1044 Park Street

To the casual observer, someone driving past perhaps, the garden at 1044 Park Street might appear unkempt, even neglected. But upon closer inspection, more details emerge and the neighbor out for an evening stroll might pause to reflect and begin to appreciate how successful the owner, Denise Crosby , was in achieving her landscape objectives.

No mow Eco Grass vibrant after the winter rains. Photo by Louis Desprez

The reader may remember the familiar term of Xeriscape landscaping introduced in the early ‘80s when the Denver Water District promoted water conservation in their city. Handsome groupings of native and drought tolerant plants, drip irrigation and dry creek beds became popular features of many gardens. Over the past several decades climate warming has reinforced these principles and more recently our community has added pollinator friendly and deer resistant plants, defensible space, and fire-wise to the vocabulary.

When Denise purchased her new home three years ago, she wanted to leave behind the boxwood borders and expansive lawn of her large corner property and lean into the ancient Japanese philosophy and aesthetic of wabi-sabi that imphasizes finding beauty in imperfection, impermanence, and the natural cycle of growth and decay. She also appreciated that Ashland was a mountain town, nestled in a bowl surrounded by forests and rolling hills and wanted her new-found residence to reflect these attributes.

Denise considers herself very fortunate in connecting with a landscaper who appreciated these same values and her conversations with Louis Desprez of Castle Landscape & Design led to a design that she quickly approved. It is minimalist in nature, encompassing drought tolerant grasses, specimen trees and colorful ground cover enhanced with an artful composition including a rusted iron water feature and cedar screen. The hardscape materials are rich in texture and color.

Water feature designed by Mike Kline, fabricated by Denny DeBay, Ashland Forge, Cedar screen crafted by Louis Desprez     Photo by Elizabeth Essex

The existing sod lawn was replaced with Eco Grass to soften the harsh reality of a wide street and driveway. This dense, low growing, deep rooted, no mow grass reflects the changing seasons we so love in our surrounding hillsides. A soft breeze creates a living palette of greens, turning to golden, then to blonde. A cluster of ornamental grasses (‘Karl Foerster’ Feather Reed Grass and Tufted Hairgrass) add screening to a small rise adjacent to a seating area. The blossoms of a Flowering Cherry announce that spring has arrived and a Lace Leaf Japanese Maple greets guests by the entry walk. A Japanese Black Pine anchors the intersection where the driveway meets Park Street. Creeping Phlox and Veronica add splashes of color during the seasons.

 Mid-season transition Photo by Elizabeth Essex

It’s impossible to arrive at the front door without admiring the geometry of the walkways. Note the rhythm of bordo block embedded in the decomposed granite chosen to replace the traditional public sidewalk. The colored, stamped concrete of the primary walk is banded on either side with squares of concrete pavers alternating with planting pockets filled with Crocosmia and multi-hued Mexi Pebble Mix. A shorter, softly curved path of crushed Blue Ridge gravel edged with the same bordo block leads from the driveway to the door. In spring the visitor is greeted with the scent of Lilac; in summer, it is aromatic Calamintha. Various boulders of local heritage are included to add authenticity to this landscape, reminiscent of an alpine meadow, complete with scree.

Hummingbirds are attracted to the bright blooms of Crocosmia. Photo by Elizabeth Essex

Ultimately garden design is a subjective art, very much dependent on the viewer’s interpretation of harmony and balance, scale and proportion. The viewer may have developed a critical eye but the design will not resonate unless it is compatible with one’s true self. As introduced above, wabi-sabi is a philosophy that encourages a more mindful and accepting approach to life, embracing the present moment and finding beauty in the everyday. Altogether, this front garden at 1044 Park Street reflects the philosophy of the owner, Denise Crosby. Beauty truly can be found in the eye of the beholder, 

Denise Crosby and Louis Desprez       Photo by Elizabeth Essex

Article by Elizabeth Essex, AGC Garden of the Month Coordinator

The Ashland Garden Club has been selecting Gardens of the Month, from April through September, since 2000. Nominations are gratefully received at aogardenclub@gmail.com