A Garden Designed for Privacy: Lush, Structured, and Productive

On a corner lot, designer Daniel Lowery created a private sanctuary blending Asian Zen and European formality for homeowners Rand Babcock and Tony Nahra.

Layout

• English laurel privacy hedge (dwarf hemlock in cold climates).
• Round sitting area at one end, alfresco dining at the other, connected by tumbled concrete steppingstones and matching grids.
• Planting bed between patios: cannas, lilies, Robinia pseudoacacia 'Frisia', potted water gardens.
• Edibles interplanted: herbs in containers, black currants, 'Sunshine Blue' blueberries, lingonberries, purple sage.

Four Great Ideas

1. Hand-prune broadleaf hedges: Electric trimmers shred large leaves; hand clippers cut stems only for a refined look.
2. Blend edibles with ornamentals: Herbs by the kitchen; fruit and herbs woven into shrub borders.
3. Float water plants in pots: Azolla and duckweed suppress mosquitoes and shade taller aquatics.
4. Invest in soil: Native soil + composted garden/vegetable waste reduces future weeding.