With a few design tricks, Deborah Nevins creates a Midwestemgarden that can be enjoyed by visitors of any age or ability

W R I T T E N B Y D E B O R A H N E E D L E M A N P H O T O G R A P H E D B Y N I N A B R A M H A L L

P R O D U C E D B Y C H A R L O T T E M . F R I E Z E

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T rs oFTIN sArD that goodgardens are built from theinside out-frorn the house,

aad into the rvodd. But perhaps the bestgardens are those that begin even furtherinside: in the heart. To be sure, thisthree-acre garden in the Midrvest couldnot be imag ined wr r hout i rs housefor the layout and spirit reflect the architecture ofa classical French-style manorBut this grand house arrd garden areas they are for another reason, both humble and personal: a place that everyonei n the Femik . r " - . . i ^ -

'With one child who uses both a wheel,

chair arrd a walker, the or.ners wanted ahome accessible to all people. The gar-den,like the house, is constructed accord-ing to the principles of universal design.The idea is to remove barriers so tharphysical limitations of mobility or sightpose no limit to someonet ability to takeful.l advantage of a place and its pleasures.

Architect Thomas Beeby artd deco-rator Sta-n1ey Falconer of Colefax and

Fowler were alteady at rvork on thehouse when they invited garden designerDeborah Nevins to meet the owner. ,,rrrarchitectural historian ald a former lecturer on landscape historl. Nevins isknorvn for her classically inspired gardens and her sensitivity to architecture.

Nevins and the owner struck an immc-diate rapport, probably because both areperfectionists, in the best sense of theword. The owner involved herself inevery detail ofthe project. She scouredbooks, asked questions, and made tripsto Fralce to examine architecture, orna-ments, and gardens. Her level of attentioninspired Nevins, who says, " We shor:ld allapply such care to any life project."

For her part, Nevins is motivated by abeliefthat rvell articulated spaces encourage intimacy between people and thelarLdscape. This garden was influenced bythe classic sevelteenth-century Frenchgardens ofAndr6 k N6tre. Following tusexample, Nevins organized the space intoa series ofgarden "rooms," each ofwhich

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THE WHITE GARDEN, above, fuatures a borderwith'Kdnkld White' peony. AN EARLY spRtNG sHowof bluebells, hellebores, ard mlnl.narcissus, lfr, bloomsnearan all6e oI honey locust trees. Opposile page,clockwise from toD left: THE CONSERVAToRY wassuggested by a friend who gets around on a molodzedscooter, as a place to vlew the gatden comfortablyin any weather; AN ARlil ILLARY SPHE RE stands bythe gardn path, which is made ot decomposed granitemixed with Stabillzer-the blend creaies a firmsurface that lets water percolate through; WOODLANDBLOOMS, white Arenore syrvesfiq and pulplePulsafllla vulgafis;lHE LOCUST ALLEE is softened byunderplantings of hostas, astllbe, and ferns.

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fN A PURPLE EXTRAVAGANZA, a palch of Scitla siberica andviolas, this page, blooms near one end ofthe house, The stairwayin the distance-and anotherflight, ouffitted with an elect icsealJead to AN AUPHITHEATER f.amed in boxwood, oppositepage, which is hand-pruned to maintain a puffy, cloudlike shape.

offers a diferent e)iperience. Walkingfrom the terrace, one can hide away rnthe small, enclosed topiary garden orwander under the dappled shade of thehoney locust all6e, *'here plantings qpreadout like a tapestfy In the other direction,tough, sturdy lowland plants populate adell, and a luscious amphirhearer isformed by billovy cushions ofboxwood.A generous path, resembling the packed-earth padrs ofFrance, cuwes lile a goldenribbon, uniting the entte garden.

In this garden, each beautii{ surface orgentle dip in the lard has a pu4rose. The

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gracious path, which is in perfect propor-tio4 is in fact \ ride enough to accommo-date rwo people, one in a chair, movingside by side. The path is made ofdecom-posed granite (in a sandy color thatmatches the house) mked viith a bindercalled Stabilizer, forming a base thatdrains quickly 'A bark or gravel path ls aDo Not Enter sign to someone in awheelchair," sa).s the ovrner. Benchespunctuate the path at stategically closeinteryals "Distance," the owner sa;rs, ucanalso be a barrier"

Seamlessly blending the aesthetic and

the prmatic, the garden is a place wherefamily members can reconnect v/ith oneanothe! read, or meditate on nature.Nevins has even created an ara thatsimulares a visir to the woods, an experi-ence dificult for someone in a chair. Sheplanted evergreens close to the path, togive guests the feel of being envelopedin a forest. When those in wheelchairsremark on how delightfully cool it feelsin this area, and how intense the ever,greens smell, the owner re.joices. She haszucceeded in creating a place v/here sen-sual delights are open to all.

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siec 6liaa,',l Arbof2 16th-century style garder3 Founta n tearace4 Wh te gard-on5 Bench6 The locust wa k7 Shade garden8 Covered garden seatI Grass te(acel0 Fo!ntaln11 Viewing terrace12 The de13 Arrn lary sphefe

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