An asphalt driveway of nearly 200-feet leads up to a paved parking court, which makes use of granite curbs (laid on their sides) and cobblestones.
Photo Credit: Susan Teare

This seaside cottage, which sits along Buzzards Bay in Massachusetts, was built in 1905, and although it has been modified and modernized over the years, the most recent owner wanted to restore the house to its original beauty, and add an easy-to-maintain and functional landscape.

To begin, the east wing (approximately one-third of the house) received a new structure, which replaced a contemporary addition from the 1960s. The new structure includes two rooms, a granite and fieldstone fireplace, porch and a turret, all of which better suit the style of the house.

Approximately 20 large fieldstones were placed in a row to create a walkway from the paved parking court to the front door. This area also has a short, six-inch to one-foot high fieldstone wall, which diverts stormwater that previously flooded the front of the house.

Driveway to Walkway
The garage (originally a carriage house) is located more than 200-feet north of the house; as such one of the goals was to create an attractive, but functional parking area close to the home's entrance. This was accomplished with a slightly reconfigured asphalt driveway, and a 2,300 square foot granite and cobblestone parking court, which sits on the west end of the house.

The parking court design also features a fieldstone walkway, which uses approximately 20 stones that lead to the front door. The landscape in front of the house is lined with newly planted astilbe, creeping phlox, and inkberry, to name a few, as well as Aurora path lights.

As the homeowner requested multiple gathering areas for guests to relax, a fieldstone patio was installed at the east end of the house.

Front yard
As the residence sits on a slight slope, the front of the house was prone to flooding during storms; therefore it was important for the landscape design to include stormwater management. To prevent this flooding, a six-inch to one-foot high fieldstone wall was installed in front of the house.

The majority of the trees in the front yard were already in place, except for the Apple and Dogwood trees that were added toward the front of the property, just south of the garage.

For a bit of privacy, a 200-foot long vegetation screen was added along the east-end property line. Almost half of the planting materials were relocated from other areas of the yard, as it was important to the homeowner that all of the existing plants be utilized. The vegetation screen includes redtwig dogwood, witchhazel, arrowwood viburnum, American holly, as well as white spruce, Colorado spruce and Leyland cypress evergreens. Plants in this area are 4 – 10 feet high.

East-end Landscape
In an effort to knit the landscape to the house, the landscape architect added a fieldstone wall along the east end of the landscape, which nicely complements the granite and fieldstone fireplace. The wall, two-and-a-half feet high, also helps block wind from the ocean. Plant beds that line the fieldstone wall and house are filled with dwarf periwinkle, running tapestry, Weisse Gloria and wild ginger. Another feature of this area is the round fieldstone patio that the homeowner requested. To create the patio, large rocks were set into the ground.

Although gathering areas are not included on the waterside of the landscape, there are two covered porches that have adequate seating for entertaining. Photo Credit: Susan Teare

Water-side Landscape
A nice aspect of the waterside of the house is the pier that leads down to Buzzards Bay. However, due to coastal restrictions, this portion of the landscape was not part of the re-design.

To give the area an update a New England residential seed mix was planted for the lawn. The mix is made up of fescue and bluegrass and coordinates with the rest of the landscape. This area also has several mature oak trees that were protected during the construction.

Although additional gathering areas could not be added to the landscape, there are two covered porches that have adequate seating for entertaining.

1 Residence
2 Garage
3 Driveway
4 Parking Court
5 East-end Landscape
6 Vegetation Screen
7 West-end Landscape
8 Vegetation Screen
Image credit: Clara Batchelor

West-end Landscape
The west end landscape begins three steps below the granite and cobblestone parking court, where beds of inkberry, sweet woodruff, and dropmore catmint sit. Vegetation around the area also includes a 25-foot privacy screen of white spruce, Colorado spruce and Leyland cypress evergreens.

Another feature of the west-end landscape is the L-shaped garden wall, made of Weymouth granite and fieldstone, which has a hidden outdoor shower and a built-in grill. The creation of this wall had two objectives, to create a private and protected dining area, but to also combat the winds that come off the water, which are particularly strong.

The dining area is made from dark granite, and is surrounded by coordinating fieldstones that were placed into the ground. Lighting in this area is largely received from the screened porch, however the built-in grill has lighting for convenience and two wall sconces were added for ambiance.

The Osprey, also known as a sea hawk and fish eagle, is from the Pandionidae family. This fish-eating bird of prey lives along the Massachusetts coast and has a hooked beak for tearing fish, large talons and is 24 inches in length and 71 inches across the wings.

About Buzzards Bay
Buzzards Bay, part of the Atlantic Ocean, received its name from European colonists in the 1600s, who saw a large bird by the ocean they called a buzzard. The bird, an Osprey is still present today, however its numbers have significantly declined due to the use of DDT in the 1950s and "60s. According to the Buzzards Bay Coalition the pesticide was banned in 1979. In 1988, Buzzards Bay was included in the National Estuary program, which protects watershed areas.

Today, the bay (28 miles long by 8 miles wide) encompasses many coastal cities and is popular for fishing and boating, as well as summer vacationing.

Design Team
Landscape Architect
CBA Landscape Architects LLC, Clara Batchelor

Architect
Hart Associates Architects Inc., Steve Hart

Construction Team
Building Contractor
Gilman Guidelli & Bellow, Doug Bellow

Landscape Contractor
Paragon Landscape Construction, Stephanie and Tim Reid