I first encountered the garden of Gail and Hal Clark on a “ Through the Garden Gate ” tour in 2017 . These tour of privately - possess garden in the Charlottesville / Albemarle area are my dearie ; they show what can be achieved by a distinctive gardener , and the Clarks ’ garden was no exception . The front yard was dominated by a gay orotund garden with lots of colored heyday , but the focus of the tour was in back . We were directed to a wide itinerary that led us downhill reasonably precipitously . At the bottom of the hill was the first of several paths that seemed to disappear into plush ring of foliation . I would never have infer that this restful light-green hideaway had once been a wet plenty , overwhelm by stormwater runoff from the hills conterminous to the backyard . It was that runoff , however , that touch off the start of this splendiferous garden .

The shift got roll out when the County of Albemarle reach out to the Clarks in September of 2007 with an offer to avail tame the “ waterway ” that on a regular basis operate through their backyard on its fashion to Ivy Creek . The Clarks then planted about 15 shrubs , including Viburnum , pieris , and as Gail say , “ unfortunately , mahonia as well . ” Although these plantings helped , it was apparent that more were necessary , so the Clarks embarked on a riparian fender project with helper from the Virginia Soil & Water Conservation Assistance Program ( VCAP ) offered by Albemarle County .

If your railyard has a run - off problem , you , too , may desire to explore the VCAP , which also serves the City of Charlottesville . rule out more atThomas Jefferson Soil & Water Conservation District.organdVa . SWCD.org(includes manyphotos of projects , from rain gardens to conservation landscaping to green roof ) .

In this next stage , the Clarks obtained professional help in lay out the beds — arc to give an cozy tone — and in prefer the aboriginal plant require by VCAP . This is when the well - have a go at it local garden consultant , Cathy Clary , ill-use in . Gail was particularly carry by Clary ’s collaborative approach , which comprise of “ take the air - and - talk ” meanders through the backyard ; possible industrial plant were suggested and talk about as they viewed the beds .

After three of these school term with Cathy Clary , the Clarks go on to plant a wide variety of native tree diagram , shrubs , and perennials , including redbud trees ( Cercis canadensis),Clethra alnifolia ( unremarkably called summersweet or scented pepperbush ) , Virginia sweetspire ( Itea virginica ) , bottlebrush buckeyes ( Aesculus parviflora ) , aboriginal peppiness ( Asarum canadense ) , dark-green and gold ( Chrysogonum virginianum ) , foamflower ( Tiarella cordifolia ) , ferns , spicebushes ( Lindera benzoin ) , and native ‘ Anabelle ’ hydrangea ( Hydrangea arborescens‘Annabelle ’ , a naturally - occurring cultivar which was see in Illinois ) .

The outcome of all this consulting and planting : a strikingly beautiful timberland garden ! One of the most delightful aspects of the Clark garden is wandering the path and coming upon an eye - catching vignette .   A favorite of mine is the “ Nipponese Garden ” — which is filled with flowingHakonechloa macra , the Nipponese woodland Gunter Grass .   This is one of the rarefied ornamental grasses that performs well in shade . It ’s not a native , but that is logical with Gail ’s philosophy of commingle natives and non - natives .

Like all gardens , the Clark garden is organic , changing as the canopy inflate and neighboring plants impact each others ’ ontogenesis habit . New plants make for change as well ; in fact , Gail has recently expound the garden , adding a palm of newClethras . The Clarks still have the notes that Cathy Clary write after each walk - and - public lecture consultation ; in fact , when Gail reviewed them lately , she decided to impart industrial plant that she ’d skipped initially — like ninebark ( Physocarpus ) .

I enquire the Clarks if they would do anything differently if they were starting novel today . Gail would take the elevenAilanthus(Tree - of - Heaven)trees before even beginning the planning process . Her advice to anyone in the start phase is to be sure to remove all invasives as the first measure . Like Gail , Hal would never have planted any mahonias . They were “ so worried about deer , ” that this deer - resistant shrub sounded like a winner , but the Mark Clark now worry about its invasiveness .   Gail say she and the bee like the fragrant spring efflorescence , but she has been shake up to see trivial sprout of it all over the neighborhood .

Had any plants become their favorite ? For Hal , it ’s the bottlebrush buckeye , which he love for its “ wild timberland ” appearance . For Gail , it ’s the Annabelle hydrangea , but not just for their blossoms ; she also sleep together the firm green cloak they provide all summer .

Perhaps it ’s no surprisal that at some stop in this gardening journey , Gail submit the training to become a Master Gardener .   And I had the delight of working alongside her with the children ’s After School Garden Club at a city elementary school day .   Reconnecting during these pandemic days to talk about the development of this special garden has been a much - needed reprieve — rather like gardening itself .

seed :

“ Hydrangea arborescens ‘ Annabelle’,”Missouri Botanical Garden / PlantFinder

“ Japanese Forest Grass , Hakonechloa macra,”Univ . Wisconsin Ext .

“ Clethra alnifolia : A versatile aboriginal plant life in the landscape,”The Garden Shed(June 2015 )

Through the Garden Gate / Piedmont Master Gardeners Projects , ( when tour are reinstated , rule details on theEventspage of this internet site )