Northshore Home magazine highlights the best in architectural design, new construction and renovations, interiors, and landscape design.
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58 SPRING 2019 cultivate nshoremag.com/nshorehome/ back to its base to ensure next spring's bloom. Often, she gives the seeds to her clients. On a late spring day, the round parterre also shows off Holdsworth's skill at effectively mixing different hardscape materials with myriad green foliage. For ex- ample, she has a real admiration for Cape Ann granite, which is incorporated into her landscape in creative ways. "I specify Cape Ann granite because it's more beautiful than new granite in my opinion," she says. In addition, the bones of the parterre are a mixture of cut slabs of the native rock and smaller round stones. Mel- lowed brick walkways lead to a stonework circle with a tall granite fountain that Eric made for Holdsworth a few years back as a birthday surprise. Resourceful, Holdsworth is always on the lookout for reclaimed materials for use in her work. Old bricks, rusted sculptures, weather-beaten wood furniture— she is not satisfied with just a familiar border. In the last few years she has acquired timeworn cobblestones from construction sites in Gloucester. "Everyone want- ed them; I bought some for my clients," she boasts. Charles River "bridge block," from the recently reno- vated Longfellow Bridge in Boston, was also scooped up. She has a knack for being at the right place at the right time, always finding new hardscape materials to integrate into her clients' properties. As impressive and Continental-inspired as the Round Garden is, the Pavilion Garden off to the left of the parterre is soothing and verdant—almost prehis- caption toric. Holdsworth is drawn toward shade gardens. "I always want clients to see the value in their shade and not get rid of it. It's just more luscious," she says. A canopy of hardwoods protects waves of variegated hos- tas, toad lilies, ferns, birch, umbrella plants, Canadian ginger, creeping phlox—very effective. This amalgam of green foliage, with many flowering varieties, converges on a Japanese-style teahouse she designed herself. The Holdsworths' property is perhaps best appreci- ated while sipping some type of fun drink from the second-floor porch of their home. Looking south, one can enjoy the commanding view emanating from the natural axis of the Round Garden below. A lawn sweeps out toward mature hardwood trees. Midway, pergolas covered in native wisteria, honeysuckle, and clematis jut out into the field, offering yet another appeal- ing focal point. Under the artistic direction of Hilarie Holdsworth, a former pig farm has been transformed, Pygmalion-style, into a stunner. For Resources, see page 106. Left, Soft pink 'Heidi' peonies delight the eye and nose. Top, The afternoon sun shines on a pergola covered in native wisteria and 'goldflame' honeysuckle. Above, A bespoke granite fountain in the Round Garden's stonework circle.