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Text by Mary Forsell •
Photography by Gridley & Graves •
Styling by Kathy Curotto
To most people, it looked like nothing more than a weedy tangle of poison ivy
and brambles. But landscape architect David Schiffer saw order in the chaos.
Co-owner of the Fairfield, Connecticut, property with Daryl Duarte (see
June/July ‘06 issue), David sensed that something wonderful was waiting beneath
the gnarly vines that crept toward a 1928 house. “The grounds had potential;
they just needed cutting back and regrading,” he says of the pie-shaped
lot.
As he began hacking back the undergrowth, a charming garden defined by
native New England rock slowly emerged. A rustic stone wall, walkways, and even
a classic fire pit saw the light of day for the first time in decades. Whenever
possible, he salvaged native bluestone found on site to create terraces and
walkways, linking a “suite” of outdoor rooms where family and friends would soon
gather.
Terrace incognito
Secluded in a shady grove, (a) the limestone terrace is surrounded by a mix of
summer perennials, including phlox, peonies, dahlias, coneflowers, irises, and
daylilies. Those tropical-looking container plants are brugmansia (aka angel’s
trumpet), which release their fragrance at dusk.
Get this party started
(b) Dressed with an heirloom embroidered italian tablecloth, the dinner
table awaits guests.(c) Raise a glass to summer. (d) Crisp, flavorful corn-and-zucchini salad adds color and crunch.
Urn interest
(e) Dubbed the “Dr. Seuss” plant, a topiary dwarf Alberta spruce is wreathed in
creeping golden jenny and white impatiens.
Movable feast alfresco page
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