1. THE QUOTIDIAN GARDEN

Entranced by the view from the dining room, the current owners found that they had almost a blank slate on which to design their future garden, all the mature trees having died. What had previously been a shady spot was now filled with sun. Today boxwoods delineate the graceful curves of the perennial border which the owner stresses is low-maintenance , belying the many happy hours she spends there.

This gardener inherited her love of gardening from her grandmother and from her mother, and a number of their plants continue to thrive on Green Hill Lane. As their “care tender” explains, “It’s a lovely way to spend time with the people I love.”

2. THE CONSTANT GARDENERS

When the owners moved into this charming, ivy-clad house, there was little planting and no terraces. Today, mature trees, a boxwood – enclosed rose garden, herb parterres, three terraces and an inviting pool welcome family and friends. To thwart the deer which had consumed a succession of previous gardens, the owners have installed well-disguised fences.

Access to the garden is through tall, handsome gates replicating those designed by Thomas Jefferson for “The Lawn” at the University of Virginia. Needless to say, the owners have become extremely knowledgeable in the field of deer-resistant plants.

3. WIMBLEDON REDUX

Beginning in 1989, the new owners found a landscape with good bones and plantings of venerable hollies.They gradually began to transform the property into a series of areas where family and friends would be drawn together. The former croquet lawn now has a fire pit enjoyed throughout the year.

Capturing the spirit of her family’s Virginia farm, Wimbledon, the entrance to the gardens and its terraces is through a hornbeam arch. A bricked path leads to the fountain and terrace with a vine covered arbor and to the pool. A charming potting shed and raised beds for fruits and vegetables were added in 2016. With something for every age and every interest, the owners hope that “it will always be a tranquil place where we can all be together.”

4. WILD HOLLY

A labor of love, an arresting collection of prized plant material, an unparalleled knowledge of horticulture and garden design coalesce to create an enchanting enclave. No matter the season, this garden offers the visitor much to contemplate. Specimens from Maine, plant material well past its prime acquired at end of season sales, rare species from Cuba and as faraway as Mongolia thrive in this relatively small space. Stunning sculptures and two reflecting pools which which mirror the design of the house all vie for the visitor’s attention.

5. WILDWOOD FARM

Since moving into their beautifully restored house above the Ohio, the owners began an ambitious tree planting program, starting along the drive with hardwoods such as tupelo, hickory and weeping beech. After much consideration, they determined that an English cottage garden would reflect their lives more appropriately than the formal garden design which had been previously established. Influenced by Gertrude Jekyll, the owners are striving to create a garden which flows from one pattern into another. With a nod to her native Connecticut, one area has been devoted to a charming bed of hydrangeas.

6. GREEN HEAVEN

At the end of Greenhaven Lane, on a promontory overlooking the Ohio River, a green heaven awaits you. Passing through rolling pastures dotted with bison and punctuated with sculptures, the drive brings you to heart of the farm, an 1830’s house. Nearby vegetable and flower gardens, a resurrected pond and handsome stables are just a few of the attractions. Amid what nature has provided and what history has passed down, the visitor will be intrigued by a number of stunning, and thought provoking, contemporary art installations.