This one and a half acre property in the rolling hills of western Massachusetts features a newly constructed home inspired by tobacco drying barns found in the area. The home and landscape was built without the use of petrochemicals and is set within a clearing in the native pine, oak and beech forest. As such, only organic materials were used throughout construction and planting.

The client requested a whimsical landscape that would offer opportunities for heightening one’s awareness of being in nature. In order to accomplish this and integrate into the larger landscape context, informal plantings are located farther from the home and become increasingly ordered at the house. Upon entering the site’s pervious crushed stone entry drive, large masses of forest understory plantings such as tiarella, phlox, columbine and anemone sweep out from the forest edge and flank either side of the entry drive. Taller massings include lowbush blueberry, clethra and dwarf redosier dogwood.

As one approaches the house, the landscape becomes more structured. Linear bands of perennials are aligned with narrow vertical windows at the front of the house reminiscent of farm row crops. The various heights, textures and colors created by the perennials display a playful cutting garden and pattern on the land. Nearby, large rectangular bluestone pavers set within a field of eco-grass – a blend of grasses that requires little mowing- lead visitors from the front of the house to a bluestone patio at the back of the house overlooking a new meadow.