Pemberton Greenish
The Pemberton Greenish Recess Garden
Designer: Paul Hensey with Knoll Gardens
Sponsor: Pemberton Greenish
Contractor: Foxcroft Landscapes
Plant ListThis garden was inspired by the grasses at Knoll Gardens, but also playfully references some of the interior schemes of Frank Lloyd Wright.
The rear boundary of the garden is extended by using trained Betula albosinensis ‘Fascination’. These pink paper bark birch trees are playfully ‘attached’ to the boundary by steel boxes in an alternating pattern, almost as if they were woven into the fence. LED lighting emphasises this effect. The garden is sunk so that the sense of privacy and noise reduction is improved. This has the additional benefit of letting the plants be seen from a slightly different perspective.
The planting is predominantly grasses and accents of perennials contrast with the grasses to provide seasonal interest. A water feature creates a focal point and again helps with inner city noise reduction. The water gently tumbles over a set of steps designed to appear unified with the rest of the garden structure. Seating is incorporated into the garden so that there is no furniture to move around or maintain. The garden is also designed to incorporate a rain water harvesting system.
Key plants include Betula albosinensis ‘Fascination’, Betula nigra, muhly grass, Juncus patens ‘Elk Blue’.