Comments on the gardens of Mr. Albert Hendley Jr., by James Bateman

Redefining Attention to Detail Yields Gorgeous Residence

Albert Hendley's Residence

It took three years of painstaking effort, but redefining attention to detail resulted in a beautiful garden renovation at the three-acre Hendley residence in Zanesville, Ohio. Tracy DiSabato-Aust was the horticultural consultant, land designer, and project manager. "Tracy-scissor hands", as she is referred to by many professionals, is also very knowledgeable in herbaceous perennial ID, planting, and maintenance. The client dreamed of a unique garden that would reflect many different gardening styles and become something that "doesn't look American." The central challenge of the project was to create a mixed border and display area at the rear of the property, as well as to improve various areas of the property for greater visual appeal and unity while meeting the client's horticultural request. Installing the garden involved a wealth of effort, including weed control, plant evaluation, soil amendment, sub contracting, planting, client interaction and extensive maintenance. The project involved an assemblage of 6000 square feet of bed prep, numerous holding beds, extensive tagging system, 2000 plant species, 170-foot fieldstone path, and a unique hand built and site designed garden structure. The before and after photos tell the dramatic story of what went into this long-term, complicated, manual intensive project. Tracy discussed the measures she took for the broadening of the soil. Extensive site preparation was the key to achieving a dynamic perennial garden in heavy clay soils. Many problems were encountered in turning the clients dreams into reality, but not limited to initial site conditions, site storage, over wintering, limited access, heavy clay soils, and limited sun. These problems included: access to the worksite was limited to narrow paths, deliveries were made to the site and placed in marked areas on the drive as they related to the plan, and because of the rarity of many of the species, plants were shipped from all over the county to accommodate the suggestions of the designer. Once the desired material was at the site, the designer had to hand-place all the small shrubs and perennials. The new planting blended in character and size with the mature surrounding trees. Many common plants such as Barberry (Berberis thunbergii var. atropurpurea 'Crimson Pygmy') and Boxwood (Buxus microphylla var. koreana 'Green Velvet') were used to create contrast and add texture to the predominately perennial garden. The result was a mixed border of bright colors, textures, contrast, and green. Multiple textures added excitement to the perennial mixed border. The finished garden space boasted several areas with slightly different color schemes. The designer worked with analogous, complementary, and monochromatic colors on the color wheel that allow the eye to move from one area of the garden to another. Opposite Gertrude Jekyll, Tracy used hot colors at the ends of beds and pastels in the middle. The sense of color and planting for effect was astonishing. Large evergreen specimens were used to create a backdrop for the garden. An artist designed sculpture acted as a focal point and worked in contrast to the surrounding soft plant material. After only two years after installation, the garden appears mature.

A view of the perennial border at the Hendley's residence
To maintain the garden the Henley's have hired many outside gardeners along with continued consultation, redesign, and purchasing by Tracy. The garden space is continually pruned, deadheaded, pinched back, cutback, and redesigned to allow for proper plant growth, brilliant flowering and adequate space in the garden. This mature look is not achieved without hard work and continual upkeep. The attention to detail, delays and frustrations were well worth the effort at the Henley Residence. The new garden beds and total site makeover have become the focal point of many horticultural publications, garden clubs, social gatherings, and the Horticulture 401.02 class. This project is an astonishing addition to Tracy's versatility as a designer and painstaking attention to detail that she applies to all aspects of her work. The Henley's have transformed a large outdoor garden into a dream come true.