Larkspurs flowers on Poppy Hill at Northview Garden
View across the pond to the Rose Cottage Shed
Tree House built from the base of an old oak tree.
View across the Herb Garden from the Tree House.
Hypertufa troughs lined up along the walkway to the Dry Garden.
View from Pond Garden to Herb Garden.
Looking across the pond to the shed aka Rose Cottage.
Hydrangeas surround “The Lunch Spot” at Northview Gardens in July
Red tulip urns in front of the rose decorated fence.
Spiral path encircles teapot fountain in the Moss Garden
Alice in Wonderland would have loved this Teapot, Cup and Saucer Fountain
Ferns and old roots in the Victorian inspired Stumpery.
Late spring view of the Moon Beds with upright spires of foxgloves and rounded haeds of Allium
Old-fashioned tools of the writing trade – yellow pencils – in a flower “frog”.
Old garden tools in “Rose Cottage” at Northview.
Translucent petals of this self-sown poppy
View into the Herb Garden
Spires of pretty pink foxgloves
Tulips are a late-spring favorite at Northview. This is a ‘broken’ style pattern – reminiscent of old-fashioned tulips
I love Parrot Tulips – this one in classic red and yellow
Pasque Flower is named due to its tendency to flower around Easter time. Some years it hits the date – others it doesn’t
Spring Garden in Spring in its early years – after a trip to the bulb gardens in Holland
Early spring view of the rectilinear Herb Garden from a cherry picker. Four-square herb gardens are traditional but still popular
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We hold open garden afternoons. Dates and times will be posted on this website. Subscribe to this blog and you will get notifications of the garden days.

Please email us for further information – BeforeYouGarden(at)gmail(dot)com

Northview Gardens – Moon Beds that line the side of the Herb Garden. A changing display throughout the seasons. In April an A-Z of heirloom daffodils followed by a cottage garden style mix of herbs, perennials, annuals and self-sowing flowers.

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The Stumpery was a favorite feature of Victorian gardens. The Northview Stumpery has a collection of ferns surrounding the upturned roots of trees that have fallen down on the property or that have been donated or trash-picked.

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The Tea Pot fountain in the Moss Garden is a favorite of visitors and birds. Step into an Alice-in-Wonderland setting and take a sip of tea at the little tea set in the shade

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Rose Cottage (a.k.a. The Shed) is the hub of the garden. Tools and other garden paraphernalia  are stored here. The Rose Gate Garden (shown here) has a decorative rose fence that divides the gardens from the working area behind the cottage.

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View to Rose Cottage across one of the little ponds. Dry laid paving stones allow water infiltration throughout the garden. Walls are also dry-laid but the caps are cemented to allow people to sit on them.

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View from the Pond Garden, through the Herb Garden and back to the house. The blue bench is one of many places to sit in the garden.

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Hypertufa troughs filled with drought tolerant plants – viewed from the Tree House.

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View across the Herb Garden from the Tree House

Tree House with railings. A metal urn with lid in front. Gardens surround them. DSC_7044

The Garden at Northview was lawn and trees surrounded by invasive plants when I moved here in 1997. Now it is a collection of various gardens that reflect my own growth as well as the growth of the garden as a whole.

A series of “Garden Rooms” unfold as you walk around the garden. Each outdoor room has its own theme and palette of plants. Visual focal points entice you further and further. Seats and benches invite you to stay a while to enjoy the plethora of wildlife that is enjoying the garden with you.

Northview is a certified wildlife habitat. The small ponds are designed with splash blocks to encourage birds to drink and bathe. No insecticides or herbicides are used in the garden so there is a wide variety of insects for the birds to eat.

View from above of a stone path surrounded by flower-filled beds mulched with gravel
View from the Tree House down to the Dry Garden – that hasn’t been watered since 2004
Pink and white flowers line a stone path in a summer herb garden
Herb Garden path is lined by Spider Flower – Cleome – in summer