An Urban Oasis

Over the past 26 years, this Providence landscape has evolved from a typical lawn with foundation plantings of yew, pieris, and rhododendron into a layered garden of interconnected outdoor rooms. The sloping site has been carefully designed and through a series of improvements balances structure, seasonal interest, and naturalistic design.
A patio was installed for alfresco dining, positioned to be enveloped by gardens while maintaining a clear vista from the home’s center hall to a distant birdbath focal point. Adjacent to the patio, a traditional foursquare garden provides herbs alongside colorful seasonal plantings.
A forty-foot recirculating stream, now softened by moss and mature plantings, attracts birds and wildlife while masking city noise with the sound of moving water. Over time, evergreen screening trees and varieties of flowering dogwood, crabapple, and hawthorn have matured to create a landscape with depth, privacy, and year-round interest. Carefully placed focal points ensure the garden remains engaging in every season.