The Garden at Paxson Hill Farm

One of my favorite nurseries is Paxson Hill Farm, straight across the Delaware River from here, about four miles as the crow flies, but more like eight if you drive. Located a little north of New Hope, Pennsylvania, in Bucks County, Paxson Hill Farm is a very special place. It offers an unusual selection of perennials and shrubs, a collection of animals (emus, peacocks, even white peacocks, white turkeys, guinea hens, llamas), and an extraordinary garden in the making. The owner, Bruce, originally started the garden with a mound capped by a gazebo structure and surrounded by a maze of privet hedges, which you can see in the lower right of the Google Earth photo below. This photo was taken six years ago, so what you don't see is the subsequent growth of that maze garden and, more importantly for me, the magnificent wild, gravel garden Bruce has started to the left of the maze garden.

I took these photos in early September of 2009. At that time, I believe this garden was only in its second or third season. I think a year of site preparation preceded that, during which Bruce contoured the land, added several ponds linked by streams, fountains and waterfalls, and numerous large rocks, as well as the pumps and conduits to make it all work. This visit was unfortunately at high noon, so the light is as harsh as it gets and the colors aren't nearly as intense as they would be at another time of day.

At this early September visit the Lespedezas were in full bloom.

Above is the central area of the garden. You can see the free use of grasses and carex of many different types, large lespedezas, and evergreen accents, with a view of the Japanese bridge in the far center (painted black, not red), crossing above the largest waterfall. Click on the photos to see the details of the planting, much of which hasn't yet had time to grow in fully.

 

To the left is a large grass border, using Miscanthus 'Giganteus' to completely obscure the view of the maze garden behind it, smaller miscanthus, irises in profusion and, edging the path, various grasses and carex. Note the path of recycled railroad ties. Bruce has used gravel paths in interesting combinations with other materials, as you'll see below.

  

The bridge registers almost as negative space with the bright flowering miscanthus behind it.

  

  

A groundcover of Japanese blood brass (Imperata cylindrica 'Rubra') with a pennisetum.

  

Palm sedge (Carex muskingumensis) beside the water.

 

A view across the pond. Notice the use of many carex.

 

An interesting pattern using cross-cut "tiles" from timbers.

  

  

One large rock as a simple step.

  

Another planting of Miscanthus and irises.

  

I'm only guessing, but this may be Carex glauca 'Blue Zinger'.

  

Another carex planting.

  

The view from the far side of the pond, from among a grove of trees.

A simple, and elegant, stone bridge ...

  

downstream from this bubbling pool.

  

A rock garden in the making.

 

Moving into the maze garden.

 

Looking back toward the wild garden.