Text by Audra Shalles
Photography by Jim Bathie
Styling by Emily Thomas

After pulling their cars into the garage, it’s much quicker to take the stairwell into the house, but the owners of a modern Tudor-style home just outside Birmingham, Alabama, prefer a path that leads through the garden. With its shaded walkways, fragrant blooms, and melodious fountain filled with koi and goldfish, the tranquil oasis offers a peaceful reprieve from the world outside.
When the couple purchased the home in 2001, they were delighted to discover that garden designer Mary Zahl had laid an eye-catching foundation. Ivy-covered walls and well-manicured boxwoods formed the backdrop for an intimate bluestone patio, giving it an air of seclusion. Overhead, arches were entwined with lush cascades of wisteria that, in the spring, burst into radiant purple blooms and filled the air with an intoxicating fragrance.

A lush arch of green wisteria creates a natural canopy above a terrace that’s ideal for relaxation. Tidy boxwoods form a low border beneath the ivy-covered wall and tiered layers of shrubbery and trees. Seasonal color makes an appearance in the way of pots filled with pink hydrangeas.

Though the primary plantings were lovely, the couple were anxious to make it their own. “Over the years, we’ve added everything above the wall,” says the homeowner. Small boxwoods and spiraea were put in, as were white hydrangeas, hostas, and leafy ferns that now stretch luxurious tendrils across the edge of stone steps and pea gravel paths. Wooded areas in the backyard were cleared out and leveled to fashion a flat grass lawn.

Against one of the home’s exterior walls, the homeowners also installed an X-shaped trellis upon which they trained sweetly scented jasmine vines, but a new fountain brought the most joy. “We love the sound of the water moving,” says the owner. Since an entrance to the kitchen provides direct access to the scenic retreat, the door is often thrown open during breakfast so they can savor nature’s symphony. When blue skies and temperate breezes beckon them to take their coffee outdoors, an inviting seating area surrounded by planters brimming with herbs and colorful blooms makes a perfect spot to relax.
Given the mild Southern climate, this Edenic paradise requires year-round maintenance to thrive. The homeowners enlist extra help but do much of the work themselves. The boxwoods, in particular, demand extra attention to protect them from blight. “We’re vigilant because everybody in our neighborhood lost theirs,” says the homeowner.

Windstorms are also a threat. “Over the last few years, two trees have hit the house. We’ve lost a lot of trees in this yard,” the owner shares. To preempt the damaging effects of a fall, a large tree shading the patio was pulled out and replaced with a swath of delicate bridal veil. “I’m excited to see how it will look two years from now,” the homeowner says. With its elegant design and harmonious blend of mature plantings and new flora, this garden is bound to thrive and to continue rejuvenating the spirit of all who pass through its paths.

The trill of birds perched in nearby trees and the heady scent of jasmine drift through the open door of the breakfast nook. When the afternoon is particularly pleasant, comfortable seating makes a welcome place to sip a cup of tea or read a book.

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