Any house of a certain age in the richly historic Piedmont of Virginia very likely has enjoyed an interesting and varied past. Stoneleigh, an expansive and stylish farm, is no exception. The home started out in 1830 as a modest "two over two" four-room farmer's cabin conveniently located along the local main east-west thoroughfare.
In the 20th century, horseback riding and fox hunting became popular pastimes in the area. As a result, Stoneleigh's successive owners made substantial additions to the house, built comfortable stables for their well-bred mounts, and turned the farmers' fields into lush pastures. It was these hilly, rich pastures receding in gentle folds toward the horizon that attracted the present owner when she bought the property in 1998.
The homeowner planned to turn Stoneleigh into an equestrian facility for her show horses, but she saw that the natural beauty of the land needed attention first. So she asked her general contractor if his wife, Donna Hackman, could revise the gardens. Hackman's own garden is recognized as one of the finest in Virginia (see Southern Accents May/June 2001, page 228). Hackman enthusiastically agreed to take on the project.
"She was asking me to put a bow on an already perfect package," says Hackman. "But I instantly knew what to do."
Hackman worked closely with Atlanta architect Peter Block, who had designed the pool house in stone to match the main house. She sent him a picture of a pergola designed by English garden designer Gertrude Jekyll and he agreed that a similar one was right for the pool house at Stoneleigh. The resulting pergola supports a lavish canopy of climbing roses, clematis, and honeysuckle.
Next, Hackman turned her attention to the bare slope that lay between the swimming pool and the wishing-well garden. It was so steep that nothing would grow, so Hackman suggested that Block add a stone sitting wall at the bottom of the slope, raising the level of the bed and lessening the grade. Now, guests can walk down a set of stone steps and rest on the stone wall amid overflowing mounds of perennials.
One of the bonuses of Stoneleigh's age includes its stands of mature trees. However, some were past their prime and needed to be removed; others were in need of a trim. Hackman then brought in new trees: sugar maples, sweet gums, yellowwoods, and ginkgos, as well as 20 Yoshino cherry trees to line the pond. Since wild cherry trees are poisonous to horses, Hackman confirmed with the owner's horse trainer that Yoshinos were safe before ordering them.
With much of her time occupied with her horses, the owner gave Hackman free rein in planning the gardens. The only request she made was for something "Englishy" and
appropriate to a farm. "I like a garden that's bushy and wild-looking," she says. "And I love seeing the landscape and gardens change with the seasons."
Hackman planned the courtyard parterre garden with winter views in mind. In spring and summer the small, enclosed spaces overflow with fragrant herbs, but as the plants die back in the fall Hackman wanted something beautiful to remain. Her solution was to install walkways with stone edging in a decorative design. From here, it's possible to view the stables and pastures in every season and watch the horses train in the outdoor ring--a perfect scenario for both the owner and her prize horses.
