A derelict landscape that once surrounded three restored 19th century buildings in southern Delaware became a weekend retreat with bold garden spaces with drought-tolerant plantings, incorporating rural site elements respectful of the historic structures. Once part of a 220-acre working farm in 1840, the site is now three acres. A circa 1850 log cabin moved from the Shenandoah Valley is the guest cottage, and a 1860s train depot relocated from Harbeson, Del. is the pool house.
The site comprises a front garden and parking court, rear lawn dining terrace, swimming pool and depot garden and orchard meadow of heirloom fruit varieties and low-mow grass. The gravel entry drive and entry court are edged in local granite cobbles; unpainted plank fencing and gates match the house’s cedar-shake siding. The swimming pool has a salt water system and an outdoor shower reminiscent of corncribs found on area farms. A garden folly is made from salvaged columns from a former school in Easton, Md. Plantings are drought-tolerant varieties, mostly native to the mid-Atlantic coastal plain region. Impervious surfaces were minimized to encourage positive drainage and reduce stormwater runoff. • ASLA Potomac Chapter Merit Award 2009

The Luskey Zero Net Energy House is one of the first LEED Platinum residences in the D.C. area. The house consumes only as much energy as it produces. A geothermal heat pump gives back to the electric grid with a large photovoltaic solar array and flat panel solar collectors. The interior elements are all environmentally friendly, organic or recycled. A rain garden of drought-tolerant plantings collects and filters partial roof drainage. Large rain barrels collect roof runoff and are connected to low-volume irrigation. A large shade structure of Ipe and steel is planted with native wisteria. Site plantings are mostly native or adaptive species and the lawn areas are planted with drought tolerant Ecolawn. The steps are recycled granite from a number of Maine deconstruction projects and the driveway is permeable paving and concrete. There is also an extensive green roof planted with low sedums.