden, then put them in the spots that are not too sunny or too shady for them, you have to also water them regularly. Who knew? Needless to say, my plant kill rate was embarrassingly high until my friends Gloria and Lynda nudged me aside and made my courtyard a paradise, as you can tell from the photo above.
So when it came time to put in the garden at our lake cottage, I didn’t even pretend to know what I was doing. It was time to bring in the pros. I knew what I wanted: A garden that was lush and mature, full of the romantic, old fashioned flowers I loved in my dad’s garden as a kid.
While we didn’t raze the existing house, we did do extensive renovations, keeping only a few choice features, like the stone fireplaces in the living room and study. Even though everything else in the house was new, I wanted it to all look old, full of charm, like it had been a family cottage that had been passed down one generation to the next. That went for the garden, too.
I learned the hard way that to get more mature trees, shrubs and perennials, you have to open your wallet. That hurt. A lot. But I considered it a wise investment in my home’s exterior design. As the trucks pulled up and the landscape started filling in, I was dazzled.
Like most of the houses on our street, our home sits down below the street level, with a backwards sloping lot that leads down to the lake. We decided to turn the small front yard into a patio, covering it in flagstones that have an aged patina and edging the space with raised gardens filled with flowers.
Our quiet neighborhood doesn’t see a lot of car traffic, but in the evenings, the lane is crowded with people out walking their dogs or strolling. Dan and I will sit out front on lovely evenings and catch up with our neighbors.
The flagstone steps that meander down from the street to our patio are a bit steep and can be slick when wet, so instead of using a generic utilitarian hand rail, I decided to find one that was a piece of art. I love our quirky banister, which looks like it was fashioned out of sprouting saplings.
I’m a fan of garden states when they are used judiciously, one or two nestled in among the plants. This sweet birdbath sits next to the banister, adding a bit of whimsy to the scene.
I could not tell you the names of almost any of the plants in my garden. Honestly. I found a garden design team I trusted, told them my vision, then got out of their way. But I know this one! We planted tulips all around the house, in big showy masses. They are one of the most audaciously happy flowers I’ve ever seen, and I can’t get enough of them.
With a garden to nose around in, a lake to swim in and a wide sunny lawn to nap in, Lyric is pretty happy with the outdoor spaces at Innisfree, too!
Next Week … When my cousin Anne downsized, she bought a dated, lackluster home she could work renno magic on. I can’t wait to show you her newly remodeled kitchen and dining room.
Rita Key says
May 8, 2017 at 9:59 amI love everything about this post! I can’t wait to see your cousin’s redo!!!
Donna Toma says
May 8, 2017 at 2:15 pmGorgeous!!! Great job by your team!! Love the bannisters and sapling posts!!!
Joan says
May 8, 2017 at 2:35 pmEverything is beautiful. Having recently had bannisters made for our front step, I was really enthralled with yours! I’ve looked at a lot of front steps, but never seen anything that compared.
kathybrs says
May 8, 2017 at 2:41 pmAbsolutely beautiful!
Sharon Smith says
May 8, 2017 at 3:31 pmWhere can I find a banister like yours??
Wrenda says
May 8, 2017 at 3:43 pmYour front garden is stunning-all around! Thank you for sharing it.
franki says
May 8, 2017 at 4:36 pmKUDOS!!! Transformation magic!! I see all those lovely tulips and know that the deer that ate all mine must have thought so too. *sigh* franki
Jackie says
May 8, 2017 at 6:32 pmLovely. Who were your landscapers! So hard to find someone who can see your vision. Your gardens are beautiful. We have been looking for a landscape company that we can trust and after seeing your gardens would be interested who you used,
Barbara Wegener says
May 8, 2017 at 7:20 pmYour gardens are so lovely! So Calming and peaceful. I too would like to know the name of your gardening team!
Mary Carol Garrity says
May 9, 2017 at 5:09 pmHi Everyone! A few of you asked for the name of the landscaping team we used and about the wonderful handrail next to the steps leading down into my garden. Happy to share! The company is called A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, and they are out of Kansas City. They were also the ones that made the connection for the lovely handrail. Happy gardening!
Linda D Murphy says
May 9, 2017 at 9:12 amIt looks so beautiful. When we owned our 112 yr old Stone house it was overridden by trees and floweres etc. On 2 acres.
After 30 yrs. we quit! And bought a new maintenance provided.
Well, all I can say is I wish we’d done the move ten years ago.
However, what I miss the most are all our flowers shrubs etc. Orchard herb garden etc. But not the work!!!
Now we’re planting again. Lol
Hang In there.
Thanx for all your pictures and hard work both at the shop and lake cottage.
Linda Murphy
Lees Summit Mo
Diane Bailey says
May 9, 2017 at 9:12 amSo beautiful Mary…lovely to see such beauty todsy..on my Birthday..Thank you..Diane Bailey ASID
Susan Ritter says
May 9, 2017 at 9:51 amWould love to know your source for the banister!!
marilyn shanno says
May 9, 2017 at 11:35 amBeautiful inside and out!!
Marjorie Ewart says
May 10, 2017 at 1:09 pmYour garden is so lovely, yes it looks like it’s been there forever!! A side note–the new picture frame with you and your siblings on Mom,s lap has art above the sofa which I believe is above the fireplace in your cottage home. I love that you used it in your home!!!