Charlottesville -- Frierson Garden, The

Previous owners had gardened this one-fifth acre property with a 1939 Dutch Colonial revival house, and some elements from earlier gardens have been retained by the current owners, including a Japanese maple, cleyera, deutzia, hemlock and Osmanthus, or relocated including a peony, hosta, primroses, snowdrops and Spanish bluebells. Otherwise in 1985 the gardens were overgrown, dying or filled with weeds. After clearing the owners planted a small herb garden and some flowering shrubs but had issues with drainage. They also became interested in boxwood species and cultivars and have gone on to assemble a collection of more than 30 varietals including sports. They hired a stonemason to replace the concrete front walk with soapstone and have continued to employ the artisan Toru Oba to lay a new patio, build a dry stone bed that aids drainage, lay paths, install rockwork including huge blocks that serve as benches or a table, and many other projects. The overgrown foundation beds in front of the house were replaced by four varieties of boxwood: diamond parterres now filled with ferns and taller border plants. English boxwood declined and were replaced with layers of specimen boxwood and shade perennials. Garden beds were designed to incorporate the boxwood collection along with flowering trees, bulbs and perennials, some propagated by the owners or shared by associates. Zoysia grass was planted for a more durable lawn, gravel or grass paths were replaced with soapstone pavers. The owners have planted pocket gardens in nooks including a bog garden for pitcher plants, sundews and calapogon orchids (grass pinks) in a spot that was hard to mow. A trellis built from tree limbs supports crossvine and yellow jessamine. There still is an herb garden below the back porch with lemon balm, sage, oregano, chives, tarragon, basil, lavender, and mints contained in a strawberry jar. Persons associated with the garden include: Edward F. Gilley (former owner, 1939-1950); Gordon and Mildred Wiley (former owners, 1950-1977); Robert and Tanya Artinian (former owners, 1978-1979); Ellen Thackara (former owner, 1979-1985); Henry F., Jr. and Melinda Byrd Frierson (owners, 1985- ); Sigrid Harriman (garden designer, 1997); Toru Oba (stonemason and sculptor, 1991-2012)