ENDURING GARDENS
The Tame and the Wild
Allium ‘Globemaster’ crowns simple stems above a sea of Sesleria autumnalis. A steel nautilus emerges in the background (see page 198).
The contemporary architecture informs the garden. Steel planters extend the lines of the house into the landscape.
A study of the patterns of light reflected on the water is abstracted in custom-designed Corten steel panels
Sensitive to this, we deploy lines and forms with intention. We roll out color with pattern, syncopation, and repetition. We adopt appropriate scales and forms that are simple, so that coherent elements can be woven together in harmony. We build taut connections between architecture and landscape to maximize the experience of both.
Opposite: Fern frond sculptures set on steel rods are grounded in a band of Eragrostis spectabilis Right: Stainless steel planters with Calamagrostis × acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’ define an entry point to the garden
Cultivating Habitat
Inspiration for a garden can be found in the natural environment. Each planting opportunity infuses a garden with a sense of place, whether it’s connecting with surrounding hydrologic patterns, integrating common tree and shrub species, or replicating the cluster and drift patterns of native perennials and groundcovers. Gardens that reflect the natural systems of an area not only embody an innate beauty, but they also invite a rich diversity of wildlife. From bees and butterflies to snakes and songbirds, a habitat-rich garden signifies health and balance.
While native bees and insects are often linked to the pollination of flowering perennials, they also play a critical role in the production of fruits and vegetables. With the help of a healthy natural biome, homeowners can grow their own food in their garden. They prepare, plant, nurture, harvest, eat, and often donate. This process and cycle of growing, consuming, and giving away food supports nutrition, builds community, and bolsters positive emotions of kindness, joy, and gratitude.
A wild planting of Panicum virgatum ‘Shenandoah’, Aster tataricus ‘Jindai’, Muhlenbergia capillaris, and Iris versicolor acts as a waterfront sponge, filtering stormwater along the edge of the creek
Finally, we design the ground plane as an undercoat, choosing complementary colors and textures for maximum impact over extended bloom times. In some areas, we underplant shrubs and trees to cover ground and reduce the need for mulch. In other areas, we blend plants that collectively prefer the same soil type, shade tolerance, and water requirements. Sometimes we can bring out the best attributes of two plants or colors by placing them next to each other. For instance, juxtaposing orange and scarlet, or pink and blue, can highlight both hues.
Opposite: Iris sibirica ‘Caesar’s Brother’, Pennisetum alopecuroides ‘Hameln’, and Allium ‘Globemaster’ flank a stone swale
Right: Iris germanica ‘Swingtown’, Allium ‘Globemaster’, and Nassella tenuissima
“The real success of garden making is not just in the poetry of physical spaces, but in the cultivation of relationships that add meaning and texture to our lives through time. At their core, our gardens are for people. They are places to be shared.”
For Campion Hruby Landscape Architects, each garden is unique—a one-of-a-kind reflection of architecture and nature, imbued with the personality of those who inhabit it. Never static, ever-changing, these gardens are inspired by experience and imagination, and the fine balance of natural elements. When loved and cherished, gardens can flourish for generations as places for gathering, entertaining, contemplation, and refuge.
Enduring Gardens: The Tame and the Wild immerses readers in the unique gardens designed by CHLA and invites them behind the scenes to learn more about CHLA’s approach to landscape design. This beautifully illustrated monograph explores the individual components of an enduring garden through the creative eyes of CHLA. It reveals the thought and intention that goes into crafting meaningful gardens, from exploring the sensory stimuli of nature to connecting with architecture and balancing the tame and the wild.