"From the house, you look right out at flower beds exploding with perennial and annual color. There’s something blooming year-round."
Bernie Mihm
| An empty backyard took advantage of pastoral views but offered little in terms of space for gathering or recreation. The screened porch and sunroom opened to an area of lawn that went unused. | A swimming pool and elevated hot tub provide a gathering spot with easy access to the house; an adjacent waterfall feature was crafted from boulders. |
| The backyard sloped away from the house and needed a drainage system to efficiently channel water. | The backyard has been shored up, creating a flat area between the pool and the house and a gentle slope away from the pool. Hidden drains were installed. |
| While the surrounding pastureland was beautiful, there were no plantings or hardscape areas on the property to enhance the immediate views—or the owners’ outdoor lifestyle. | A full-range Pennsylvania bluestone patio accommodates poolside dining and lounging. A Carderock stone seat wall holds a profusion of flowers, including hydrangea, hibiscus, coneflowers, Knockout roses and butterfly bushes. |
Landscape Architecture & Contracting: Bernie Mihm, ISA Certified Arborist, Fine Earth Landscape, Inc., Poolesville, Maryland. Pool Installation: Alpine Pool & Design Corporation, Annandale, Virginia. Photo: Hilary Schwab.
