Mountain Ridge Top Garden - West Lawn and Border

Google Earth image of an aerial view of the property — Winter
Google Earth image of the Western section of the property Garden age: 22 years Randy Harter CC BY 4.0

Description

Name: Mountain Ridge Top Garden - West Lawn and Border

Open to the public: No

County: Buncombe

USDA Hardiness Zone: 6B

Extension Demonstration Garden? No

Approximate year the garden/landscape was established: Development began in 1999

What to look for: The West Lawn and Border of the Mountain Ridge Top Garden is found in the mountainous region of Buncombe County NC. This section lies along the top of the ridge, across the driveway opposite the main entrance to the home, and also includes the foundation plantings on the West side of the house. A large Acer palmatum ‘Sherwood Flame’ stands on the NW corner of the house and adjacent to the front porch is an Acer palmatum ‘Garnet’. Between these two purple-leaved Japanese maples is a grouping of Japanese hollies, Ilex crenata ‘Green Luster’ in the back and, Ilex crenata ‘Helleri in the front of the bed. The ground layer includes Green Liriope (Liriope muscari), Golden Variegated Sweet Flag (Acorus gramineus ‘Ogon’). Periwinkle (Vinca minor), Japanese pachysandra, and a variety of hostas.

Across the drive opposite the front entrance is a large mature White Oak and along the West and South border beds of this garden room are seven other large oaks that create a shady canopy for the entire area. Within the lawn itself are three understory trees, a Golden Full Moon Maple (Acer shirisawanum 'Aureum') with bright yellow-green leaves underplanted with black mondo grass, a Persian Ironwood (Parrotia persica) with lovely Fall colors of yellow occasionally mixed with orange and red underplanted with variegated hosta,, and a Fern Leaf Maple or Dancing Peacock Tree (Acer japonicum ‘Aconitifolium’) encircled with seven Korean Boxwoods (Buxus microphylla var. koreana 'Wintergreen').

Horticulture:

The West Lawn and Border is less steep than other parts of the garden with about 9 feet variation in elevation and an average slope of about 10%.

The soil is loamy with good drainage but rocks often lie below the surface, especially along the ridge top.

Most plants were installed as small, container-grown nursery stock.

The property has no irrigation system, so newly planted trees and shrubs are watered by hand.

Fortunately, deer have only been sited on the property on a couple of occasions, but squirrels, rabbits, turkeys, and bears are not uncommon in the garden.