Virginia Beach -- Fernwood

Fernwood is located adjacent to the Princess Anne Country Club in Virginia Beach, Virginia. In 1998, the Mac and Steven Houfek became the fourth owners of 1.5 acre property when they purchased the two-story Mediterranean-inspired home constructed in 1950. Established in 1951, the garden now contains collection of unusual and interesting plants and a series of rooms including the Charleston Garden, the Italian Garden, the White Garden, the Japanese Garden, and a Mirrored Fountain garden. The property also features a woodland garden, a terraced garden, a shade garden, a pergola, statues, and a few water fountains. With the exception of the Charleston Garden which was planned by Landscape designer William Pinkham, the design of Fernwood has been the vision and work of the current owners. The Houfeks began putting their own mark on the property with a gracious entry via a wide semi-circular driveway. Steps lead up from the gravel drive to a broad circular brick terrace, punctuated with the columnar forms of Thuja occidentalis 'DeGroot's Spire', a cultivar that is reminiscent of tall skinny cypress in Italian gardens. She added four triangular beds outlined with boxwood (Buxus sinica var. insularis 'Wintergreen'). Hydrangea paniculata 'Bobo', a floriferous dwarf version of a panicle hydrangea, fills the beds in summer. The terrace has a somewhat formal feel but adjacent beds temper that with their ebullience. To the left (heading east), a brick walk leads between a wall fountain and beds of Acanthus mollis. A trio of Cercis canadensis 'Ruby Falls' wear dresses of dark purple foliage on weeping branches that go all the way to the ground. At the corner of the house a wrought iron gate leads to a Mirrored Fountain garden. A large mirror fastened to the garage wall visually expands the narrow area. The mirror also allows anyone standing in the kitchen watch birds take turns at a bubbling fountain. A semi-dwarf golden threadleaf false cypress (Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Filifera Aurea') and the Franklinia alatamaha were planted in this space by earlier owners. A pair of white Lady Banks roses (Rosa banksiae) grow over an iron trellis at the entrance to Fernwood's first garden room, the White Garden. The room contains a brick walkway divided the space into four quadrants with a Buxus x 'Green Mountain' planted in each. Inspired by Vita Sackville-West's legendary garden at Sissinghurst Castle, each bed is lined with dwarf English boxwood (Buxus sempervirens 'Suffruticosa'), and dubbed the space the White Garden. Four moss-lined baskets fixed atop sturdy posts are planted with evergreen ferns and white flax. In summer, white annuals are added for a festive overflowing look. Two white Akebia vines (Akebia quinata 'Alba') are on the lattice fence. The back gate opens to a series of arches covered with Confederate jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides) that end at a grouping of large white hydrangeas. Adjacent to the White Garden is the Japanese Garden with a small waterfall and a Japanese maple appropriately named 'Waterfall' (Acer palmatum dissecta). An 8'-tall Lorapetalum chinense 'Plum Delight' is trimmed to mimic the shape of a bonsai. The Asian emphasis on form and texture makes for a restful, tranquil space throughout the year. The large garden bordering the golf course features a large multi-stemmed Edgeworthia chrysantha (Chinese paper bush) and lush underplanting of bulbs and perennials. A sturdy pergola is planted with Stauntonia hexaphylla, an attractive evergreen climbing shrub that provides leafy shade. Enclosed in the Charleston Garden is a semi-circular fountain that features a lead statue of a young boy holding two flutes spraying water into the pool. The garden is paved with flagstones interspersed with white and lavender mazus (Mazus repens) that looks like green mortar. An existing limbed-up camellia adds its sizable presence to one rear corner while a Styrax obassia (fragrant snowbell) occupies the other. Poets laurel (Danae racemosa) is planted under a Foster holly. Creeping fig (Ficus pumila) climbs up the masonry walls. Handsome wrought iron gates complete the homage. Backing up to the Charleston garden is a woodland garden. A 150 feet path is carved through the woods bordering the property featuring a collection of frog and toad statuary. The garden entry just off the driveway hosts one of Mac's prize plants – Stachyurus praecox. The owner trained it over a length of curved rebar and the long racemes look like fringe on curtains. The front garden boasts a sunny lawn with fringing mixed beds and a large hedge hiding it from the street. A large weathered flowerpot containing a topiary Juniperus chinensis 'Monlep' is embraced by the rotting stump of a long- gone tree. The lawn showcases the exciting redbud cultivar Cercis candensis 'Rising Sun'. The Italian Garden is entered through two large Russian olives (Elaeagnus angustifolia) weaved into a living green arch. Concrete balusters set the path between the bushes. Evergreen plants are the major design element and the use of flowering plants is restrained. Acanthus is planted in a border along the driveway backed by a line of 'Emerald Green' arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis 'Smaragd') and separated by English boxwood. A rectangular bed surrounded by lawn is home classically-inspired statue of a woman. At opposite end of the bed, the Houfeks replanted a large camellia.

Persons associated with the garden design include: Mac Houfek (owner, 1998-), Steve Houfek (owner, 1998-), William Pinkham (design consultant, 1999-2004)