Garden Design for a Historic Home in St.Paul, MN

The clients had recently moved into their historic 1889 home, situated just west of bustling downtown St. Paul. They envisioned a formal yet livable garden—a serene outdoor space where they could unwind. The goal was to create a garden that was elegant and easy to maintain, while avoiding an overly stuffy appearance.

The winding path encourages a slower pace, inviting you to notice the blooms, bees, and fireflies.

A Garden that reflects timeless architecture

The garden design, which earned a Gold Award from the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP), complements the home’s blend of Greek Revival, Italianate, and Queen Anne styles. Formal elements like a curved pathway create a forced perspective, inviting visitors to explore further. Hedges frame the back of the garden, while a restrained color palette defines the plantings. Near the irregular flagstone patio, perennials are arranged more freely, softening the look and creating a natural pollinator viewing area. Reclaimed old brick adds character along the path's border.

Move the slider to reveal the transformation.

Before: Neglected side yard with remnants of a perimeter path, overgrown shrubs, and weedy trees.

After: A formal garden with a revived pathway that matched the architectural feel of their home and neighborhood.

Notice the minimal separation between the neighbor’s property and our client’s. Fortunately, this side features heritage trees, allowing for careful planting that navigates tree roots while preserving the path's integrity. A row of arborvitae along the property line will gradually grow to enhance privacy from the neighbors.

At the front entry, an arbor covered in clematis beckons visitors to explore this secret garden. A peek over the railing makes you want to see more.

Enchanted Entrance

A garden sculpture greets visitors at the entrance, nestled among hydrangeas, coneflowers, and Amsonia. A winding path invites you to explore further, leading the way to the patio.

Patio Plantings

The abundance of plantings offers some privacy from the nearby neighbors while also helping to reduce the noise of the bustling downtown. Placing the flagstone patio closer to the home makes it more convenient—and more likely to be used.

Before: Building a four-foot retaining wall to address a 16-foot drop to the neighbor's sidewalk.

After: Now, a safe, level surface with proper grading away from the home.

Steep Grade Challenges

The property had a 16-foot grade drop on two sides, supported by a deteriorating 100-year-old stone wall, making access difficult. All trees on the northeast side were removed, and a new 4-foot retaining wall was installed on the downslope, just inside the property line. This provided a safe, level surface for a symmetrical garden and allowed for proper grading away from the home.

Magical Summer Nights

As the sun sets, take your time to appreciate the garden's beauty. Landscape lighting switches on, including uplights and path lights, illuminates the space, it creates a serene ambiance that masks the proximity of downtown, just a block away. About 30 minutes after sunset, fireflies emerge in the garden beds and trees, adding a touch of magic to the evening.

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