This residence in Richmond, Va., has an English Garden backyard designed by 3north Architects. A long tall fescue lawn, which backs up against the forested remainder of the property, has as its focal point a custom-built, white ironwork greenhouse imported from England by Hartly Botanics. The greenhouse faces the decorative focal point of the backyard, the cast stone fountain.

Extensive landscape and garden design solutions for the historic property of a serious gardener originated in an approach that merged distinguished architectural style with a balance of aesthetics and function. While beauty reigns, environmental sustainability is considered, cut perennials are gathered, and vegetables are harvested.

A brick path and steps lead from the greenhouse to the fountain, connecting the two focal points of the garden. A teak bench provides a place for contemplation and reflection.

Approach & Inspiration
Constructed in 1925, the property's red brick residence was designed as a copy of Bacon's Castle, Virginia's venerable 17th century landmark. Distinguished by its High Jacobean style and lively red brickwork, the house features picturesque groupings of triple chimneystacks diagonally set against elegantly curved gables. A refined approach and arrival court were designed to defer to the scenic architecture, while the walled garden's location and landscape elements reference its splendid history and craftsmanship.

The garden design, referencing horticultural practices in Britain's 17th century Stuart period, combines axial organization with elements such as fountains and pools, terraces that respond to natural topography, pleached trees, and parterre beds. More specifically, the design integrates the owner's serious approach, which reflects a trend inspired by the gardens at Highgrove House, where the Prince of Wales has nurtured his private passion for over thirty years. Developing his gardens with a combination of beauty, sustainability, and pragmatism, the Prince advocates organic principles, an emphasis on native and endangered plants, and the satisfaction of harvesting one's daily source of sustenance and beauty.

The red brick residence, built in 1925, was designed as a copy of Bacon's Castle, Virginia's venerable 17th century landmark. Distinguished by its High Jacobean style and lively red brickwork, the house features picturesque groupings of triple chimneystacks diagonally set against elegantly curved gables.

Design & Implementation
The design consists of a simple approach to and around the house, and more elaborate spaces in terraced levels behind garden walls. Approach and arrival at the residence were rendered with gravel surfaces that create a gentle, natural transition from the road and drive. Designed to evoke the simplicity of traditional European forecourts, the courtyard landscape is intentionally spare in its palette, deferring to the splendid architecture of the house while referencing Virginia garden tradition: green lawns, rows of boxwood, crepe myrtles, and London plane trees, the latter deliberately spaced to allow their canopies to form a "ceiling" for arrival.

On the terrace, a series of interconnected "garden rooms" stretch out beyond a walled seating area nearest to the house, which features a new fireplace designed by 3north that references the peaked gable of the front entrance and the patterned brickwork of the chimneys.

Extending longitudinally from the north side of the residence, the long, walled garden rectangle aligns with the massing of the house, and thus features the charming curved gables and trio of chimneys at its end. The garden proper consists of two distinct, parallel parts bordered along their lengths by rows of herbs, roses, and perennial beds. A long grass lawn, which backs up against the forested remainder of the property, has as its focal point a custom-built, white ironwork greenhouse imported from England by Hartly Botanics. Paralleling the green areas, the low wall of the terrace is raised in response to the site's natural grade and features inset garden stairs along its length. The width of the steps and their sweeping curbs are sized to correspond to the wheel span of a garden cart, thus providing ease in navigating the two levels.

Up on the terrace, a series of interconnected "garden rooms" stretch out beyond a walled seating area nearest to the house, which features a new fireplace that references the peaked gable of the front entrance, as well as the patterned brickwork of the chimneys. Ornamental bronze metalwork, utilized in the fireplace screen, also appears throughout the garden in gates, trellises, and arbors. Designers collaborated closely with builders and craftsmen, the high standards of whom resulted in work that reflects the hand of the individual and stands as testament to the lasting significance of custom craftsmanship.

The fountain, set upon a herringbone-pattern brick base, is the decorative focal point of the garden. Surrounding this lavish and ornate display are repurposed brick paths that extend from the basin to form quiet green quadrants.

Located up on the terrace, on axis with the greenhouse, is the decorative focal point of the gardens: set upon a herringbone-pattern brick base is a deep, ornamental water basin, from which rises a classical tiered fountain of white marble. Surrounding this lavish and baroque display – a veritable celebration of water – are brick paths that extend from the basin to form quiet green quadrants. In contrast, against the wall at the far end of the garden, espaliered apple trees on a bronze framework form the backdrop to a vegetable garden contained in a raised circular bed composed of rustic, layered stone. At the center, a bronze obelisk provides another kind of focal point, its form recalling the age-old continuity and elemental simplicity of harvesting the fruits of one's labor.

Aesthetics, function, and architectural style merged together to create this elegant backyard English garden. Southern Magnolia trees along the brick wall in the background are pleached, or woven, together to create a tree wall around the top of the brickwork.

Challenge & Solution
Other than the privileged challenge of creating a garden that meets the high design standards of the existing site and architecture, and the authentic aspirations of a serious gardener, the one major challenge was deer and how to keep them out. An eight-foot high fence, added in the woods around the perimeter of the gardens, guards against the intrepid marauders.

At the far end of the garden, espaliered apple trees on a bronze framework define the quadrants of the vegetable garden in a raised circular bed framed by layered stone. At the center, a bronze obelisk provides another focal point, its form recalling the age-old continuity and elemental simplicity of harvesting the fruits of one's labor. An 8-foot-high fence surrounds the garden and the woods, keeping deer out while providing an artful boundary.

Project Team
Landscape Architects: 3north
Horticultural Consulting: Peggy Singlemann
General Contractor: Clark Robins, Inc.

Materials List
Ornamental Metalwork: Bradley Robinson Studios
Greenhouse: Hartly Botanics
Masonry: Southern Brick, Inc.