Garden Tour: Colorful Front Yard, Serene Woodland Backyard Near Boston

Six years ago this Massachusetts garden was neglected, overrun with invasives—poison ivy, bittersweet, euonymus. A couple with a 2-year-old son and dog saw past the tangled yard, drawn to the woodland setting and Belmont Hill's proximity to Boston.

Soon after buying, they called landscape architect Matthew Cunningham, who envisioned a main entry path through a colorful front yard perennial garden and a serene backyard woodland garden. "Clients wanted a rural feel with contemporary elements contrasting the simple, elegant traditional lines of the house," says Cunningham. They also wanted low-maintenance, drought-tolerant, critter-resistant, colorful plants in front.

Sneak peek! Salvia, miscanthus, and peonies combine warm and cool colors.

"As soon as I saw the house, I had a vision of a perennial garden with a walkway path slicing through it," says Cunningham. Front yard enjoys full sun most of the day—perfect microclimate.

At the entry path's end, a breezeway connects house to garage, serving as main threshold. Back side all glass with backyard views.

Two large pots of miscanthus flank the front door. "We play with plants in these containers seasonally... used large boxwoods and fuchsia for color, texture, height," says Cunningham. "The garden is always evolving."

Mounded forms and spires of perennials, ornamental grasses, and inkberry contrast with the boxy house shape.

"Plantings are seasonal," explains Cunningham. Waves of color from different plants bloom throughout the season; glossy and silvery leaves provide year-round contrast. Selection includes Russian sage, giant alliums, salvia, white peonies.

Catmint and geranium 'Rozanne' add ever-blooming color down the front walkway all summer.

Walkway and driveway are Chip and Seal—asphalt base, liquified tar layer, embedded crushed pea stones. Looks like stones without scatter from shoveling and plowing.

Purple coneflowers, Russian sage, ornamental grasses bloom July and August.

Astilbes, geraniums, caramel coral bells show wide variety of color and texture in blooms and foliage.

"Established canopy in backyard means dappled shade all day," says Cunningham. In contrast to front's color explosion, backyard takes cues from serene woodland. Mountain laurel and ferns add softness and lush green.

Large backyard elements: dining terrace and lawn terrace, created by dry-laid stone retaining walls.

"In backyard, we used brick to create texture and patterns not too loud," says Cunningham. House has running bond brick; backyard bricks turned on edge for contrast and to tone down busyness.

"I used manganese iron spot brick. They take on different colors: morning rich mahogany, afternoon iridescent purplish blue."

Beneath dining terrace, a lawn terrace overlooks woodland. No mortar in walls; Cunningham raves about landscape construction company Gardenform.

Hand-crafted stone stairway connects terraces to rest of yard. "Clients wanted local stone," says Cunningham. Goshen stone, a granite from nearby quarry.

Pops of purple from catmint and allium tie back garden to front.

Terracing and stone walls provide crisp grade changes.

"Garden's geometry pulls from the house and channels views to special plants and areas," explains Cunningham. Horizontal brick bands slice through an herb garden. "Voids between bricks contain creeping thyme, culinary thyme, rosemary, chives... aromatic underfoot."

Narrow gravel walkway through herb garden channels view to grove of paper birch trees. "These beautiful trees serve as living sculptures."

Carefully placed color punches in foreground have dark forested backdrop from conservation woodlands.

Sedona, chief critter of backyard, loves hanging out in this landscape, matching Pucci-esque accessories to perennials.

Garden continues to evolve; Cunningham currently establishing grass on boccie court. Glimpse of plan helps place photos in context.

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