The eclectic vibe of our in-town neighborhoods can often be seen in gardens and in the intimate porches and patios of historic homes. When the owners of this classic 1920s bungalow designed their garden, they wanted a landscape filled with year-round interest. The slightly elevated lot provides passers-by unique perspectives of the welcoming front yard, which is dappled with light coming through the 100-year-old Willow Oaks that line the street. A custom cedar gate and arbor leads to the rear garden, which features an array of colors, textures and fragrances from oldfashioned favorites like Magnolias, Gardenias and Osmathus. A rose covered pergola is flanked by a stunning Japanese maple, creating an ideal setting for alfresco dining, and the private seating area is complemented by a re-circulating water feature.
For Lib Jones and Tom Nunnencamp, gardening is both a passion and an obsession. For the past 15 years, they’ve been on a journey to convert the adjacent overgrown 2.25-acre lot into a true urban oasis. Affectionately called “MapleWalk”, the garden has received both regional and national accolades with their extensive assortment of Japanese maples, dwarf conifers, rhododendrons, dogwoods, hostas, ferns and other unique perennials. The 28-foot elevation change is noticeable through a long pathway that meanders through the property. Each plant is meticulously labeled and tagged and Tom and Lib offer private tours to garden clubs and other visitors throughout most of the garden season. “I usually take the gardeners and Lib leads the non-gardeners,” says Tom. “The gardeners tend to want to stay for awhile and ask lots of questions, which I am happy to accommodate.”
This backyard oasis, designed by John Byrd Garden Design in conjunction with Architectural Designer, Frank Smith, is a study in symmetry and contour. “I designed this garden to be like a well- tailored men’s suit,” says John. “I edited out many layers and refined it exquisitely.” The double wooden gates and tall brick wall secluded nature of the space. Pennsylvania Bluestone was used for the terraces and walkways and a large greenleaf Japanese maple was selected to be the focal point when you first enter, a centerpiece to the peaceful courtyard. The pool house, also designed by Frank, gracefully compliments the hardscapes and the personal home of Charles and Marty Wickham. Succulents were planted around the pool deck and the sculpture on the back wall serves as a relaxing water feature. Of the many plants used in the landscape, some include American boxwoods, pachysandra, camelia sasanqua and cast iron plant. Though a complex mix of plants and hardscape, this “garden” is easy to maintain.
Succulents are planted around the pool deck and the sculpture on the back wall serves as a relaxing water feature. Of the many plants used in the landscape some include American boxwoods, Pachysandra, Camelia Sasanqua and Cast Iron plant. Though a complex mix of plants and hardscape, this “garden” is easy to maintain. An expansive vegetable garden located on the adjacent lot to the home includes an abundance of fresh vegetables like arugala, red leaf kale, San Marzano tomatoes, spinach, onions, okra and hot peppers to name a few. All unused vegetables are harvested and donated to a localfood bank in Charlotte.
Planned by Architectural Designer,Frank Smith, and executed by John Byrd Garden Design, this classically beautiful garden blankets the back yard of Leslie and Mitchell Wickham’s home in Myers Park. “I brought Frank over to look at the lot with me and on a yellow notepad, he drew a rough copy of what you see today,” remembers Leslie. The shape of the lot presented challenges, but the team created a space that can be seen from almost everywhere in the house.
John Byrd spent almost a year with the Wickhams viewing different types of trees, plants and flowers during the four seasons, all represented in some form throughout the garden. The yard is divided into several “rooms” – motor court, croquet lawn, cutting garden, boxwood knot garden, vegetable beds, play yard and potting shed. Rainwater is captured and stored in two large cisterns buried under the garden beds, providing most of the water needed for irrigation, so maintenance is easy, but necessary for each new season.