Seaview Secret Garden ~ Osterville

Hidden in the heart of Osterville, the Secret Garden is a memorial to the homeowners’ parents who had passed away. Jaxtimer Landscaping, LLC worked alongside Landscape Architect Bernice Wahler to create exactly what the client envisioned, a retreat away from their oceanfront property. Inspiration was drawn from the story of the island of Avalon - a garden hidden behind dense, magical mist where King Arthur was cured of his wounds. Like Avalon, the homeowners wanted the garden to be invisible to the outside world.

The elements of the design created by Landscape Architect Bernice Wahler include tightly clipped boxwood hedging, topiary, and a formal dipping spa all set within an existing woodland bosquet. The architectonic qualities of the garden were created with local stonewalls, green ‘walls’ of hedges, and monolithic shrub masses. A subtle water feature created a focal point that is further elaborated by the topiary dotted herbaceous border. In this water feature, a medallion from an antique shop found by the homeowner was added to the center. A single vegetable garden protected by bamboo also gave it a pleasing look. A few cutting gardens were added along with new fencing, arbors, and decorative statues.

Parallel to each other sit square, blue flower pots for a pop of color next to a pair of steps that lead to a rectangular spa. Here is where the living space begins in the upper level of the garden created with natural cleft, bluestone, and native fieldstone. The garden is designed to serve dual function as a quiet reflective retreat as well as a place for outdoor entertaining. The upper bluestone terrace allows for a larger gathering space, while the gravel area of the formal gardens allow for intimate spillover spaces. E.J. Jaxtimer Builder, Inc. renovated an existing garage that was once only accessed by a narrow path through the woods. This was part of the garden design using repurposed materials such as windows, doors, flooring, and barn wood. The space was transformed into a home gym with changing areas and a powder room adding to the charm of this woodland retreat.

In 2016, the Seaview Secret Garden won a Gold BRICC Award in the Excellence in Landscape/Garden Design category.

Project Partners:
Landscape Construction: Jaxtimer Landscaping, LLC
Landscape Architect: Bernice Wahler
Photography: Dan Cutrona