a lady named pearl lived in this house from 1950 till she died in 1998. she gardened all the time. there's even a story about her visiting mt. vernon, and wrapping a pinched branch tip in a wet paper towel and putting it in her purse.
after she died, no one tended her gardens. plants got looted and depleted until all that was left was an old rose bush and a couple of phlox. i remember her front yard like it was yesterday. i remember seeing it in the early eighties and thinking it was my dream garden. her whole front yard was a riot of unruly flowers of all kinds, a mini meadow of chaotic, wild beauty.
the idea of that yard inspired me my whole life, and guess what? now i live there! i've been here a year, and the front yard is a riot of blooms. i am so happy to revive this yard! what a dream come true.
words and photographs by rebecca wood