Not long ago, we bought a “new to us” home that is actually a fairly old home for the area we live in. I have found myself comparing her to an old lady a few times since we moved here. It is a lovely place, but like it does with people, time has taken it’s toll on her outward appearance. She is showing her age, but what can you expect at 111 years old? She is still young at heart though, her insides have been brought up to modern standards, thanks to the previous owners. I am glad it was done before we moved in, and doubly glad they kept most of her century-old charm while they did it. Look at that stairway and the original flooring on the landing, they don’t put that kind of workmanship into most homes these days!
She is a cross between 3 styles of homes. At first glance, you think it is a large Victorian, but looking closer, you also see elements of both Craftsmen and Four-Square design. She’s a grand old lady for sure, but knowing that makes it all the more apparent her gardens are not dressing her in the style she deserves. Instead of manicured lawns and pretty flowers, this is what graced her outside areas: overgrown hedges and trees, sad raised beds and a bare, patchy lawn. Yes, she was grand once, but it looked like she had been reduced in circumstance from wearing satin and lace to only being able to afford burlap and homespun cloth for her dresses.
As her lady-in-waiting, (waiting for the kids, waiting for spring, waiting for dinner to cook, you get the idea!), my plan is to dress her again in high-style. The backyard will have a dog-friendly design, but the front will not have to adhere so closely to that. We live on a busy road, so for the dogs’ safety, they only come out front when they are leashed and heading out for a walk around the neighborhood. What I dream of for her are gardens similar to these, elegant and stately to match the feel of our home. The individual elements of our garden will be different than these examples, but overall, the feel of these pictures is what I am aiming for as life is breathed back into the Lady’s wardrobe.
