A Century of Elegance

Covered with lavender blooms, a lush and sprawling potato vine (Solanum laxum) commands your attention as you approach the entrance to this garden from Belvidere Avenue. Step through the gate and under a graceful, spreading apricot tree. Thought to be past its peak of fruitfulness when the Greens bought their home in 1985, it continues to produce fruit. On the right, its dappled shade shelters rhododendrons, Japanese andromeda (Pieris japonica), clematis, camellias, and several ground cover plantings. On the left, look for a textural mix of spiky crocosmia leaves, arching raspberries and dwarf boxwood.

A curving walk leads to the 100-year-old home, designed by a noted architect of the time, Arthur Loveless. This stately home is framed with a layered, artful mix of color and form, trees and shrubs, both evergreen and deciduous, creating structure and year-round interest.

As the house and pool come into view, pass a dwarf eastern white pine and notice the gold-green leaves of a towering gingko tree with deep burgundy Aeonium arboreum ‘General Schwarzkopf’ at its feet. The north side of the pool is a vibrant mix of Fatsia japonica, clematis, climbing roses, dahlias, and palm trees.

Over time, older plantings have been replaced to enhance privacy along the north and south fence lines. Rhododendrons, camellias, Stewartia, Kalmia, dogwood, and several Japanese maples now reach upwards while an understory mix of hosta, Acanthus mollis and varied ground covers create a tapestry of color and texture below.

Continue to the end of the pool and through a gate to exit the garden where you will find Japanese maple, a fence-hugging climbing hydrangea and a clever containment solution for bamboo.

Wheelchair accessible.