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You may recognize
Michele Grieshaber and Michael Klug and
their home from This Old House television
show. Married just a year
ago, Michele and Michael realized
they needed to enlarge Michele’s
home to include Michael and his two
sons. Working
with
This Old House
and local builders and designers,
they created a sustainable Green
Building
that still maintains
the
character of
the Hyde Park neighborhood. |
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With
construction complete, they took on the yard using
the same premise – to
create an earth-wise garden that blended with
the cottage-style home and community. Michael wanted
to avoid using any
turf but they compromised with refreshing patches
of green inside
and outside their gate. |
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Although Michele
was at first reluctant to remove a very large ligustrum
that provided privacy for their
corner lot, their designer, Adams Kirkpatrick of Sunflower Design, convinced her (with evidence from the birds that frequented the site!) that the invasive plant needed to go along with the nandinas on the lot. |
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Michael
added a little whimsy to the landscape with the welcoming
gargoyle, neon log and the
friendly snake. Even the fireplace has a unique planter!
You’ll also notice the columbine at the front door,
the state flower of Michael’s home state, Colorado. |
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Adams also likes a little surprise
as well and put a Mexican Feather-grass in the middle
of the St. Augustine turf. |
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Michele liked the look of the
pine needle mulch which, although it comes from Texas,
is reminiscent of her native state of Maryland. It
serves the environmental goal of providing a pervious
pathway that allows water to soak in. The matting
of the needles also prevents runoff and helps keep
water on the land. |
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The couple particularly likes their
screened in porch and balcony that overlook the nearly
completed back yard. The potted plants on the balcony
are watered with drip irrigation as are the plant beds
throughout the property. |
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A view from
the balcony shows the pervious granite pathway that is
lined with “urbanite” stepping
stones (meaning that they have been reused from another location). |
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The back yard features a large
rain barrel that Michele and Michael hope will meet their
watering needs once the plants get established. |
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And finally – the
view from inside the house lures you into the welcoming
front
garden that sets a fine example for Green Gardening! |
