photography by Leah Roberts
Beneath the 100 year old Tulip Poplar in the center of the woodland back yard of a French contemporary home in Chevy Chase… lies a tangle of tree roots, pulled up flagstone, and a moss covered playhouse. But unlike the witch’s cottage in Hansel & Gretel, this playhouse and garden could be charming. A landscape redesign adds arborvitae, boxwood and dwarf Japanese maple to complement the scale of the playhouse and create a focal point for the garden. The interplay between the dappled afternoon light and the autumn colors of heuchera, hellebores, hostas, and ferns, creates a pleasing vision. Courtyard gravel pads create two tableaux for entertaining. An ancient birdbath previously relegated to the garage, becomes a wildlife magnet, and ‘Voila’ an afternoon delight is created.
