Middleburg -- Ellerslie

The design of this 9.9-acre garden, established by the current owners in 1987, was largely dictated by its location on rolling hills. The property was originally part of an early 19th century plantation named Seven Springs. The land slopes sharply downhill from the house on the east, north, and south. Diana Reuter was hired for the renovation of the house and the hardscape design. Although there are formal elements featured on the property, the overall style conforms to the existing topography. The garden combines both native and non-native plants. In the front of the property, the lawn slopes upward and then levels off to the property boundary, a 19th century dry-laid stone wall. Each border on the property is planted in layers, with trees or large shrubs as the structural features, herbaceous plants and smaller shrubs as the middle layer, and a ground cover layer is supplemented by bulbs and ephemerals. As the garden has matured, shrubs and trees have become more predominant and herbaceous plants less significant.

The front garden was developed as a series of informal circles and semi-circles which fit the curving lines of the slopes. The heart of the garden is the lily pool, a stone circle approached by flagstone steps which transition to the upper lawn and borders. The circle motif is repeated in the Luytens steps which lead up to the pool, in the moon gate on the side patio, in the design of the front walk, and by arbors on either end of the secret garden, the vegetable garden, and a bulb and wildflower walk along the stone wall. The entire garden can also be accessed by meandering stone and mulch paths throughout the property. A path through the secret garden is surrounded by variegated boxwood, Chinese elm, and painted buckeye. This area also features a carved granite birdbath. Behind the house, two sets of stone steps enclose a series of stone and stucco terraces. These were originally used for vegetables but have now been converted to stylized "meadows" with grasses and pollinator plants. The slopes on either side have been planted in a variety of native shrubs and grasses to hold the bank. A pipevine archway is flanked by loropetalum and variegated Japanese maple. Stone steps lead to a rear veranda featuring inkberries and peonies.

Persons associated with the garden include: Mr. And Mrs. Frederick Warburg (former owners, 1920s); Mr. And Mrs. William Reed (former owners, 1976); Diana Reuter Twining (architect, landscape designer, 1991-1995).