Yard of the Week: Layers of History on a Virginia Property
A beautiful landscape awakens a family’s love of gardening, animals and the land
Vegetable, herb and cutting gardens. Chickens, alpacas, dogs, mini horses and cows. A refurbished 1800s log cabin. These are all things this Northern Virginia family of four had no idea they’d enjoy so much when they were initially planning to build their new home. But once they had completed the first phase of the plan — which included restoring the property’s log cabin and building the new house, driveway, gardens near the house, pool and sports court — the agrarian history of their 5-acre property called to them.
After the family spent lots of time at home during the pandemic shutdown, their love of the property grew, and they became true stewards of the land, avid gardeners and devoted animal caretakers. More outbuildings, gardens, animals and winding paths became important later phases of the plan. The result is a beautiful landscape that looks like it was layered over centuries.
After the family spent lots of time at home during the pandemic shutdown, their love of the property grew, and they became true stewards of the land, avid gardeners and devoted animal caretakers. More outbuildings, gardens, animals and winding paths became important later phases of the plan. The result is a beautiful landscape that looks like it was layered over centuries.
Photo by Anice Hoachlander
The team ripped the porch off the log cabin and made many repairs, including fixing damage to the chinking. “The cabin is so great, and Lauren Liess did such an amazing job on the interior design,” Horn says. “It’s probably about 30 feet by 40 feet and has this huge table that seats 15 to 20 people. They have large dinner parties, it’s a game room, and it’s a pool hangout space. It’s a cozy little hideaway, and they use it so much more than they ever expected they would.”
The age and style of the cabin had a big impact on the property. “The log cabin became the touchstone for the landscape,” Horn says. “Often in landscape design, we work with layers of plants, vistas and heights. But here we thought more about layers of time.” The log cabin represented the 1800s era, when the property was a farm, and the team designed the garden around it accordingly.
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The team ripped the porch off the log cabin and made many repairs, including fixing damage to the chinking. “The cabin is so great, and Lauren Liess did such an amazing job on the interior design,” Horn says. “It’s probably about 30 feet by 40 feet and has this huge table that seats 15 to 20 people. They have large dinner parties, it’s a game room, and it’s a pool hangout space. It’s a cozy little hideaway, and they use it so much more than they ever expected they would.”
The age and style of the cabin had a big impact on the property. “The log cabin became the touchstone for the landscape,” Horn says. “Often in landscape design, we work with layers of plants, vistas and heights. But here we thought more about layers of time.” The log cabin represented the 1800s era, when the property was a farm, and the team designed the garden around it accordingly.
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Photo by Allen Russ Photography
For example, the patio next to the log cabin is composed of reclaimed flagstones with irregular edges. “When the stones looked too perfect, we had the masons make them look even rougher, more rugged, and placed more haphazardly here,” Horn says.
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For example, the patio next to the log cabin is composed of reclaimed flagstones with irregular edges. “When the stones looked too perfect, we had the masons make them look even rougher, more rugged, and placed more haphazardly here,” Horn says.
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Photo by Allen Russ Photography
This attitude toward the oldest layer of history applied to the plantings as well. “Usually we think of planting in masses, but here we broke that rule. We planted individual old-fashioned plants to look as if they might have survived over the years,” Horn says.
In this “remnant garden,” as she calls it, plants include anise hyssop (Agastache foeniculum, USDA zones 1 to 6; find your zone), maidenhair ferns (Adiantum sp.), hellebores (Helleborus sp.), hollyhocks (Alcea rosea, Zone 3) and peonies (Paeonia sp.).
This attitude toward the oldest layer of history applied to the plantings as well. “Usually we think of planting in masses, but here we broke that rule. We planted individual old-fashioned plants to look as if they might have survived over the years,” Horn says.
In this “remnant garden,” as she calls it, plants include anise hyssop (Agastache foeniculum, USDA zones 1 to 6; find your zone), maidenhair ferns (Adiantum sp.), hellebores (Helleborus sp.), hollyhocks (Alcea rosea, Zone 3) and peonies (Paeonia sp.).
Photo by Allen Russ Photography
During an early site visit, Horn was very excited to stumble upon two millstones on the property. “I explained to my clients that it was so much fun to find these old pieces from the agrarian era of the property,” she says. She used one to create this fountain in the remnant garden. She had the second one embedded within a path that leads to the barn.
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During an early site visit, Horn was very excited to stumble upon two millstones on the property. “I explained to my clients that it was so much fun to find these old pieces from the agrarian era of the property,” she says. She used one to create this fountain in the remnant garden. She had the second one embedded within a path that leads to the barn.
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Photo by Anice Hoachlander
The rugged log cabin and its remnant garden give way to more manicured gardens around the new home. This is the most contemporary layer of time. Freestanding planters, raised planting beds and cut bluestone are all parts of the palette close to the house.
The rugged log cabin and its remnant garden give way to more manicured gardens around the new home. This is the most contemporary layer of time. Freestanding planters, raised planting beds and cut bluestone are all parts of the palette close to the house.
Photo by VSI Aerial
A path from the log cabin continues over to the new pool. There is a sports court behind the evergreen trees. Horn placed arborvitae trees (Thuja occidentalis, zones 2 to 8), seen at the top of the photo, between the pool and sports court.
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A path from the log cabin continues over to the new pool. There is a sports court behind the evergreen trees. Horn placed arborvitae trees (Thuja occidentalis, zones 2 to 8), seen at the top of the photo, between the pool and sports court.
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Photo by Allen Russ Photography
Bluestone caps the walls around the pool and edges the adjacent planting beds. The edging provides a more formal look here. “We used lots of ornamental herbs with beautiful flowers in this garden, including lavender, alliums and catmint [Nepeta sp.]. We leaned into purples and whites,” Horn says.
Immediately off the pool are ornamental shrubs such as hydrangeas. Off the other side of the pool, Horn established a small meadow. It has predominantly native grasses and wildflowers. These include black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia sp.), coneflowers (Echinacea sp.) and switchgrass (Panicum sp.).
On the original plans, the landscape architect also had recommended a walled garden that would look like it had been abandoned after the agrarian era and then newly revived. That was put off during phase one.
In the meantime, the family had fallen in love with the land and gardening. “It probably had to do with the pandemic, as they had moved in during March of 2020. They really got to know the land in a way they wouldn’t have otherwise,” Horn says. “I followed up later with an email reminding them of the plans, and immediately they responded by saying, ‘Let’s do it!’”
Bluestone caps the walls around the pool and edges the adjacent planting beds. The edging provides a more formal look here. “We used lots of ornamental herbs with beautiful flowers in this garden, including lavender, alliums and catmint [Nepeta sp.]. We leaned into purples and whites,” Horn says.
Immediately off the pool are ornamental shrubs such as hydrangeas. Off the other side of the pool, Horn established a small meadow. It has predominantly native grasses and wildflowers. These include black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia sp.), coneflowers (Echinacea sp.) and switchgrass (Panicum sp.).
On the original plans, the landscape architect also had recommended a walled garden that would look like it had been abandoned after the agrarian era and then newly revived. That was put off during phase one.
In the meantime, the family had fallen in love with the land and gardening. “It probably had to do with the pandemic, as they had moved in during March of 2020. They really got to know the land in a way they wouldn’t have otherwise,” Horn says. “I followed up later with an email reminding them of the plans, and immediately they responded by saying, ‘Let’s do it!’”
Photo by VSI Aerial
So far, we’ve covered phase one — restoring the log cabin, creating gardens around it and the house, and installing the pool and sports court with plantings around them. The lawn provides a place for the kids and the family’s four dogs to play. Phase one also included designing the driveway and motor court. “This house is located on top of a hill, which makes for a steep walk if you park on the street,” Horn says. Accordingly, she planned a large motor court next to the house and a garage for parking.
The walled-garden idea planted the seed of having a potager, or kitchen garden, and it grew into something else: a greenhouse and shed surrounded by a potager. Horn located the garden on axis with the house (an axis is an implied line that organizes a landscape). Imagine a line off the center of the house toward the right side of this photo to see the location of this garden.
The homeowners also decided they wanted chickens and other animals. A new barn is located in line with the log cabin, seen toward the top right of this plan. A new chicken coop is located to the left of the barn.
So far, we’ve covered phase one — restoring the log cabin, creating gardens around it and the house, and installing the pool and sports court with plantings around them. The lawn provides a place for the kids and the family’s four dogs to play. Phase one also included designing the driveway and motor court. “This house is located on top of a hill, which makes for a steep walk if you park on the street,” Horn says. Accordingly, she planned a large motor court next to the house and a garage for parking.
The walled-garden idea planted the seed of having a potager, or kitchen garden, and it grew into something else: a greenhouse and shed surrounded by a potager. Horn located the garden on axis with the house (an axis is an implied line that organizes a landscape). Imagine a line off the center of the house toward the right side of this photo to see the location of this garden.
The homeowners also decided they wanted chickens and other animals. A new barn is located in line with the log cabin, seen toward the top right of this plan. A new chicken coop is located to the left of the barn.
Photo by Allen Russ Photography
Here’s the potager, greenhouse and garden shed. “This building provides a spot to sit in the shade and escape from gardening,” Horn says of the shed. “The buildings are siblings, surrounded by a fenced garden.”
The potager garden represents a layer of time between the agrarian era and today. “We used classical elements like cedar fencing, finials and an antique limestone trough. But we didn’t force the buildings to feel old,” Horn says. “When I visit here, walking through this garden is my happy place.”
Here’s the potager, greenhouse and garden shed. “This building provides a spot to sit in the shade and escape from gardening,” Horn says of the shed. “The buildings are siblings, surrounded by a fenced garden.”
The potager garden represents a layer of time between the agrarian era and today. “We used classical elements like cedar fencing, finials and an antique limestone trough. But we didn’t force the buildings to feel old,” Horn says. “When I visit here, walking through this garden is my happy place.”
Photo by Allen Russ Photography
Another member joined the team to help with the vegetable, pollinator-attracting and cutting gardens. “Our clients work with an amazing garden coach named Aerin Peak of Homegrown and Harvested,” Horn says. “She is really great at working with clients on things such as what to plant, when to transplant seedlings outside, how to deal with slugs and all kinds of other gardening issues.”
Another member joined the team to help with the vegetable, pollinator-attracting and cutting gardens. “Our clients work with an amazing garden coach named Aerin Peak of Homegrown and Harvested,” Horn says. “She is really great at working with clients on things such as what to plant, when to transplant seedlings outside, how to deal with slugs and all kinds of other gardening issues.”
Photo by Allen Russ Photography
Some of the plants in the potager garden include tomatoes, string beans and cherry tomatoes.
Some of the plants in the potager garden include tomatoes, string beans and cherry tomatoes.
Photo by Allen Russ Photography
There is also an antique trough fountain in this garden. It provides a destination at the back of the fenced-in area. Hearing the trickle of water draws people to it. The curved trellis in the fencing overhead emphasizes its presence.
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There is also an antique trough fountain in this garden. It provides a destination at the back of the fenced-in area. Hearing the trickle of water draws people to it. The curved trellis in the fencing overhead emphasizes its presence.
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Photo by Allen Russ Photography
Toward the back of the yard is the chicken coop on the left and the barn on the right. A stone pathway leads to both from the house.
Toward the back of the yard is the chicken coop on the left and the barn on the right. A stone pathway leads to both from the house.
Photo by Allen Russ Photography
The chicken coop is a sweet outbuilding topped with a cupola and a weathervane. The pergola-covered area seen here on the right is the chicken run. “We really leaned into native plants as we moved away from the house,” Horn says. Here these plants include native grasses, lavender, blueberry, honeysuckle (Lonicera sp.), viburnum and bottlebrush buckeye (Aesculus parviflora, zones 4 to 8).
The chicken coop is a sweet outbuilding topped with a cupola and a weathervane. The pergola-covered area seen here on the right is the chicken run. “We really leaned into native plants as we moved away from the house,” Horn says. Here these plants include native grasses, lavender, blueberry, honeysuckle (Lonicera sp.), viburnum and bottlebrush buckeye (Aesculus parviflora, zones 4 to 8).
Photo by VSI Aerial
The family’s love of the land turned into a love of agrarian history, and this melded well with their love of animals. Part of the later design phase included building this barn from reclaimed wood and giving it the look of an older structure. This lent another layer of time to the property. By placing the barn in line with the original log cabin, the landscape architect made it seem like both had been built at the same time.
The barn houses alpacas, goats, sheep, miniature horses and cows. It also has an adjacent paddock. “It was so much fun to be a part of watching [the family] embrace nature, the landscape and living with animals,” Horn says.
The homeowners were very important members of the dream team. “Life is sweet here,” Horn says. “This project really sings because of the homeowners’ fantastic leadership. They were trusting, communicative and engaged, and they are wonderful stewards of this land.”
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The family’s love of the land turned into a love of agrarian history, and this melded well with their love of animals. Part of the later design phase included building this barn from reclaimed wood and giving it the look of an older structure. This lent another layer of time to the property. By placing the barn in line with the original log cabin, the landscape architect made it seem like both had been built at the same time.
The barn houses alpacas, goats, sheep, miniature horses and cows. It also has an adjacent paddock. “It was so much fun to be a part of watching [the family] embrace nature, the landscape and living with animals,” Horn says.
The homeowners were very important members of the dream team. “Life is sweet here,” Horn says. “This project really sings because of the homeowners’ fantastic leadership. They were trusting, communicative and engaged, and they are wonderful stewards of this land.”
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Read more landscape stories
Browse more landscape photos
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Shop for your outdoor spaces
Yard at a Glance
Who lives here: A family of four
Location: Vienna, Virginia
Size: 5 acres
Designers: Jennifer Horn of Horn & Co. (landscape architecture); Barnes Vanze Architects (architecture); Lauren Liess Interiors (interior design)
Contractor: Carrmichael Construction
As the homeowners were planning their new home, they assembled a team that included an architecture firm, a landscape architecture firm, an interior design firm and contractors. “Everyone on the team was very invested in this project. It was a dream team,” landscape architect Jennifer Horn says.
Originally, the property had the 1800s log cabin and a 1980s home on it, and neither was in great shape. The 1980s home was demolished to make way for a new home, but the homeowners and the design team agreed that the log cabin should be preserved and refurbished.
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