This Georgian style house, by architect Ed Pease, is located on a beautiful spot overlooking the Chickahominy River, surrounded by fields and woods. Hertzler & George designed a collection of outdoor garden spaces and entry drive to complement the house and to tie it into the surrounding landscape. The plan features two courtyard gardens in the front, and a walled cutting garden on the south-facing riverfront.
Circular Drive
In keeping with the scale of the house, H&G designed a generous circular drive and parking area at the front of the house. The drive is lined with tulip poplars and crapemyrtles, recalling nearby historic homes such as Carter’s Grove. The driveway is shotcoat (asphalt impregnated with gravel) with brick edging.
Front Gardens
The entrance to the house is flanked by two welcoming courtyard gardens, each anchored with a sweetbay magnolia. Other plants included in the garden are: oakleaf hydrangea, ricepaper plant, boxwood, and gardenia, azalea and pieris. Several vines are included that will eventually soften the brick facade of the house: climbing hydrangea, schizophragma and creeping fig. Paving inside the gardens consists of a mix of bluestone and brick.
Rear Terrace
Along the riverfront facade is a sweeping 100-ft long raised bluestone terrace, featuring two pergolas covered with American wisteria. Three steps along the length of the terrace lead to the riverfront. To minimize the number of steps, we raised the level of the ground two feet. Red Oaks and crapemyrtles will eventually give some shade to the south facing terrace.
Cutting Garden
Just off the rear terrace (and close to the kitchen) is a walled cutting garden centered on a wall fountain. Traditional brick walls with a half-round cap and piers give it a timeless look. Here, the owners can collect flowers for an arrangement or herbs for the day’s meals. You can read more about the plants used in the garden here.
Construction
In addition to the design, Hertzler & George installed paving and plantings throughout the property. For the front courtyard gardens we used a combination of bluestone and brick.
