It is an old area of town that has mostly been maintained. Many many houses have been totally restored.
The oldest house in that neighborhood was built in 1840’s, is brick, has one room downstairs and a loft upstairs and a fireplace. That is it.
The houses on the tour this year were built in 1887, 1875, 1869, 1894, 1910, 1867, 1895, 1872, 1914, 1867.
Many houses have old stables that were converted to garages or guest houses.
Most of the houses are inhabited and wonderfully done.
A couple houses (on the tour every year) are in the process of reconstruction. Two this year did not even have inside walls. Those are our favorites, because next year they are likely to be on the tour, complete.
As much as we love the houses, the gardens are really fun, because this is an old section of town with small lots, or narrow/deep lots.
The houses are very close together.
And people have been very creative in very little space.
They have figured out how to have a lot of privacy while close to lots of neighbors.
One year we walked into a backyard that had an in ground pool (and we could not believe it).
The plants are great, but mostly it is the design we notice: paths, stones, furniture, water, fences, decks, outdoor buildings, terraces, balconies, roof top decks.
Most of the gardens, on the tour over the years, are magazine quality.
Every bit of every space has been carefully considered and used. They are very polished and very clever.
In our yard, the area at the top of the driveway, where we just put in an upper and lower walled garden, is the same amount of space as many of their (whole back) yards.
It is like a blank canvas to me. My husband has been leveling out the ground all summer. There are three trees and two raised beds, with a nice space around them.
And we are pretty capable around here. So I am considering floating wooden decks (they sit on the ground, not cemented in ground) and large pavers and other options.
I would be interested in finding someone who works with design in that old neighborhood to help me with ideas for my space. Because I would like it to have that clever, small space feel.
We have just sort of winging it so far.
But the end result is three stone walls in the back, and they are exactly the sort of design details that I love in gardens.
