Historic Garden Week in Richmond provided such warm memories of both horticultural and architectural inspiration. One setting lingers in my mind, which I cannot resist calling the “Hansel and Gretel Cottage.” Designed in the 1920s by renowned NYC architect, Ernest Flagg, the intimate home is functional and picturesque and modest. Low to the ground, with rustic walls of local stone, steeply pitched roofs with swept eaves, and ridge top dormer windows, the beyond-charming home in the Three Chopt Road historic district provides many lessons to be learned.

It seemed so appropriate to start with the gate entrance to the private garden at the back and side of the house, where you are immediately taken with the simplicity which deserves a shout-out. There’s a rhythm to the design, while accents are so delicious to set one’s eyes upon. Playing up the truth that combining leaf shapes, sizes, and shades of green is a tenet of good design, look at the cluster in the vignette fronting the gate and along the path to the first seating area.

The corner and back of this side of the house have an elegant American beech “stilt hedge” bordering the property line, while providing privacy and intimacy.

The corner has received a creative as well as handsome treatment, turned into a big curve embracing a two-tier stone seating area, centered with another statement urn and formalized even more with short grass!

An elegant floral bed (also seen in the Feature image) captures the favorites of this season in yellow, pink, sky-blue, and white, all in bloom.

The stone planter on a casual stack of stones backed with the blue-green large hosta leaves “cuddling” it, 

and the carefully placed stone jigsaw puzzle path (part of this art of design) accented with different ground  covers (ie. creeping Jenny and Mondo grass).

A generous adjoining open landscape displays the same artistic talent for path design with large stepping stones leading across the lawns from the main house. 

To the guest house (a former garage) and a fancy “tool shed,” both given the same loving attention

on either side of a stone pebbled courtyard. Quite a dressed up, cozy get away for lucky guests and out-of-town family members!

 While it may be May, I can’t resist including this Christmas image of Flagghouse, seemingly ablaze in the snow!

It deserves noting that owners Mary Bacon and John Crowder modestly describe themselves as “resident gardeners” of 26 years. Those close friends listed as “producers or directors” are given an enthusiastic shoutout…Jay Hugo and 3 North, have been used exclusively for renovations and additions to the buildings; for professional help with garden design, it’s Meg Turner. Thank you all!