The gardens at 26-1 Ranger Road were conceived with the home design, dictating the floor plan and the placement of the house in the field with maximum Southern exposure. The garden views from each window and plenty of light make the house walls seem to disappear. Whether you approach the front door or the side door to enter the house, there is a temptation to follow the path or the gate to the gardens instead.

We believe our gardens are not a horticultural experience, but one of form, texture, color, scent, and remembrance of people past and present. The stone walls and inclination to use familiar plants is inspired by Gertrude Jzekyl’s gardens.

My first gardening experience was with my grandmother. I can still imagine her in her gardening outfit, a chic brown seersucker jumpsuit. Most of my gardening knowledge and plants are from my mother. Each spring, we had a tradition of visiting various nurseries to replenish the gardens. Many of our plants are from her gardens that we worked on together. A gate leads to a garden of seven lilac varieties dedicated to her.

The first garden was the herb garden, inspired by great friend, gardener, and cook, Vera Balch. My sisters and sister-in-law also have a love of gardening and contributed roses, hellebores, a heath and heather garden, birdhouses, and hard-to-find plants. The rose garden with Monet arches is in memory of another sister-in-law, who loved beauty.

The landscaped golf hole was meant to inspire my husband’s new hobby while dealing with an unsightly area. It has met the latter best.

The gardens have two more gifts. They share the joy of beauty for charities. And, they provide the opportunity to practice photography. Each garden has a notebook of pictures chronicling its development and seasons.

Without the support of my husband, who keeps the lawns manicured, and various experts, all this would not be possible. Many thanks to Doug Miller, Landesign, the main architect; and, Doug and Kathy Gagne, The Mixed Border Nursery, who have offered hours of advice and help with the plants and upkeep.


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© 2003-2007 The Colonial Garden Club of Hollis
Hollis, NH 03049