PORTFOLIO
Re-IMAGINING gray gables
Gray Gables is situated on the rolling grounds of Rock Ridge, a name well suiting the terrain. Surrounded by mature trees, and stone walls laden with climbing hydrangea, the landscape unfolds through allées, walls and arches of hornbeam hedges. The Perennial Border: features Foxgloves, Peonies, Tree Peonies, floribunda and hybrid tea roses. Native perennials incorporated into the border include Jacob's Ladder, Ostrich ferns, Turtlehead, Sweet Pepperbush, Milkweed species and Great Blue lobelia. Spring greets this garden with an array of bountiful spring bulbs - Tulips, Alliums, Muscari and Camassia The Hillside Garden: this sloping garden features a fragrant Viburnum, Limelight hydrangeas, Ladies mantle, Lavender, Calamint, Daylilies and Rose mallows, native grasses have been added in place of miscanthus grasses, Aromatic asters, Creeping phlox and Autumn Bride heuchera augment the ornamental plants that pollinators love. The Pocket Meadow: formerly a bed of miscanthus grasses, all but three were removed to make way for native grasses: Big and Little bluestem, Pink muhly grass, and Switchgrasses. Interplanted are Milkweeds, Ironweeds, Butterfly weed, Joe Pye weed, Amsonia species, Mountain mints and Culver’s root – native favorites of a variety of pollinators. The Zen Garden: This area was once one large patch of pachysandra under towering conifer trees. One lone Japanese maple sat on the end, with statuary and a mesmerizing windchime. The Zen Garden emerged from beneath the chime: two-toned creeping ajuga groundcover forms a carpet beneath the Maple in spring. Snowdrops, scilla, hellebores and tulips dominate the early months while shade-loving astilbe, fern species, brunnera, actaea and pulmonaria form a cascade of summer color: every shade of green, deep purples and lively pinks in this perennial border. Native Joe Pye weeds creates a backdrop for a beautiful Sambucus (Elderberry) bush while long-stemmed Japanese anemones nod into swathes of winter blooming hellebores as the seasons
Greenwich, Conn
Romantic round hill redesign
Greenwich, Conn
The young new homeowners of this Round Hill property knew they had inherited something truly special. The Provençal style home is revealed through an Allée of rounded Crab Apples underplanted with Vinca, Foamflowers, and a myriad of spring flowering bulbs. You emerge into a courtyard lined by boxy Linden trees. We redesigned the front entrance beds to feature topiary Arborvitae, Lavender, Peonies, Roses and bedded annuals in a formal French garden. In stark contrast, the large perennial border is home to mature Limelight hydrangeas, a stunning Smokebush, several Tree Peonies interplanted will all manners of native pollinator favorites - Liatris, Monarda, Nodding Wild Onion, Little Bluestem, Foamflowers, Boltonia, Goldenrods and Geraniums. The effect is a border that is wildly alive while appearing contained and maintained, with something stunning ever-in-bloom. The backyard is a garden dreamscape, layered shrub borders featuring mature Viburnums, specimen conifers, mature Holly’s, Azaleas and Rhododendrons, variegated Red Twig Dogwoods, Panicle and Oakleaf hydrangeas. We redesigned the perennial beds to feature everything Roses in hues of purple and orange, to blankets of English bluebells, over 20 Peony species, False Indigo, Hens and Chicks, Sedums, Sneezeweeds, Hummingbird Mints, Coneflowers, Irises, Crocasmia, and a variety of grasses. An oval shaped vegetable and cut flower garden sits towards the back of the property, bordered by a formal hedge of Yew. This garden is home to edibles such as tomatoes, pumpkins, strawberries, blueberries, lettuces, carrots, and a variety of herbs. Cut flowers, especially the impressive collection of Dahlias, Zinnias, Gomphrenas, Cosmos, Snapdragons and Celosia create a dramatic backdrops of enchanting blooms to be enjoyed inside and out.
Ecological elegance: pollinator gardenscape
Greenwich, Conn
This multi-year project began on the bare East lawn of the Edward Dimon Bird house. The current owners asked for the creation of a pollinator pocket meadow which began as a single oval-shaped island of layered native plants. Taking delight in the number of bees and butterflies this garden attracted, we began to expand and create two additional gardens focusing heavily on butterfly host species. Many butterflies rely on a particular plant species for a critical lifestage, be it for egg laying, hatching or feeding and with the disappearance of those plants comes the decline of the butterfly. We have included over 15 different host plants in these gardens along with favorite native nectar plants which play supporting roles in their life cycles. We have spotted Monarchs, Swallowtails, Viceroys, Painted Ladies, Blue and Grey hairstreaks among countless other pollinator species in the garden's first year of life. This once-bare area has morphed into a biological oasis buzzing with life and vitality year round. It is criss-crossed by walking paths that allow you to immerse yourself in its sights, sounds and scents. With seed heads left to stand through winter, these seeds become crucial food for non-migrating bird species. This is a true testament that ecological and elegant can co-exist with absolute ease.
Edgehill pollinator gardens
Greenwich, Conn
We were so thrilled when the Grounds Committee at Edgehill Senior Living asked us to create a pollinator garden at the entrance to the lovely meadow and woodland walking path enjoyed by residents, staff and caretakers. The garden features four seasons of pollinator favorites from the earliest snowdrops to late-blooming asters and everything in between -- wild clematis, mountain mints, Joe Pye weed, Echinacea, Coreopsis, Monarda species, Lavender, Asclepias species and of course - Amsonia (Eastern Blue Star.) This Pollinator Garden was constructed in Spring of 2021 and was so well-loved that we decided to double it in size in Spring of 2022. The pollinator garden now wraps around both sides of a low stone wall entryway and acts as a segway to the wilder lilac-lined meadow beyond. We continue to work with the Grounds Committee on smaller plantings throughout the woodland to bring splashes of color, texture, and whimsy to the grounds of Edgehill while choosing plants and species that support local ecology. This garden is dedicated to the dynamic woman who made it all happen - Dottie Cholnoky.
the dimon estate
Jamesport, New York
The Dimon Estate is located on the North Fork of Long Island and has a rich history from a 16th century farm to the Victorian era mansion of a famed American shipbuilder. Amsonia Design was tasked with revitalizing the grounds -- from installations of perennial and mixed borders, to festive seasonal container designs, to revitalizing an apple orchard to the installation of a raised bed chef's vegetable garden and sprawling pollinator gardens. The pollinator gardens are all part of a plan to switch the orchard from a conventional to organically maintained and pave way for the micro-farm, supplying fresh vegetables to the restaurant from property to plate. The chef's garden supplies fresh herbs, greens and edible flowers for both the kitchen and bar. Amazing annual and perennial vines added to the charm of the Second Empire Manor House while dahlias, peonies and roses delighted guests amid swaths of native plantings, all designed to transport one to a timeless space while supporting and celebrating the biodiversity of this unique ecology of Long Island.
backyard ecology: eco beneficial gardens
Fairfield County, Conn
As Doug Tallamy says, we are nature’s best hope. The choices we make in our own backyards and landscapes can make the biggest difference in terms of supporting local wildlife and ecology. In all of our residential designs, we make sure to include at least 50% native plant species in addition to well-loved ornamentals and eco-beneficials. We also create all-native pollinator pocket meadows and gardens, gardens that support local bird species and butterfly host gardens. Amsonia Design tastefully integrates native plants into elevated and elegant residential landscape designs, enjoyed by creatures great and small.
Container garden designs
For All Seasons
All colors, all shapes, all sizes, all seasons, we are happy to help you created potted gardens from elegant to eco-friendly. Use container gardens to re-wild your patios, decks and smaller spaces. We can create a pollinator islands, herb gardens, formal garden ornaments and whimsical designs that change with the seasons. From bulbs to perennials, and shrubs to small trees, there are endless ways to augment space and to beautify with containers.
custom raised bed gardens
For Your Unique Space
We are passionate about the slow-food movement, about pollinators and their relationship with edible plants. Amsonia Design can design and build a custom space for you and your family to explore this close relationship with food from seed to kitchen. Our garden model is easily customized and utilizes wire cabling to reach deer-proof height with a minimalist design. We build raised beds, garden structures, and potting benches with a range of materials choices to adapt to your budget and needs. We can provide a planting scheme, installation, planting and biweekly maintenance throughout the growing season. Planting designs can include the following: vegetables, herbs, cut flowers, edible flowers and pollinator plants. We also partner with local chef Chris Kar (Graybarns Tavern) to process your fruits and veggies into shelf-stable jams, chutneys, salsas, pickles and preserves.
