Spring Into Action
We moved into Stone Zack Lane in December 2021. I had already been measuring and drafting plans shortly after we purchased the property. There were obvious things that needed to be addressed both functionally and aesthetically. It’s now Spring…and yes, we’re jumping into action!
I find the fall and winter months are ideal planning seasons for landscape design. Preparatory really, so you’re well ahead of the spring surge of demand at the nurseries with a plan in place and an inventory of your needs for both hardscaping and plant material. Often the landscape trades are booked a season or two ahead as well, so lining things up sooner than later is critical for accomplishing your outdoor objectives.
Our “modern lodge” styled home is a recent build—and while the landscaping was underwhelming when we purchased—there was inspiration to be drawn from the surrounding backdrop of natural beauty on this hillside setting, nestled on the Georgian Bay Golf Club in The Blue Mountains.
Three questions I keep in mind when embarking on a new design challenge; What stays? What goes? What needs to be added?
1) What stays?
“STAYS” doesn’t always mean leave as is. I ask myself, "What have I inherited with the property that is a keeper and how does it inform the overall design?" It’s an important point because what you decide to keep often provides direction on other elements you select or decide on going forward. Sometimes elements simply need to be moved or reoriented to where they’re best located in your plan. For me, the first and foremost consideration are the trees and plantings. I am after all…The Fussy Gardener! After that, hardscaping, fences, pergolas, arbours, patios, stonework, etc. are considered.
For example, we inherited two unfinished areas on the property using random cut Eramosa flagstone. By redesigning the front courtyard space we were able to repurpose the flagstone from the front to create a larger back courtyard that will function as a private retreat off the master bedroom.
2) What goes?
It’s easy to edit the obvious—like removing the four small Spruce trees in our back yard that didn’t survive the winter. By moving and grouping existing trees according to our plan, we now have room to plant the many 25+ foot evergreens in order to privatize the property.
Sometime “goes” doesn’t mean disposal—it just means the plan calls for it to “go” somewhere else. There was a random rock garden on one side of the house which was a stand alone and really didn’t connect with anything. The natural stones were large and beautiful, but ill-suited to their placement. In my planning I thought about how we might better integrate them into the big picture for the property. Boulders aren’t cheap to purchase and it made sense to repurpose them, moving them to the back of the property, as a continuum to our cut stone retaining wall.
3) What needs to be added?
Across the front of the house the concrete foundation profiled some 30” proud of grade. The Unilock side landing and retaining wall feature along the driveway returned bluntly into that foundation at the front corner of the house, leaving one with the impression they ran out of material…or maybe the will to finish! We originally thought we should remove everything and start fresh with a natural stone product like Eramosa to complement the stone plinths on the house. The impact of “undoing" as well as the waste factor of material and money, lead to a decision to maintain what was already there and add to it by continuing to wrap the retaining wall around the entire base of the house. This will provide visual grounding to the house and create structure for a two-tiered garden to enhance the architecture of the home with greenery and texture.
When it comes to deciding on natural stone, using a concrete fitted material like Unilock or Permacon can represent a significant cost saving for both product and labour. Frankly, I’m partial to natural stone, but when working to budget I try to find the balance in my design to accommodate both. I find it’s like using antiques and modern furnishing together when designing interiors. It requires a series of curated choices—but if planned effectively, the results can be very satisfying.
As I mentioned, we are on the Escarpment, so given the slope at the back of the property it became evident that a retaining wall was required to manage grade and drainage. Next to adding a significant number of large trees for privatizing the property, these were priorities for us on the home improvement schedule.
Well, we’re underway! Much done, much more to do. Stay tuned as the transformation progresses…I’ll keep you posted!
Ric Riordon, the Fussy Gardener | Dream it. Plan it. Create it.