A gorgeous garden from start to finish in 12 weeks
By Thea Steinmetz
Insights
Published Aug. 27, 2008

There are some of us that feel living in the Cleveland area is just fine.

We believe that it is a better choice than some other higher profile places.  Having left Bay Village eight years ago, Marsha and Tom Moorhead, explored a few locations, only to return to Bay Village this year.

Earlier, they enjoyed owning a bigger and wonderful house and garden and now it is a new day for them. With the family scattered around, there is no longer a need for maintaining a large house and property. Downsizing is a choice for many when faced with an empty nest.

The new Moorhead house is anything but new. Its history goes back to 1923. Urban legend claims it was the stop for the interurban railroad connecting Cleveland with points west, all the way to Sandusky. The railroad ceased operation in 1925, and there is no hint that the rails were ever there. It could, however, explain why the house is set sideways rather than the front facing the street.

It is a charming cottage, with plenty of space to make it comfortable. Marsha has done an unbelievable job inside and out in the short time they have occupied their new home. In only 12 weeks, it permeates the feeling that this has been a long loved piece of property.

When the Moorheads moved in, the outside was so overgrown in some areas that the house could not even be seen. Now, the interesting architecture and the well-tended garden make it a showplace. The overgrown shrubs had to be tackled first. An old honeysuckle grew over the house. By the time the unkempt shrubbery and trees were removed, there were 30 bags of shredded mulch to deal with.

A natural wood, three-foot high picket fence now encircles the property and adds to that cozy cottage feeling. It also serves to keep the two English bulldogs, with faces that only a mother can love, on the property. They are very well behaved and made me immediately think of Winston Churchill.

“I wanted an instant pop of color,” says Marsha, “ and annuals provided that for me.” The whole front garden is a first-rate symphony of color. It might be characterized as successful instant gratification. Of course, the untold hours the homeowners spent to get to this point are easily overlooked when in awe of the results.

The coral zinnias, blue-purple verbena, rose portulaca and  pink cleomi all add up to this satisfying color potpourri. The all-engulfing ivy was treated as an invasive plant and was removed. The previous owner made an attempt at terracing the front height, but there is not enough of a grade difference to be a good choice. A gentle rise in height works much better.

Not everything was ripped out, and careful consideration was given to plants that could be rejuvenated by aggressive trimming and cutting back. The rhododendrons, for now, are being preserved. A pink dogwood is appreciated for its long flowering period. It is tightly under-planted with a tree skirt of white impatiens and this feels cool on a hot summer day.

The spacious deck that was added to the rear of the home has expanded their summer outdoor living space greatly. Large ferns add green and even larger angel wing begonias delight with saturated red color. It is not a large backyard, but it has all the amenities one could ask for.

Leading to this space around the side of the house, again, has benefited from pops of color. The deep green of parsley stands next to a red hollyhock and the general juxtaposition of herbs and flowers works well. Lavender brings scent to the space. The blue delphinium pairs with the red of the bergamot. Early in the summer, white is the dominant color for this space, and as the daylight hours increase, so does the color. Several large sized planters bring the color up from the ground to delight the eye. Several potato vines seem to be especially happy in pots, and are thriving as a ground cover in the front yard.

Marsha’s fondness for gardening has made her into an accomplished garden designer. She has a sense of what she wants and how to accomplish it. Hard work does not deter her. Her personal style has left an imprint on the gardens she has designed on the several properties over the years. It is her hobby that has become an immense passion.

A garden is never finished, and a good garden keeps evolving. This one, as the perennials become established over the next few years, can only gain in all over satisfaction.  It is hard to believe that a neglected piece of property can be made into a showplace in only 12 weeks. And, what a showplace it is.