Madison -- Sweeney Gardens

Sweeney Gardens were re-established in 2008 after the house was renovated and a large deck was added. The distinct garden areas covering 0.7 acres include the garden next to the street that is bisected by a brick walkway which leads to a foundation garden in front of the house and a woodland garden with bordering woodlands behind the house. The challenges for this three-quarter acre property include exposure to deer incursions and the incompatibility of the mature black walnut trees in the woodlands garden with many other plant materials. The primary colors in the gardens in front of the house are blue-purples, purples with contrasting yellow, found in giant alliums, blue hill salvia, irises, yarrow, and nepeta with touches of pink provided by oenethera. Other deer resistant plants used in and alongside the shady woodland garden include lady's mantle, spiderwort, ajuga, hakone grass, lamb's ear, bleeding heart, brunnera macrophylla, creeping Jenny, grape hyacinth, bugbane, ginger and ferns. Hostas are planted for their variety of shapes and colors and are kept sprayed with deer repellent.

The owners' next project will be surrounding the gardens with deer fencing.

Persons associated with the garden include Thomas Oberschmidt (landscape designer, 2008).