The Veranda House on Nantucket is a small boutique hotel with a charming little garden below. The challenge in creating this garden was dealing with the 14' grade change that occurs between the back of the hotel and the entrance on the street side.
Another goal of the garden design was to create multiple areas for the guests to sit in this garden. The clients wanted to have a breakfast patio, an afternoon patio, another area to sit and relax in the garden to read a book or chat with a friend or lover. By creating a series of descending terraces and taking advantage of the need for retaining walls, this goal was successfully accomplished.
Looking at the garden and terraces from one of the highest verandas, one can see the playfulness of the garden layout, as well as begin to appreciate the layering of levels.
The middle patio serves as an afternoon hang out area. A high retaining wall at the back provides shelter, while the one at the front of the circular space creates a promontory aspect from which to view the garden below.
The middle path gives access to the side Street. Golden chain trees line this path. Beds of bearded irises, catmint, and creeping thyme are seen here in bloom.
The main garden path bisects the lawn area below. This path aids in creating multiple seating sections in the garden.
View of the Veranda House from the main entrance gate with the main path in the foreground. The lower seating wall made from collected stones on site. The middle terrace sits at the center, with the breakfast patio up above.
