Through the hedge: A Charlottesville garden embraces a woodland

“An unfolding story” is how one Charlottesville resident describes her collaboration with landscape designer Cole Burrell. That’s apt —their work together has logged nine years and counting. But it’s also a fair description of what happens when you walk through the garden. From the street to the rear property line, the landscape here reveals one […]

At home with…Leslie Burns

Two of interior designer Leslie Burns’ passions put a personal stamp on her work: fine art and travel. Having visited more than 20 different countries and worked as a fine artist, Leslie’s designs often focus on bringing more color and texture to a room. We asked her to tell us what she’s been up to […]

Inside the outside: Through landscape, Gregg Bleam defines “Southern modernism”

The best of both worlds. That’s maybe the easiest way to describe Gregg Bleam’s interest in landscape architecture. Bleam had always loved architecture, but it wasn’t until college, where he began pursuing a graphic arts degree, that he realized his real interest was in making things. “Landscape architecture brought together a lot of different interests […]

Historic Garden Week 2015

If you walk along the serpentine brick walls by the Pavilion Gardens on the grounds of the University of Virginia, you will see a plaque commemorating the restoration work of the Garden Club of Virginia. Inside, right about now, the daffodils and periwinkle are blooming, and the tulips are on their way. In fact, thanks […]

Small yard, big impact

While some people live on country estates with ample acreage, many people these days have less-than-spacious yards—especially in condominium or townhouse communities. “There are challenges in having a small yard,” points out Charlottesville Horticulturist Karyn Smith. It can be tempting, she says, to visit a nursery or garden store, buy a bunch of good-sized trees […]

Extra living space: outdoor rooms

Since spring is busting out all around central Virginia, it’s a perfect time to consider upgrades to outdoor living space. An ideal project might be a deck addition or a screened porch. Another welcome addition could be an outdoor kitchen with counter space, a grill, a built-in ice chest, or even a small refrigerator. Families […]