Page 38 - North Haven Magazine Issue 36 Holiday 2024

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A LAST GLANCE OF

by Sally Brockett
s we move into the winter season, let’s look in detail at the gardens at
Athe home of Jim and Sue Lorusso that were briefly mentioned in the
previous Creating Beautiful Gardens article. This may give you some ideas
to build upon during the cold months and you will be ready in the spring
to try some new ideas!
The wagon points your eye to the focal point
There are basic elements found in gardens that create peace through their of the antique corn crib. (Lorusso)
organization and structure. This is very evident in the Lorusso gardens.

last a shorter time than annual flowers, if not managed well. However, you can
but if chosen and placed carefully, the take advantage of these different areas
gardens will have an ever-changing show and use appropriate flowers and shrubs
of colors. for each different setting. Plants that
need shade or part shade will thrive
Shrubs are also used for color and tex- when provided with that environment.
ture in the Lorusso gardens. Some shrubs And plants that need sun will delight
have soft, feathery leaves, while others you with beautiful flowers in the sun-
have large, bold leaves. The shrubs can shine. The placement of the colorful
Note the contrast in lines and forms, with angles in be pruned to provide a variety of shapes, gazing ball adds glitters of light and re-
the barn and fence lines softened by the rounded
shrubs. (Lorusso) from rounded to pyramidal or columnar. flections that contribute to the beauty
They will also display changing colors in of the scene.
their leaves.

Use Height to an Advantage:
Pool houses are typically built for their
functional use. But with a bit of creativ-
ity, the pool house can become an addi-
tional focal point and add intrigue to the
landscape. The Lorusso pool house is not
only useful for pool yard activities, but it
Annuals make a pop of constant color with a shrubs
is also a great rooftop garden! Your eye is
providing a variety of colors, textures, and shapes.
drawn upwards by the colorful succulents
Rounded shrubs contrast with the lines of the fence.
(Lorusso) Roof top gardening adds interest and draws your
growing there. eye to greater heights. Succulents add interest and
Structures: color to an otherwise typical roof. (Lorusso)
The Lorusso gardens are built around Contrasts:
permanent structures in such a way as to Contrasts are important because they
enhance their beauty and integrate them keep the image interesting and highlight
into the garden scenes. The antique corn certain aspects of the garden. A beautiful
crib is a permanent structure in the field, pool is a wonderful feature by itself, but
but it is comfortably settled into the land, when the landscape and pool work to-
so it does not appear to have just been gether to create a special image, it is truly
dropped onto the field. The antique wag- something extraordinary. Looking at the
on complements the scene and leads the Lorusso pool and gardens, you notice the
viewer through the grass to the corn crib. hard lines of the pool edges contrast with
the curves of the shrubs. Both the lines This is a good example of great use of shade and sun
in the landscape. You can have color in each area by
The old gray barn is another permanent of the pool edging and the softer curved selecting the appropriate plants.
structure that is integrated into the gar- line of the low-growing juniper draw your
dens. The gardens flow around the barn, eye back to the waterfall at the end of the
breaking up the lines and angles so they pool. The annuals add a pop of color as There are additional elements that
fit well together. an additional accent and focal point. should also be considered, but these
photos of the gardens at the Lorusso
Colors and Textures: Shade and Sun: home illustrate the features discussed.
A mix of perennial and annual flowers can It is important to take note of the shady Maybe you will be inspired by these
be used to provide color throughout the areas and sunny areas in the yard. Too gardens to implement some new fea-
seasons. The flowers on perennials will often, they become a source of problems tures in your yard.

38 North Haven Magazine - Holiday Issue 2024