GARDENS: Lake View Magic

GARDENS

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Lake View Magic Lake View Magic

By Kirsten E Silven Photography by Walt Roycraft

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1 A feathery pink and white mimosa blossom appears soft and delicate against a backdrop of radiant green.

2 Two bronze herons add a touch of whimsy to the shoreline as they dance down by the water’s edge at Lake Herrington.

3 A substantial limestone retaining wall made with enough concrete to support an 11-story building provides a strong foundation for the pool area and also holds several garden beds, creating a backyard oasis with ample room for entertaining and views of Herrington Lake at every turn. Plantings visible here include boxwoods, a grove of Heritage river birch trees, a Vanderwolf pine, weeping Japanese maple, butterfly bushes and a few annuals to add pops of color and texture. Be sure to check out the story on page 50 to see more of the home and its interior!

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When Walter and Mary Emily Gross decided to expand on a much smaller existing residence and build their dream home on Herrington Lake, the grounds also required a major overhaul. Builder Charlie Ayres of Ayres Custom Homes led the house portion of the project, while the pool area was ultimately brought to life by celebrated Landscape Architect Tom Nieman and Mid-American Gunite Pools. Randy Sparks of Sparks Enterprises handled the hardscape, plantings and much of the overall garden design, also with help from plans drawn up by Nieman.

“We just love the way the pool area, plantings and garden beds have turned out,” shared Mary Emily. “Everything is very functional, the views are incredible and there is ample space for entertaining or just spending quality time with family.”

Special touches include a large screened-in porch topped by a terrace that stretches along the back of the home overlooking the lake and pool area, along with a limestone arch constructed years ago by Walter Gross himself that was beautifully incorporated into the newer hardscape. The monumental limestone retaining wall is a true engineering marvel, shoring up the expansive pool and spa area, which also offers incredible views of the lake.

“It has been a fantastic collaboration on a challenging lot,” shared Randy Sparks of Sparks Enterprises. “Originally, we brought in Landscape Architect Tom Nieman to draw up precise plans, which provided a solid framework to build on. It always helps to have an experienced design team plan the desired outdoor areas early on in the building process, whether you are starting new or renovating an existing home.”

Several fanciful pieces of art can be found tucked here and there among the plantings, including several bronze herons, two Andalusian dolphins and a natural horse sculpture that stands among the grove of Heritage river birch in the side yard. Plantings include a Vanderwolf pine, contorted filbert, several butterfly bushes, an American holly, a weeping Japanese maple and a number of annuals that are selected each year to add color and texture. Several tropical plants also make an appearance—including a bird of paradise, a lime tree, orange tree and intoxicating jasmine—all of which are whisked away each fall for pampering at Pemberton’s Greenhouses before the weather gets too cold.

“We drop off the tropical plants and fruit trees each spring and pick them up in the fall to spend winter in our care,” shared Mack Herndon of Pemberton’s Greenhouses. “We have the expertise to provide any required rehab, so the plants can come back healthy in the springtime.”

Despite its impressive style and current offerings, this home and garden remains a work in progress, and the outdoor oasis that Walter and Mary Emily Gross get to call home continues to evolve every year, allowing them to make the most of the incredible natural beauty that is exclusive to life on Herrington Lake.

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4 A natural horse sculpture from Pemberton’s Greenhouses stands sentry in a grove of Heritage river birch and hydrangeas, creating sun dappled shade in the side yard, where a walkway leads into the pool area and Herrington Lake is just visible beyond.

5 This striking limestone arch was originally built by homeowner Walter Gross and later incorporated into the new hardscape. Today, it is adorned with a metal gate handcrafted by artist Erika Strecker, lending visual interest to a pathway that leads up to the pool from Lake Herrington.

Garden Credits: š›

Landscape Design & Installation Sparks Enterprises

Landscape Architect Tom Nieman, PhD, FASLA

Builder Ayres Custom Homes

Pool Design Tom Nieman, PHD, FASLA

Pool Installation Mid-American Gunite Pools

Stone Mason Charles Dewar

Plantings, Care & Maintenance Pemberton’s Greenhouses

Metal Gate Erika Strecker

Antique Sculptures Clairebourne Antiques

6 This diminutive yellow butterfly sits—quite appropriately—atop a butterfly bush near the pool.

7 The entrance to the pool area is flanked by two metal Andalusian dolphin statues found at Clairebourne Antiques, along with several colorful geraniums potted by Walter and Mary Emily’s daughter Lisi, who was inspired by a summer internship at Pemberton’s Greenhouses. The expansive screened-in porch is just visible to the left in this view, along with several upright green pillar boxwoods and a contorted filbert.

8 A teak wood bench and two matching end tables create a cozy spot to chill out by the pool, flanked here by jasmine and an orange tree that will join the property’s other tropical plants to spend the cold winter months getting pampered at Pemberton’s Greenhouses.

9 The pool and spa create a true oasis of relaxation and summertime bliss, while the oversized screened-in porch and upper terrace lends the back-yard oasis a true resort feel. A lime tree is just visible to the left in this view, while a row of boxwoods lends color and texture to the retaining wall beyond, where they are fronted by creeping phlox. The weeping Japanese maple, Vanderwolf pine and grove of Heritage river birch are also in view.