
AGC’s 40th Anniversary Plant Sale was a success!

186 Ohio Street – It’s such a pleasant surprise to discover the beautiful garden at 186 Ohio Street. Although the house is on a flag lot, much of the garden is visible from the street or sidewalk. Stacy and Eric Poole own the property and have lived here with their two daughters Allie and Aimee, a dog, cat, and three chickens since 2001. It’s easy to find the property because of two large basalt pillars installed near the sidewalk by their friend, the stone sculptor Jesse Biesanz.
In fact, the Pooles have many talented friends who have added to the charming ambience of the property. Metal sculptor Cheryl Garcia is a friend who helped Stacy with the original garden design and installation. There are numerous Garcia sculptural pieces throughout. Landscape designer and friend Jane Hardgrove has helped transform areas of the garden with her vision.
Stacy averages two to five hours per week working in the garden but wishes she could spend more time. Vidal Cervantes has been helping with weeding and cleanup. Allie and Aimee enjoy spending time in the garden and help their mother realize changes.
The garden has evolved as the children are growing up. The current trampoline replaced a swing set, and is likely to be replaced before long with a fire pit and seating area. Other areas of the landscape have been reworked in phases.
Among Stacy’s favorite plants are the sunflowers of summer and Japanese maples. There are raised beds for vegetables, including lettuces, tomatoes, and basil, and various kinds of berries abound. Tiny (less than two inches high) cyclamen catch the eye in March. Pleasant surprises are everywhere at all times of year.
Article by Ruth Sloan
Photos by Larry Rosengren
What a team!!!!!——- Jeanne Arago
Photos by: Carlotta Lucas
The gardens at 170 Logan Drive are the Ashland Garden Club’s Garden of the Month for October. Chris Eberhardt and Gene Miller bought the property in 2008, and the gardens then were nice enough. But in 2013, they decided to re-landscape to update and unify the property, and to make it deer resistant. They refer to certain sections of the garden, and the adjacent v-shaped plot at the corner of Logan and Scenic, held by the property owners’ association, as the “deer highway.” They hired Solid Ground Landscape Inc. to develop a comprehensive plan and provide regular maintenance. Solid Ground included a pathway for the deer to encourage a certain route.
The back is on a steep grade, dotted with tall oaks, from a lovely balustrade terrace, with rhododendrons and daisies providing seasonal color. A charming and private outdoor “room” featuring Japanese maples, was created just outside the hexagonal dining room that was previously exposed to the street. A yew hedge provides much of the privacy. This room has a more formal look than the rest of the garden, with its manicured boxwood border. In addition to specimen plants, the front features drought-tolerant grasses and large boulders, some of which are indigenous to the property. Enormous pots, filled with gorgeous plants, flank the front door.
Photos by Larry Rosengren