Along the gently rolling western edge of the Mary Herrick Forest in Boxford, Massachusetts sits a two-acre residential property covered in mature stands of oak, maple, birch, and pine. Nearby vernal pools and wetlands team with wildlife, and every nook of this garden’s context is alive. The design introduces subtle changes to the topography along with a board-formed concrete retaining wall, which together elevate the landform for beautiful views of the managed woods beyond. Lush carpets of native ferns cover new landforms, and a beautiful antique fieldstone farm wall anchors the parcel’s edge.

A new swimming pool and hot tub are situated carefully to preserve beautiful mature canopy trees. Terraces and paths crafted from textured slabs of reclaimed granite give the garden a modern yet rustic appearance. Weathered blocks of antique granite sourced from Downeast Maine form a sculptural seat wall in which a custom trough is carved to be filled with ice and drinks during social gatherings. Colonies of serviceberry, bayberry, clethra, sweetfern, and bottlebrush buckeye create enclosure and multi-seasonal interest, as large swaths of native perennials such as hayscented fern, prairie dropseed, mosses, and carex stabilize soils.

Environmentally friendly nitrogen fixing micro-clover turf is used in all lawn areas and mowing frequencies are minimized. The garden receives minimal irrigation and no chemical fertilizers. Wildlife patterns are embraced and enhanced, and gray tree frogs and peepers chorus all summer long. With a new ecological balance struck, the private woodland oasis invites guests to take in the forest atmosphere.

Collaborators: Gardenform Landscape Construction, Custom Quality Pools, Stone Curators, Freshwater Stone and Brick, Select Horticulture, Harrison McPhee, Cicoria Tree, David Gross (natural sods), Laura Broderick Fine Gardening