Northcote

Cornish, New Hampshire

Artist Stephen Parrish’s garden was once known as one of the most beautiful of the Cornish Colony gardens. Beds of trees, shrubs, perennials, and annuals provided year-round structure and abundant summer color—and became the subject for many of his paintings. After Parrish’s death, garden walls and structures crumbled and trees overshadowed the flowerbeds. A new owner was inspired to reclaim the garden and asked me to research its history and develop a design. We restored stonewalls and wooden benches, planted hedges and filled terraced garden beds with perennials, shrubs, and annuals. Twenty years on it continues to provide pleasure for its owners.