Tour a Romantic Cottage-Style Landscape in the Hamptons
The expansive New York space features floral borders, colorful container arrangements and an inviting woodland pathway
This gorgeous cottage-style garden set in a woodland of native oak and white pine in East Hampton, New York, features sumptuous beds overflowing with colorful perennials set against a peaceful backdrop of trees. The homeowners have spent the last 15 years thoughtfully developing the landscape into a series of garden rooms and entertaining areas while preserving open space and natural woodland.
As we count down the days for spring planting and look for reminders that warmer weather is right around the corner, take a tour through this romantic garden, photographed in summer when borders are in peak bloom.
As we count down the days for spring planting and look for reminders that warmer weather is right around the corner, take a tour through this romantic garden, photographed in summer when borders are in peak bloom.
Shortly after construction of their home was completed, the homeowners hired Charlie & Sons Landscapes to assist with the design of the grounds. The landscape design firm initially worked to design plantings for the entrance, foundation beds and borders surrounding the lawns and have since been brought back each year to expand the garden and add to the ever-evolving plantings.
“Over the years we have adjusted the garden color palette slightly to fit with both the trends in landscape design and also the changes to outdoor furniture,” says Charlie Whitmore, owner of Charlie & Sons Landscapes. He adds that they’re never far off from a traditional Hamptons color palette of white and blue with accents of purple and light pink.
“Over the years we have adjusted the garden color palette slightly to fit with both the trends in landscape design and also the changes to outdoor furniture,” says Charlie Whitmore, owner of Charlie & Sons Landscapes. He adds that they’re never far off from a traditional Hamptons color palette of white and blue with accents of purple and light pink.
A generous bluestone walkway meanders through lawns and beds planted with evergreen littleleaf boxwood (Buxus microphylla), hostas and ‘Annabelle’ wild hydrangeas (Hydrangea arborescens ‘Anabelle’), leading one from the driveway and parking area to the front door.
A trio of fastigiate European beech trees (Fagus sylvatica ‘Dawyck Purple’) add height to the front planting, and a flowering dogwood (Cornus florida) blooms next to the front door. Large blue ceramic pots repeated throughout the landscape house seasonal arrangements of colorful annuals and bold foliage.
A trio of fastigiate European beech trees (Fagus sylvatica ‘Dawyck Purple’) add height to the front planting, and a flowering dogwood (Cornus florida) blooms next to the front door. Large blue ceramic pots repeated throughout the landscape house seasonal arrangements of colorful annuals and bold foliage.
The floral borders and seasonal containers in the backyard receive the most care and attention. “We focus most of our yearly efforts on the gardens surrounding the pool, back patio and spaces where the homeowner likes to entertain,” Whitmore says. Flowering shrubs and some perennials fill the outer gardens, which require less maintenance.
Shop for outdoor furniture on Houzz
Shop for outdoor furniture on Houzz
Floral Borders
Thanks to careful tending, the floral borders are the stars of the summer garden, with eye-catching displays of airy white, pale pink, sky blue and deep purple blooms. “It’s a summer-focused plant palette as that is when the family is using the property the most,” Whitmore says.
Plants include:
After planting, the team mulches the beds with a layer of Sweet Peet to help manage weeds and retain moisture. During the growing season the beds receive bi-weekly treatments of organic fertilizer. Drip irrigation waters beds throughout the garden.
Thanks to careful tending, the floral borders are the stars of the summer garden, with eye-catching displays of airy white, pale pink, sky blue and deep purple blooms. “It’s a summer-focused plant palette as that is when the family is using the property the most,” Whitmore says.
Plants include:
- Antirrhinum majus ‘Rocket Orchid’ and ‘Rocket White’
- Delphinium elatum (Magic Fountains strains)
- Dahlia ‘Café au Lait’
- Heliotropium arborescens ‘Marine’
- Salvia nemorosa ‘Caradonna’
- Angelonia (Angelface series)
- Sedum spurium ‘John Creech’
- Rosa (Knock Out series)
After planting, the team mulches the beds with a layer of Sweet Peet to help manage weeds and retain moisture. During the growing season the beds receive bi-weekly treatments of organic fertilizer. Drip irrigation waters beds throughout the garden.
Seasonal Containers
Seasonal containers potted with annuals add accents of color to patio spaces. Here, a combination of white lantana, Large Lilac Blue Superbena verbena (Verbena hybrid), glory bush (Tibouchina lepidota) and trailing ‘Silver Falls’ dichondra (Dichondra argentea ‘Silver Falls’) form a pretty display that attracts butterflies.
See more guides to growing a container garden
Seasonal containers potted with annuals add accents of color to patio spaces. Here, a combination of white lantana, Large Lilac Blue Superbena verbena (Verbena hybrid), glory bush (Tibouchina lepidota) and trailing ‘Silver Falls’ dichondra (Dichondra argentea ‘Silver Falls’) form a pretty display that attracts butterflies.
See more guides to growing a container garden
Poolside Plantings
The deep planting beds surrounding the pool benefit from the dark backdrop of dense woods, which make the pale blooms of kousa dogwood (Cornus kousa), ‘Annabelle’ wild hydrangeas and delphinium appear to float.
Other plants used in these borders include:
The deep planting beds surrounding the pool benefit from the dark backdrop of dense woods, which make the pale blooms of kousa dogwood (Cornus kousa), ‘Annabelle’ wild hydrangeas and delphinium appear to float.
Other plants used in these borders include:
- Cosmos bipinnatus ‘Sonata White’
- Dahlia ‘Snow Country’
- Lantana montevidensis ‘Lavender Swirl’
- Nicotiana langsdorffii
- Antirrhinum majus ‘Rocket White’
- Lilium formosa
The East Hampton garden has not been without its challenges."Deer were a major problem until we installed a deer fence,” Whitmore says. “Now the moles and voles have been a big problem, especially since this property is surrounded by wooded areas. We have been digging trenches and burying protective mesh and gravel to hinder them from digging into the gardens.’
Woodland Area
The design team left much of the oak and pine woodland natural. They carved out some space to create semi-landscaped areas, including woodland walkways and clearings.
They planted these areas with part-shade to full-shade tolerant plants such as Pennsylvania sedge (Carex pennsylvanica), ‘Annabelle’ wild hydrangeas, astilbe (Astilbe ‘Snowdrift’), ‘Summer Snowflake’ doublefile viburnum (Viburnum plicatum f. tomentosum ‘Summer Snowflake’) and mixed hostas.
“We do a lot of pruning and deadwood removal to manage the forest canopy for enough light,” Whitmore says.
The design team left much of the oak and pine woodland natural. They carved out some space to create semi-landscaped areas, including woodland walkways and clearings.
They planted these areas with part-shade to full-shade tolerant plants such as Pennsylvania sedge (Carex pennsylvanica), ‘Annabelle’ wild hydrangeas, astilbe (Astilbe ‘Snowdrift’), ‘Summer Snowflake’ doublefile viburnum (Viburnum plicatum f. tomentosum ‘Summer Snowflake’) and mixed hostas.
“We do a lot of pruning and deadwood removal to manage the forest canopy for enough light,” Whitmore says.
Kitchen Garden
The kitchen garden features six raised cedar beds: two rectangular beds that are 4 by 8 feet, two L-shaped beds that are 2 feet wide and 12 feet long and two triangular beds that are roughly 3 feet long on all sides.
Whitmore reports that the homeowners take full advantage of the the kitchen garden, growing plenty of summer vegetables, including cherry tomatoes (a favorite of the children in the family), lettuces, summer squash, zucchini, carrots, cucumbers and herbs, including mint, thyme, oregano and chives.
More on Houzz
Tour other inspiring gardens
Browse thousands of landscape photos
Work with a landscape architect near you
Shop for outdoor products
The kitchen garden features six raised cedar beds: two rectangular beds that are 4 by 8 feet, two L-shaped beds that are 2 feet wide and 12 feet long and two triangular beds that are roughly 3 feet long on all sides.
Whitmore reports that the homeowners take full advantage of the the kitchen garden, growing plenty of summer vegetables, including cherry tomatoes (a favorite of the children in the family), lettuces, summer squash, zucchini, carrots, cucumbers and herbs, including mint, thyme, oregano and chives.
More on Houzz
Tour other inspiring gardens
Browse thousands of landscape photos
Work with a landscape architect near you
Shop for outdoor products
Landscape at a Glance
Who lives here: A family who enjoy it primarily as a summer and weekend home
Location: East Hampton, New York; on the eastern side of the South Shore of Long Island
Designer: Charlie & Sons Landscapes
Find a landscape designer in your area on Houzz