Moon gate and woodland garden at Boulder Haven
Have you ever seen a moon gate as beautiful as this one? I don’t think I have. It appears like a portal to another world around a back corner at Boulder Haven, the home garden of designer Carol Verhake in Berwyn, Pennsylvania. Carol’s garden was on the Philadelphia Area Fling tour in late September. Her moon gate leads onto a woodland trail at the back of her large property.
From the other side it frames a view of a secondary patio, rambling lawn, and island beds.
Such wonderful stonework
A cottagey shed makes another picturesque focal point in her garden.
A stream cascades through the garden as well, with plantings hemming it in for a natural effect.
Boulder Haven is obviously well named. Granite outcroppings appear throughout.
Carol turns fallen tree branches and cut-down trees into benches…
…and garden art, like this “walking stick” sculpture.
Leggy!
Shade-garden plantings with the moon gate in the background
More woodland texture and color
Carol’s garden is mostly a foliage garden, but there are flowers too, both living…
…and metal.
A green roof adds charm to a birdhouse.
More rock and a flower-adorned screen
Bright-green grass in the cracks of a flagstone path caught my eye.
Graceful Japanese anemones
There are pink ones too.
An elegant stone patio at the back of the house features a handsome wall with planted urns. A long-legged metal frog was climbing up.
The low wall also made a good perch for Philly Fling-organizer Karl Gercens and attendees Paula and Cindy.
A paver in Carol’s pathway says it all.
As I headed to the bus I stopped to admire Carol’s lovely foundation bed with hydrangea, anemone, and other flowering shrubs.
Up next: David Culp’s charming Brandywine Cottage garden. For a look back at the colorful Create A Scene garden, click here.
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Digging Deeper
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Tour several Austin gardens on Saturday, November 4, on the Garden Conservancy’s Open Day tour for Travis County. Tickets must be purchased online in advance and will be available beginning September 1st.
All material © 2024 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
This is my favorite! Wow!!
So many interesting features in this one, right?
I love that moon gate! The walking stick sculpture was imaginative too. There was a delightful mix of beauty and whimsey in this garden.
There really was, Kris. It just kept unfolding.
Another lovely garden! That moon gate is a masterpiece. I imagine the garden must be incredibly attractive to birds and other wildlife, as well as to anyone lucky enough to visit. Thanks for sharing your post!
My pleasure, Maggie. Thanks for your comment!
Oh my, the moon gate is a dream come true.
It is fabulous.
I love gardens that put the emphasize on foliage. It takes extra effort and requires a critical eye in order to achieve the “wow” effect without blooms. That way, a flower becomes an exclamation point rather than the whole story.
Plus, there’s much less dead heading… always a plus in my book.
Less work is definitely a plus!