Gardens of Stone

A massive stone arch gives the gardens an other-worldly feel.

When landscape designer https://www.jamesbrewergardendesign.com/James Brewer visited the Wolfeboro home of Leigh and Peter, he was anticipating a simple consultation on plantings for their front yard. The stunning 18th-century home sits high on a hillside with breathtaking views of neighboring mountains, Lake Wentworth and Lake Winnipesaukee. The downside was cold mountain winds that chilled all but the hardiest plants.

None of the garden paths are straight; they curve by design to pull you deeper into the gardens and create a sense of expectancy. One doesn’t know what lies around the next bend.

Brewer, who originally hails from England but now lives in Ossipee, recommended solutions for the front yard using a mix of boxwood, hydrangeas, blue spruce and small arborvitaes. On a whim, the couple asked him to take a look at the back. There was a simple courtyard, a bit of lawn with a few garden beds and not much else of interest. There were also piles of granite about the property, as Peter had been collecting granite from old foundations for more than 30 years. “Could you do anything with this?” Brewer recalls them asking.

As it turned out, he could, and thus the “Wolfe Henge” gardens took shape. A henge is a circular earthen design dating back to prehistoric times. With so much available granite, Brewer began to use the stone to create boundaries, shapes, pathways and arches that lead you ever deeper into a series of gardens behind the home. He also created a path from the front gardens to the back, unifying all of the spaces. None of the paths follow straight lines; all curve, which gives the gardens flow and also heightens the sense of discovery. “The goal was to give purpose to the space and also create a sense of mystery and intrigue,” he explains. “The paths make you want to go further, to explore and see what is just beyond.”

Brewer sensed that the circular designs would appeal to the couple, as both loved European-style gardens. (Leigh spent years in Paris and Peter is from Switzerland.) Brewer mapped out the pathways first, then, working with local contractor Kevin Bernier, had the hardscape installed and stones set. When the large plinths anchoring a major stone arch were set into place, everyone held their breath, but Bernier’s masterful skill and Brewer’s direction made the installation go without a hitch.

Landscape designer James Brewer and his “partner” Billster, who accompanies him on all jobs. When this massive arch was set in place, all breathed a sigh of relief.

With the stonework in place, Brewer turned to the plantscape, with a vision of every aspect being pleasing to the senses. His plans consider sunrise and sunset, wind direction and how the light changes through the day. Espaliered fruit trees (again echoing European designs) parade along the path by the garage. Paths radiate out from a central circular patio which has at its center a large planter filled with seasonal plantings, from lantana, fuschia and brilliant canna lilies in summer to mums in fall. From the back door, one’s eye goes to the central patio, then on through the large arch to the second circular garden.

For plantings, Brewer carefully considered scent as well as color. Boxwood hedges bring wonderful greenery, a classic feel and woodsy fragrance. Masses of creamy David Austin roses, both old doubles and teas, send their glorious perfume on the wind, as do plantings of Daphne, with its soft pink flowers, beds of rich, purple lavender and lilac-hued thyme, a butterfly favorite. For geometric accent points, Brewer used Alberta spruce topiaries in the near gardens, and columnar copper beeches in the outer gardens. The crisp red of the beeches in autumn partners well with the soft white of the hydrangeas bedded in among them.

Secluded nooks appearing in unexpected places contribute to the garden’s charm.

“James thinks of every detail — there is a point to everything,” says Leigh. “For example, in one corner of the garden, there is an apex stone pointing straight up. This is set to magnetic north for the summer solstice. In another corner, there is a stone whose outline on one side looks like New Hampshire, and on the other side looks like Vermont. Everywhere you look in the gardens, something tells a story.”

The couple love their gardens in all seasons but are especially entranced in autumn and winter. In autumn, the rim of hardwoods surrounding their property is aflame with oranges, reds, yellows and golds, forming the perfect counterpoint to the garden’s own fall colors and its myriad shapes in every shade of green. In winter, the garden adds an other-worldly touch to the home’s view of snow-capped mountains, icy lakes and frosty skies. With the beds buried under mounds of snow, it becomes a place of mysterious shapes with the ancient stones speaking of other settings and other times. In fact, Leigh and Peter opted not to have lighting in the garden, preferring the natural peace that darkness brings.

“I find the garden very peaceful in winter,” says Leigh. “When the moon is up, and all you see is the stone and the varied colors of the evergreens against all the white, the simplicity is breathtakingly beautiful. I never tire of looking at it, day or night. Season to season, there is always something new to appreciate.”

Project Team

Landscape designer:
James Brewer Garden Design
603-970-0201
jamesbrewergardendesign.com

Hardscape installer
Kevin Bernier Excavation
603-569-6436

Espaliered fruit trees add a touch of European flavor to the gardens. Beyond, columnar copper beeches and Alberta spruce topiaries echo the vertical accents of the stones.