Ridgefield -- Ridgefield, Connecticut Garden of Helen Dimos and Dr. Benjamin Oko

The 1735 saltbox house was restored in the 1950's by a previous owner but there were only remnants of previous gardens when the approximately two-and-one-half acre property was purchased in 1995. The house faces the road behind a closely-spaced picket fence atop a stone wall; the entrance garden has been planted with shade ground covers, tree peonies, dogwood and boxwood. The owner, a professional landscape designer, felt that plantings near the house should be kept simple for historic accuracy. A large stone landing, two sets of steps made from salvaged curbs and stone walkways to the garage and around the house to other garden rooms were built. A burr oak and fernleaf beech were planted in the gently sloping meadow; about 75 more trees have been planted around the property. The meadow trees and pinetum planted along one side integrate the lower woodlands with the groomed gardens. A shrub border with native rhododendron, holly, viburnum, blueberry, buttonbush and mountain laurel was planted leading to the wetlands, also at the bottom of the property, otherwise growing native species. Behind the house an existing terrace was enlarged and re-laid with larger natural stones and an existing fence was removed. Its border is planted with peonies, roses, lilies, clematis, hosta, sweetshrub and dogwood. A perennial garden room was a formal parterre, now more "cottagey" with four sections, boxwood edging and additional stone paths. Many varieties of peonies have been trialed in the perennial garden over the years with favorites kept and others removed. Roses, iris and clematis are other favorites for this garden room and for borders along walkways. A vegetable and cutting garden was the first fenced area but after ten years of fending off deer the owners installed wire deer fencing around three sides of the property that is disguised by trees on either side. Other garden rooms include a shade garden between the house and the pinetum, a boxwood edged kitchen garden, a fern garden shaded by crabapple that has evolved into mixed bulbs, perennials and shrubs, and an ornamental grass and allium border that contrasts with a border of tall native grasses. Newer plantings favor native trees and shrubs that will attract birds and require less maintenance. The house was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984 and this garden has participated in Garden Conservancy Open Days since 2000. Persons associated with the garden include: Thomas Hyatt and family (former owners, 1735-1832); Pulling and Dykeman families (former owners, 1832-circa 1925); Cashman family (former owners, circa 1950-circa 1985); Clifford and Patricia Risell (former owners, 1985-circa 1993); Helen Dimos and Benjamin Oko, M.D. (owners, 1995- ); Louise Cashman (restoration architect, 1951- ); Helen Dimos ASLA (landscape designer, 1995- ).