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By Julie Thompson
Photosby RayMcCoy/ RM Photography
Japanese garden
blossoms to its
full potential with
a little assistance
J
an Pangburn has been a gardener for
just about as long as she has been a
mom. The funny thing is, the two roles
aren't that different from one another. Much
like her two adult children, who possess amazing talents and now hold successful careers, she
has learned that time invested in her gardens
also produces a beautiful reward.
It was over 30 years ago when Jan developed
her green thumb. At that time she called in a
local landscaper to help her get some basic
landscaping designs down on her Centerville
home. Since then, her yard has become the
talk of the neighborhood and that doesn't even
include the backyard, which can't be seen from
the road.
A nod to the Orient
Through creative planning-and most recently
the guidance of Centerville Landscape & Irrigation-Jan has produced a masterful sanctuary
that flawlessly takes a visitor from the home's
front yard to the back. Common evergreens,
exotic flowers and beautiful stone walkways are
used to paint the image of a Japanese garden.
Jan was first introduced to the Japanese
designs when she met her husband Bob's parents. Bob and his family spent some of their
years in Japan and after returning to the States
brought their love for the Japanese garden
with them. Jan was also drawn to its design
because of the clean lines and beautiful details.
Still, she felt like her grounds needed
an extra kick, so in 2004 she called in
For three decades, Jan worked her
Centerville Landscape & Irrigation to
help.
Jim Teske, owner of the Center-
landscaping all on her own and during that time developed an amazing
knowledge of plants and flowers.
ville-based company, says Jan and
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Bob'sfront and backyardsalreadyhad somenice components that gavehim a solidbase
from which to start. "They had really nice Oriental gates and a nice pergola in the backyard," Teske says. "But what we wanted to do was tweak it a little:'
Changing for the better
Teske's landscaping company made several key structural changes to the front and
back yards. First, they redid a fountain that had been installed in the backyard by the
deck and under the pergola. The original structure had not been dug deep enough and
Teske says it looked like water spitting over rocks.
Teske's crew dug a waterfall basin that took the water 36 inches deep in the center.
Next, flagstone and limestone were used to create a higher ledge for the water to fall from
and small Mexican beach pebbles were laid throughout to give it character and depth.
Now, the walkway over the water, which originally resembled a boardwalk, looks more
like a bridge. The waterfall can be seen from the home's family room, which is accessed
through two sliding doors, and its soothing sounds can be heard from inside the house
on warm nights.
The next plan of action was to take care of the backyard's water problem. Every time
the Pangburns yvouldwalk off their deck, they would step into moist soil. The yard, and
much of its mulch beds, would become waterlogged after a good rain. Teske created
what he calls a Yin-Yangwalk by placing
big slabs of limestone over smaller rocks.
"It almost looks like floating slabs of
stone across water," Teske says.
Consistency
is important
The Pangburns had a similar dry creek
bed in their front yard and Teske just
added some stones to make it slightly
bigger and higher. The walk helps accentuate Jan's nice collection of specimen
plants, which include some new varieties
Teske added. Now, the walkway winds
around a globe blue spruce, bird's nest
spruce, heavenly bamboo and a draping
blue spruce.
Much of Teske's work in the Pangburns' front yard consisted of trimming
existing plants and evergreens to keep
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landscape
TRENDS
Overleaf: The Pangburns had
the workings of a beautiful
backyard, but called in
Centerville Landscape &
Irrigation to tweak the
design a bit.
Far left and top left: The
fountain that had been installed
in the backyard by the deck
and under the pergola was
restructured. Jan developed
an amazing knowledge of
plants and flowers, which
surround the waterfall.
Bottom left and above: A
flowing effect from the home's
front yard to the back was
created to keep the separate
areas in harmony.
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Left: The Pangburns' front yard blooms with
various plantings seen in the backyard as well.
Below: Jan has also used an Amandevilla Vine for
several years on either side of her garage.
Bottom: The dry creek bed helps accentuate the
collection of specimen plants around the walk,
which include new varieties.
Right: A pergola at one end of the backyard creates
a welcome haven with hanging plants and a bounty
of other foliage.
them in harmony with the yard's Japanese style. Teske said one or Jan's talents
is that she is able to take ordinary plants or flowers and trim or arrange them in
a way that makes them seem like they ar~ authentic Japanese. For instance, in
the summer Jan hangs several Dragon Wing Begonias underneath the pergola
and above the waterfall. The way the colorful flowers are arranged makes you
think they stole it from an Oriental garden says Teske.
Jan has also used an Amandevilla Vine for several years on either side of her
garage. The plant is a very fast growing tropical specimen that actually blooms all
summer long. The plant will begin to flourish beginning in June, eventually growing up to 15 feet in just the first year.
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: landscape
TRENDS
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landscape
TRENDS
The Pangburns' landscape is also an example of how good use of
houseplants can give a yard a lush appearance. Jan added several
hostas and ferns that appear to have an Oriental influence.
Separate now equal
Teske's goal was to help fine-tune the Pangburns' garden, but he also
wanted to create a flowing effect from the home's front yard to the
back. "We wanted people to start at their front door and imagine
themselves going on a journey to the back," Teske explains.
Before the landscaping remodel, the front and back yards had two
separate feelings. Teske wanted to connect the two and he did so
with the additional plants and stone walkways leading from the
front to the back.
Teske says working with the Pangburns' yard was very enjoyable.
"You could tell both of these people have a passion for what they are
doing," he shares. "Everyone we had work
Left: Stone walkways
on this project thought it was just a blast.
and lush plantings tie
It is a treat to be in a yard where the owner
not only the backyard
to the front, but also
is an avid gardener who will take really
the various settings
seen throughout the
garden to each other.
good care of what you do to it."
.
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