Home May 2011, North/South Edition • Hersam Acorn Newspapers

HOMEA Hersam Acorn Special Section

May 2011

Greenwich Post • The Darien Times • New Canaan Advertiser • The Ridgefield Press • The Wilton Bulletin • The Weston Forum • The Redding Pilot • The Lewisboro Ledger

Garden ConservancyOpen Days: Ridgefield, Redding

New Canaan Nature CenterSecret Gardens Tour

Dine With DesignAt Philip Johnson’s Glass House

2 HOME, a Hersam Acorn special section, Ridgefield, Conn. May 2011

On Sunday, June 5, from 10 to 4, Terry Karpen’s woodland garden in Redding will have its debut in the Garden Conservancy’s Open Days program, a chance to stroll, enjoy and talk to Terry about any and all aspects of gardening. Each year, since 1995, the Garden Conservancy’s Open Days have been an opportunity to visit some of America’s finest private gardens. It’s a tre-mendous honor to be chosen.

For Terry Karpen, who is not only a gar-dener but also Queen Of Spades, a garden and landscape designer, June 5 will be an exciting day, though she knows all about the event because she maintained and

hosted a client’s Conservancy Garden in Redding for two years.

Terry wears many hats. In addition to creating gardens and landscapes, she can manage any size property, rejuvenate or renovate a small section or an entire garden. She is a garden consultant, does real-estate staging, artistic pruning, deer fencing, just about anything and everything that has to do with gardens. Her goal is to create harmony between house and garden and between garden and the surrounding land-scape.

Her own garden looks as if the flow-ers, plants and trees chose the location

GARDEN CONSERVANCY OPEN DAY

A visit with theQueen Of Spades

by Lois Alcosser

Hellebore orientalis, which appear in early spring, are prized for their beauty, vigor and deer resistance.

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CREATIVE AND DISTINCTIVE LANDSCAPE DESIGNS SINCE 1975

livdesigns.netNEW CANAAN, CONNECTICUT 203.966.5343

May 2011 HOME, a Hersam Acorn special section, Ridgefield, Conn. 3

themselves. There is an immediate sense of naturalness and spontaneity. “Since it’s a woodland garden,” she says, “it’s a good example of my belief in placing plants where they will grow best and most beauti-fully, not changing nature but embracing it. Plants flourish according to their inborn needs.”

How does one go about achieving this? What must a gardener do to create a thriv-ing garden? “Beauty comes first,” Terry says. That’s the main thing, but there has to be a plan to make it happen.

“First, as objectively as possible, look at the property with new eyes. What already exists? Where does sun come up, and go down? Is it mostly shady or sunny? Wet or dry? What kind of soil do you have — clay or sandy? Before you do anything, get to know the lay of the land and understand what you have as opposed to trying to make it the image of something else.”

She suggests finding out as much as you can about the region, its history, culture, ecology, because all these factors form the recipe for what you can do or choose to do. “For example,” she says, “suppose you have lots more shade than sun. You’re not going to cut down trees to change it to a

sunny garden. Instead, learn about all the shade-loving plants that can give you the color, the look you want. Let’s say you’d love to have a rose bush. But if your land is wet and shady, no matter how hard you try, you won’t have roses. It’s a case of the right plants in the right place, not wishful thinking. When you go to a garden that has all the elements it should, there is the same satisfaction as viewing a work of art.”

Terry is often asked what pesticides to use on a lawn. Her answer is, “Your children, your pets are going to play on that lawn. You’re bound to bring in some soil on the soles of your shoes or on your clothes. Do you really want to use chemical pesticides? After all, gardeners are stewards of the earth.”

Before she became Queen Of Spades, Terry was a chef. As Queen Of Hearts, she baked specialty cakes, like wedding cakes. “But someone told me they all looked like landscapes,” she said, smiling. For 25 years, she had a career as a catering service. Just as beauty comes first in gardening, taste came first in running a restaurant and catering, and that meant the finest quality ingredi-

See Queen of Spades page 22

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The Secret Gardens Tour takes place on Friday, June 3, and features both in-town and country gardens.

New Canaan Nature CenterSECRET GARDENS TOUR IS SURE TO DELIGHT

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��Box 1019, Ridgefield CT 06877

203-438-6544

Jackie Perry, editorJessica Perlinski, designer

•Thomas B. Nash, publisher

•For advertising information

call 203-438-6544MAY 2011 VOL XV, ISSUE 5

Special Section to:

Greenwich Post, The Darien Times, New Canaan Advertiser,

The Ridgefield Press, The Wilton Bulletin,

The Redding Pilot, and The Weston Forum in Connecticut,

and The Lewisboro Ledger in New York

HOMECopyright 2011, Hersam Acorn Newspapers, LLC


A variety of premier “town and country” gardens will highlight the Secret Gardens Tour to benefit the New Canaan Nature

Center on Friday, June 3. Gardens range from historic estates with extensive grounds to in-town “gems” that make creative use of small outdoor spaces. In addition to hundreds of varieties of annuals and perennials, attendees will see a wide variety of majestic specimen trees and delightful woodland gardens. The self-guided tour takes place from 10 to 4, allowing tour-goers to visit the gardens at their own pace. Read on for a “sneak peek” at what some gardens have to offer.

A Hidden GemA walk down the drive, past moss-

covered stonewalls, brings you to a two-tiered patio with bubbling fountains. A free-form pool, surrounded by specimen grasses, provides the setting for more than 13 varieties of heucheras, repeat-blooming hydrangeas and planters/con-tainers of dwarf conifers planted many years ago.

Elegant SimplicityMagnificent specimen trees add their

beauty to the perennial flowers beds, enriched by plantings of soft greens and pastels, creating a feeling of serenity and harmony. Treat yourself to a rest by the striking new pool, enhanced by the own-ers’ historical sensitivity in their choice of stone work and planting materials.

Space ExtraordinaireOne of New Canaan’s famous modern

houses is the setting for this charm-ing garden full of spring blooming bulbs, evergreens and century-old speci-men trees. Wander through the inviting grounds surrounding this newly reno-vated contemporary home with its out-door terrace room for entertaining, pool and pond bordered by peonies, roses and summer perennials and annuals. All is enhanced by an array of interesting sculptures.

A Gardener’s RetreatTucked behind this lovely in-town

Victorian home you will find an extraor-

The self-guided tour will take you through a diversity of landscapes that are sure to provide inspiration.

See Secret gardens page 9

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Shortly after buying my new red truck, I purchased a ladder rack at the nearby truck accessory store. I justified the pur-chase because I knew, at some point, I would need to carry longer items, like the occasional ladder or the long piece of lumber overdue for the side of the garage. I dug out my ratchet set and carefully mounted the new rack on my rig.

The rack was not particularly sexy, and went virtually unused, but it stayed on the truck until last week. I was in the house, minding my own business when I heard a loud “thump” on the street. Since there is a speed bump pretty near the front door, loud thumps are fairly regular music on Rusty Hinge Road.

I got up and looked out the window and saw a fellow rearranging the tools

and ladders in the back of his truck. I assumed he had hit the speed bump hard and something had jumped out. Later when I went out, I saw that the rear sec-tion of my still-shiny truck rack had been sheared clean off. It had landed in the bed without damage to the truck itself.

Whatever hit the rack was pretty solid because it cracked the half inch thick alu-minum mounting as if it was balsa wood.

Every car we have ever owned since we moved to Rusty Hinge Road has been damaged at least once while parked on the street. Only once, because our neigh-bor was out washing his car, did the cul-prit own up to his crimes.

Things have been tough at work, so I was glad to have my schedule rearranged so I could take few days off in the middle of

A trip to the dumpby Ben Guerrero

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the week. After the most extended and mis-erable winter of my recollection, today took us by surprise, delivering a sparkling spring day, full of blossoms, robins and feathering trees. I dug out a T-shirt, and decided to take the rest of the rack off the truck and take it to the dump.

I had been meaning to go down there anyway. Our blue recycling bin, issued to us as fresh home moaners, 10 years ago, had been all but smashed to smithereens by the ensuing weekly curbside garbage pick-up. For a nominal fee, I could get a shiny new one at the “transfer station.” I don’t know how much it costs to get the garbage men to stop throwing my con-tainers around.

So I set about finding my ratchet set, ironically, since it was last used to install my truck rack. After checking all the obvious places, including the garage, which made the most sense, I found it up in the attic of all places. Maybe the cats lugged it up there. The culprits won’t own up.

The job was far less arduous than expected and in a few short minutes I dismounted the rack and put it in the bed for disposal.

I had a full hour until the dump closed, so I jumped in the truck and headed across town. The city was bustling with traffic jams and blocked streets. Drivers on cell phones, windows darkly tinted, ignored all available traffic laws as well as the social contract, effectively trimming any extra leisure time I had built into this excursion.

In order to utilize the garbage dump-ing facilities, citizens of my current home town have to go down to city hall with their car registration to obtain a sticker. Last time I was at the dump (sticker affixed) I was informed by the man at the scales that I had to fill out some forms because I had a pick-up truck. Disgruntled, I filled out the papers and the little man handed me a card.

Today, the guy at the scale took my card and plugged my number into the computer.

“I can’t find you,” he said.“Here I am,” said I, pointing to myself.He was perplexed and looked in a few

files and tried to dial a phone number that did not get answered. Finally, he

See Home Moaner page 23

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dinary little garden, every inch planted and tended by the homeowner and high-lighting the treasured perennials that thrive in the shade. Treat yourself to the pleasure of this outside room, enclosed by a white fence and decorated with brick paths, stone benches, a fountain and even a chandelier!

Serene SurroundingsExplore the delights this in-town gar-

den has to offer. The home, somewhat southern in feel, is artfully bordered by beautifully groomed foundation plant-ings of azalea, rhododendron and ever-greens. The open rear lawn is surrounded by mature shrub borders, under-planted with perennials and ground covers and charmingly enhanced with large, modern pieces of art. All can be admired and enjoyed from the patio and side porch, bordered by a shade garden.

New Canaan Nature Center is pleased to welcome Elise Landscapes & Nursery and the Bank of New Canaan as the lead

sponsors of the 2011 tour. Mark Hicks of Elise says, “The Secret Gardens Tour is a New Canaan tradition that we are thrilled to support, and we see this as a terrific opportunity to reach out to those who are passionate about garden design and appreciate spectacular landscaping.” Hobbs Care, a division of Hobbs Inc. is providing generous support by sponsor-ing the lunch, which will feature a gour-met meal from New Canaan’s Fabulous Feasts. Attendees can enjoy their lunch at

the New Canaan Nature Center or take it with them to eat at their convenience.

The volunteer committee, headed by co-chairs Becky Barlow, Penelope Jones and Catharine Sturgess, has worked since last fall to select the gardens and plan the tour logistics. Tour tickets are $75 includ-ing lunch or $50 for the tour only. Tour tickets will be $60 on the day of the tour. Tickets may be purchased at the New Canaan Nature Center: 203-966-9577 x50 or online at newcanaannature.org starting May 1. ■

Secret gardens continued from page 5

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A one-of-a-kind culinary event is com-ing to the Philip Johnson Glass House in New Canaan. On Saturday, June 11, from 12 to 3, guests are invited to explore the buildings, grounds and art collections of the Glass House site, while enjoying dishes inspired by the property and created by the chefs and artisans of Harvest to Heat: Cooking with America’s Best Chefs, Farmers, and Artisans, published by Taunton Press. Each guest will receive an autographed copy of the critically-acclaimed book by Darryl Estrine and Kelly Kochendorfer. Tickets, which are $300 and limited, may be purchased online at philipjohnsonglass-house.org or via phone at 866-811-4111.

A Marriage Of Ideas And PhilosophiesThe Glass House is pleased to wel-

come five award-winning chefs to Philip Johnson’s 47-acre campus that, fittingly, was designed as a canvas for inspiration, experimentation and cultivation. These chefs are some of the most innovative culinary artists working today and are the leaders of a new generation of chefs, who are supporting local farms and distribu-tors. Dine with Design provides a unique opportunity to open the property for pic-nicking and wandering at-will through Philip Johnson’s exceptional architectural creations for one very special afternoon,” says Rena Zurofsky, Glass House interim executive director.

Participating chefs include: Chef Michel Richard, a pioneer in French/California cuisine long before moving to Washington, D.C., in 1994, where he opened Michel

Dine with DesignA CULINARY EXPERIENCE TO BENEFITTHE PHILIP JOHNSON GLASS HOUSE

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Richard Citronelle, today considered one of the finest restaurants in the world.

Chef Brian Lewis is renowned for his collaboration with actor Richard Gere and his wife, Carey Lowell, in creating The Farmhouse and The Barn at The Bedford Post Inn in Bedford, N.Y. From the beginning, Brian’s cooking gar-nered national attention, with “Esquire” selecting The Farmhouse as one of 20 Best New Restaurants of 2009. Early experience in the kitchens of leg-endary chefs Jean Louis Palladin and Marco Pierre White strongly shaped Brian’s refined style of cooking. Brian draws inspiration for his menus from the rhythms of the season and the exceptional, locally sourced ingredients of his close network of farmers and arti-

sans. In the fall of 2011, Brian will open his own restaurant in New Canaan.

Shortly after graduating from the Culinary Institute of America in 2000, Chef

Lee Chizmar traveled to Northern California to work with Bradley Ogden at the Lark Creek Inn. It was there, under the tutelage of Ogden and the mentoring of Chef de Cuisine Jeremy Sewell, that he developed his love, appreciation and dedication to serving local, sea-sonal ingredients.

Chef Bill Taibe opened LeFarm in Westport in 2009, which is home to his ever-changing

menu that reflects the season’s freshest produce, fish and meats. He is also currently involved with

See Dine with Design page 21

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“My goal as an interior designer is to create stylish space where my clients can feel happy, peaceful and relaxed,” says Olga Adler, president and creative force of Olga Adler Interiors of Ridgefield. “I love it when they tell me that results are beyond anything they had ever dreamed, and they are entirely comfortable with what we have accomplished working closely together.”

Olga’s career began in the mid-1990s in Europe when she was doing something different from creating beautiful interiors — designing and producing fashionable events that included movie premieres, con-certs and award ceremonies.

“I worked with many world-famous celebrities, including Claudia Schiffer,

Sophia Loren, Catherine Deneuve and Jane Seymour,” she said.

Olga, who is a native of Poland, soon translated her public relations and market-ing experience into the world of interior design. “Working to create beautiful events gave me an idea of what these people want-ed in their home surroundings,” she said. “I took the lessons I learned from creating great event experiences and translated them into great home-design experiences.”

While doing some design work in Europe, she met and eventually mar-ried an American, William Adler, came to Ridgefield and started her firm, now at 470 Main Street. She serves clients throughout Westchester and Fairfield counties and has

published a book, Private Retreats - Public Statements, which showcases many of the elements of her work.

“Basically my book tells the visual story of how a home can be a private and yet fashionable retreat,” Olga says. “Whatever the stylistic elements, I want people to feel at home. You could call it easy chic. It is a matter of translating my clients’ needs and wants to get the desired result.”

Olga says she prides herself on being able to “push the envelope” a bit to get beautiful results that her clients may never have imagined.

“This is one of the most rewarding aspects of my work,” she said. “I am very gratified when I see my clients excited and

Creating “easy chic”in home interiors

by Jane K. Dove

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enthusiastic about the results of our ideas. I like to reach into what I call their ‘inner designer,’ sparking ideas by going through literally hundreds of photos. I get to know them first, and can then translate their visions, whatever they may be.”

Private Retreat - Public StatementsOlga’s book vividly illustrates her

approach to interior design, which includes

a fondness for simple forms and soft and soothing neutral colors with bright accents.

Many of the background colors in her designs are cream, taupe, beige, honey and many shades of rich tan. Floors tend towards dark, burnished wood.

See Olga Adler page 20

Designer Olga Adler has a fondness for simple forms, soft neutral colors and bright accents.

William

Adler

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QUEENOF

SPADES

Terry Karpen 203.938.0684

GARDEN and LANDSCAPE

DESIGN + BUILD + CARE

Come Visit My Garden on Sunday, June 5 as Part of

The Garden Conservancy’sOpen Days Program

On Saturday, June 5, from 10 to 4, The Garden Conservancy is featuring an Open Day at the garden of landscape designer Helen Dimos and her husband, Dr. Benjamin Oko.

On a recent visit to their red 1735 farm-house, on 11 Barlow Mountain Road in Ridgefield, I was transported to an earlier time. Two walk-in hearths, each with bee-hive ovens, at one time burned continuous-ly to provide heat and family meals. Today, one is home to a pair of owls ... they are andirons, with glass eyes that glow when backlit by firelight. The patina of the origi-nal wide-plank floors also glows, reflecting the care the couple has taken to preserve the integrity of this home, where even its addition dates back to the early 19th

Century. Their stewardship began only 16 years ago, when they happened upon an authentic antique country home situated on two lovely acres. In that relatively short amount of time, the changes they’ve made serve to enhance the timeless appeal of this home, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Ms. Dimos, who grew up in northern Virginia, had always appreciated the area’s natural beauty. Led down the garden path, so to speak, by her parents (active garden-ers, themselves), Ms. Dimos developed a penchant for making an already attractive outdoor setting even more beautiful.

Her professional interest in this arena came about later in life, after working many years in New York City as a freelance writer

GARDEN CONSERVANCY OPEN DAYS

Serenity found at a Barlow Mountain gardenby Lisa Wickersham

Helen Dimos’ landscape design is true to her philosophy that it be responsive to the site and the architecture of the home.


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for “Newsweek” and in commercial real estate development. During those years, her quieter moments were sometimes spent at her home in Cape Cod. There she devel-oped a flower garden, choosing resilient local favorites such as rugosa rose, daylilies and lavender to suit the sandy soil, high winds and salt air of the Outer Cape. As often happens, Ms. Dimos discovered that

she wanted to spend more time doing what she enjoyed in her off hours. She acted on that realization some 20 years ago, return-ing to college to study art and landscape architecture, and thus a new career was found.

When embarking on a project, Ms.

See Barlow Mountain page 29

So beautifully planned is the parterre garden that it appears to be the same vintage as the house itself.


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Niobe is ambling up my golden evergreen. Nelly Moser blushes as she scampers up and over the arbor, while Sweet Autumn cascades over the deck railing. It’s quite a party!

Clematis (pronounced klem’ ah tiss) are known for being sociable plants. They like to hug and cling to their neighbors and are agreeable companions. Once you get to know them, you’ll want to invite the whole family into your garden.

That would be quite a scene, though, because this family of flowering vines is extensive. Clematis may come dressed in rich, saturated jewel-tones, soft pastels or classic whites. Their blossoms offer bold, expansive flower heads, subtle stars, bright bells and dangling lanterns. They can wear pinks, purples, reds, whites, yellows, blues and lime greens — orange is about the only color they avoid.

SOME COLORFUL GUESTSFOR YOUR GARDEN PARTY

by Lynn Hyson

Ville de Lyon, like other members of the Clematis family, are celebrated for their colorful beauty and profuse blooms.

Lynn Hyson photo

Clematis

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And Clematis are (social?) climbers, bringing the drama of an often neglected dimension: vertical gardening. With so much diversity, it’s easy to confuse the indi-viduals in this family, and that could ruin your party. But if you get off on the right foot with the Clematis of your choice, you will have a rewarding, convivial relation-ship.

To start, it pays to remember that, like hydrangeas, they belong to three differ-ent groups, which dictate pruning and bloom time. Those that bloom on old wood (known as type 1) flower in May to June

and should be cut back promptly after-wards. They can be cut back hard or just pruned for shape and structure. They will use the rest of the growing season to pre-pare for next spring’s appearance. Frances Rivis (Clematis alpina) flaunts four-petaled blue blossoms with contrasting white cen-ters and can reach six to 10 feet high. Try her in a container with a tuteur (a pyra-mid-shaped lattice). C. Montana Tetrarose gets tall (up to 15 feet) with purple-tinged leaves and soft pink petals.

See Clematis page 24

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“I like a neutral-color background,” she says. “Once that it is in place you can punch it up with vibrant colors from accent pieces and original art. I find the neutrals to be very serene and calming, but everyone wants a pop of color. Approaching it this way also makes it flexible. You have your neutral colors but you can change your accessories according to your mood, your acquisitions or even the seasons of the year.”

Olga says many of her clients are very busy and want space that is functional. “But it still has to show who they really are,” she said. “Achieving a very personal result is important to both me and my clients.”

Private Retreats - Public Statements showcases five homes in Westchester and Fairfield counties. “These are some of my recent favorite projects,” Olga says. “The book shows different rooms, including foyers, living rooms, bedrooms and bath-rooms, family and entertainment rooms, plus a kitchen that has just about everything.”

Olga says she called the book Private Retreats - Public Statements because she believes the homes succeed equally at making their owners feel safe, nurtured, relaxed and at home, but also “boldly welcoming” to guests.

The book is beautifully photographed and shows off the details of not only the rooms themselves but the furniture, art

Olga Adler continued from page 13

Olga Adler’s book presents home design that nurtures and relaxes the owners while boldly welcoming guests.

William

Adler See Olga Adler page 30

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The Wakeman Farm Project in Westport, where he will be leading a team to help recreate the land into a cooperative farm that will not only serve the community by providing them with fresh produce and education, but also serve the greater state by serving as a liaison between local chefs and farmers.

Chef Derek Wagner opened Nicks on Broadway, which he later expanded. From the begining, Nicks has always focused on

seasonally inspired, locally sourced, integ-rity-driven food and service.

The artisans joining the chefs come from far and wide, providing a sam-pling of the incredible bounty our country has to offer. Guests will experi-ence Rappahannock River oysters from Topping, Va., nibble on Freddy Guys hazelnuts from Monmouth, Ore., savor a variety of cheeses from Jasper Hill Farm in Greensboro, Vt., indulge on Theo

Chocolates from Seattle, Wash., enjoy a “custom” cocktail from Tuthilltown Spirits in Gardiner, N.Y., and finish off the day with a smooth espresso from Peet’s Coffee & Tea of California.

To reflect the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s commitment to sustainable practices, the Glass House proudly features environmentally friendly products for Dine with Design. These include reusable and recyclable glassware by GoVino; WASARA plates designed from renewable materials, which are biodegradable and compostable; and bamboo cutlery by Bambu. Following

the event, all products will be composted at Three Feathers Farm in South Salem, N.Y.

BMW is proud to support the Philip Johnson Glass House, a premier architec-tural landmark in the United States.

Harvest to Heat has been hailed as the “the fall’s most beautiful cookbook” by Newsweek and named best “overall cook-book” for 2010 by epicurious.com.

For more information on “Dine with Design” or the Glass House, visit philipjohn-songlasshouse.org. For more information on Harvest to Heat, visit harvesttoheat.com. ■

Dine with Design continued from page 11

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ents. “But cakes are my former world,” she says. The path to gardening started when she worked at the

Bartlett Arboretum in Stamford, and then took the Landscape Design course at the New York Botanical Garden and the University of Connecticut’s Master Gardener Program.

Terry is a follower of the Arts & Crafts Movement, which isn’t about making pottery but is a reaction to the Industrial Revolution and its assembly-belt production. “We believe in simplicity, not artificial gimmicks. Natural ingredients. Artisan-made, not mass-produced. Respect for the indi-viduality of people’s different backgrounds.”

Her newest adventure is her quarterly newspaper col-umn in The Redding Pilot. “There’s a community volunteer garden in Redding called the Parade Path. I’m just trying to get the word out.

“As a gardener,” she emphasizes, “you keep learning all the time. Perhaps, when you want a shrub with bright yel-low flowers, you think of forsythia. But there are 10 other interesting choices. There are at least 200 choices besides daffodils.” One of Terry’s favorites is hellebore, an early blooming perennial, shade tolerant, deer resistant, beauti-ful flowers, comes in different colors. Its blooms last for months, and the leaves stay green all winter.

“The idea is to create a unique sanctuary to restore us. My mother knew this. I remember we’d plant seeds togeth-

Queen of Spades continued from page 3

The cheerful yellow flowers of Corydalis lutea are a nice blend with the soft green of spring.

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er. My brother had his own strawberry patch. When I was five years old, I’d go out by myself into nature. Being out in the woods as a child are my happiest memo-ries. I guess gardening is what I’m supposed to be doing.”

For directions to Terry Karpen’s garden at 69 Dayton Road in Redding, see the Garden Conservancy Web site or call her at 203-938-0684. Reservations or advance tickets not necessary. The $5 requested to view a garden goes right back to the Garden Conservancy to fulfill its mission of nurtur-ing and preserving America’s gardens. ■

asked me if I could remember (back to November) who had issued me the card. Since I hadn’t been at the dump since, er, November, I told him I couldn’t. Nor, I thought to myself, should I have to.

While I threw the rack remnants into the aluminum pile and the crumbled bin into the plastic pile, the man at the scale straightened things out and, after waiting in line again, I received my card

back with the promise it would work next time.

I took the back roads home, my now streamlined truck dodging pot-holes along the route. The sun had opened the buds and the long-closed front doors, and brought out blossoms, lawn rakes and kids with over-sized T-shirts. Flattened Sprite cans glistened at curbside, while Walmart plastic bags loop-de-looped in the gentle breeze.

The truck now crouches like a soldier in front of the house, fearful of incom-ing artillery, always lurking around the corner. Over by the porch, gleaming in its shiny plastic blueness, stands a brand-new recycling bin with a solitary empty can of cat food in its optimistic emptiness.

Next nice day, I am going to go buy a long piece of lumber for the side of the garage. How am I going to transport it?

Maybe I’ll have it delivered? [email protected]. ■

Home Moaner continued from page 7

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Type 2 Clematis flower on new wood and will bloom from July to October. Prune when they are dormant — from late fall to early spring. Don’t worry about cutting too much, they can re-grow a full plant and still bloom that season. Type 2 plants tend to grow six to 10, even 12 feet tall. C. Henrii is well known for his bold white face, and C. florida Flore pleno parades double chartreuse blooms. C. Nellie Moser is a favorite thanks to her six-inch pale pink flowers with darker midribs and the spectacular seed heads she leaves behind. This drama queen actually pre-fers light shade. C. Niobe’s blossoms of rich, wine red can flow through the summer season.

The third type blooms in May to June on old wood and can rebloom in midsummer to early fall on new wood, but they don’t flower as gener-ously as their relatives. They can be trimmed lightly up till the middle of summer. Or, if overgrown, cut back to within two feet in early spring and wait for a vigorous flowering in late summer. The deservedly popu-lar purple C. Jackmanii and rich violet-rose Ville de Lyon are 10-footers and can be the life of the party from June to fall. And let’s not neglect C. tangutica, with her small yellow bells, or C. Huldine, whose pearly white petals arch back gracefully.

Other type 3’s that deserve attention are two native Americans with petite nodding bells: C. crispa’s are pale lavender and C. Betty Corning’s come in blue and lavender-pink. Though their blossoms are subtle, these are no wallflowers. They will carry on all summer long. Betty Corning belongs to the viticella branch of the family, offering resistance to mildew and Clematis wilt. While one of its tiny, star-shaped white blooms might

Clematis continued from page 19

Nelly Moser and her kin prefer cool, shaded roots, hot, sunny heads and good support.

Lynn Hyson photo

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not impress, Sweet Autumn (C. terniflora, also Type 3) produces thousands of them from August to frost, when many of her contemporaries are spent. This is an enthu-siastic climber up to 20 feet — ideal for an archway or blank wall — with a fragrance that lives up to her name.

Believe it or not, I’ve only introduced you to a small contingent of the Clematis family. Once you get past the differences in their appearance and pruning temperaments, all will benefit from similar growing condi-tions. Plant them with their crowns two to three inches below soil level in a sunny spot with a mildly acidic soil, pH 6.5. (Name tags will identify the few that like some shade, such as Sweet Autumn.) The deep planting encourages bushy growth and helps protect the vine from damage — by such threats as lawn mowers and weed whackers, as well as by the rot and wilt. If the vine is compromised, the subterranean crown can send up new growth.

It is said that Clematis prefer cool, shad-ed roots with hot, sunny heads. I like to plant them on the shady side of a support or place a low-growing plant like a hosta in front. Clematis are long-lived, but slow to

establish. Buying large pots with 2-year-old plants will give them a head start. As might be expected of such show-offs, Clematis expect to be well fed. Compost and a monthly serving of organic plant food like Plant-Tone will keep them going strong.

One final ingredient will ensure a happy guest: Clematis must have support. At planting time, make sure supports are in place so the vine can attach and grow. Clematis cling by curling their leaf stems around something slender such as twine, bird netting, twigs or narrow iron work. They often twine around their own stalks and the branches of neighbors. Broad sur-faces such as wood lattice, fencing or mail-box posts will let them down unless covered with a finer mesh or netting. Newcomers may need to be tied to get them started climbing. Then the sky’s the limit!

With all the choices in size, shape, color and season, there is sure to be an ideal Clematis (or three) for your garden party. Success is just a matter of being a consider-ate host.

Lynn Hyson is a master gardener and an active member of the Redding Garden Club. Visit her new Website, gardenphile.net. ■

Even the seed head of Nelly Moser provides visual interest.

Lynn Hyson photo

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A house is first and foremost a shelter, but it should also be a place to be refreshed and renewed, says Jim Blansfield, principal of Blansfield Builders Inc. The difference between good and bad housing, according to Jim, is how it feels. “If it is designed well, it feels good and you’re happy. When you sit in a room, you should be pleased; good design always triumphs. Is it worth paying for an architect and interior designer to achieve this? Absolutely.”

Blansfield Builders has won 17 HOBI awards, presented by the Home Builders Association of Connecticut, over the last

decade. “I’m very proud of that,” says Jim. “It shows you’ve been looked at by your peers and they liked what they saw — that is very satisfying.”

In 2010, Blansfield won HOBIs for Best Residential Remodel $2-3 Million (along with Callaway Architects) and Best Interior Design (along with At Home Design) — both for a home in Redding — and Best Custom Home 8,000-9,000 square feet for Robert Kennedy Jr.’s home.

Blansfield Builders is known for its fin-ish work and detail, whether a remodel or new construction. “I am very particular

how things turn out,” he says, “and people trust that I will take care of them, that I will give them the best I have to give based on my knowledge, wisdom and experience. Good news travels slow, and bad news travels fast; I learned that early. I believe if you’re ethical and honest and do your job right, you can’t lose.”

Jim established his Danbury-based busi-ness in 1986. “I’ve always been a do-it-yourselfer and an avid reader. I worked construction during the summers when I was a student.” Jim started out remodeling before expanding into new construction

and custom homes. “I am fascinated with the art form, the creativity of making things different, then doing something better than we did before. I like to be a little ahead of the game.” To that end, Jim sought to make Blansfield Builders a LEED AP (Accredited Professional) company long before many others had even heard of it.

“I’ve always been an environmentalist in my private life,” he says, “so it certainly made sense to formalize my values into my business. It was a lot of work, but I am very proud to be a registered Green Builder.”

A builder has to have many different

Embracing the futureWith craftsmanship of the past

by Janis Gibson

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qualities to succeed, he said, especially in a difficult market. “In addition to the construction side, there is the care-giving, listening side, which, I feel, I developed during the years I worked as a physician’s assistant before deciding to commit to building full-time. Your house is your soul; it needs to regener-ate you; you want it to feel warm, comfortable. And it needs to be easy and affordable to maintain, which is where the choice of materials comes in.”

There are great materials available today, and Jim believes in taking advantage of them. “Use super-insulation to make your house tight, and you’ll also use less fossil fuel. Your house wants to be like a Styrofoam box — with holes for doors and windows. With spray-in insulation, you get no drafts, and it deadens sound; your house is quieter. Where we used to use copper pipes, we now use PEX [cross-linked polyethylene], which is more reliable than copper and unaffected by alkalinity or acidity of water, as copper can be.”

Jim says manufactured siding and trim made of recycled materials have very low maintenance, and there are a number of recycled products available, whether beams and wood from old barns or buildings, or newly manufactured materials made from recycled goods.

Another thing Jim likes is radiant heat, again improved by PEX tubing. “Do you know that forced hot air or water for baseboard heating needs to be 110 degrees? With radiant heat, the water only needs to be 80 degrees — think of the fuel sav-

Blansfield Builders won a custom-home HOBI award for this striking timber-frame guest house in Darien, which features a solar photovoltaic sys-tem and insulated stress-skin panels.

See Craftsmanship page 28

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ings.” he says. “It also warms everything in the room and is quiet. You will, however, still need ductwork for air-conditioning.”

Changing technology is being incorporated into homes, too. “You can have audio throughout your house, or security cameras over the door so you know who is there, or have DVRs record activity so you know who was at your home when you were away. The advent of cellphones, and now smart phones, has changed our lives. Imagine what you can do if your phone is con-nected to your home ... you can turn lights on and off while you are away, or raise the temperature before you get home.”

Jim has also embraced the iPad. “I’m putting all my business information on mine. It is going to be revolu-tionary to the way I do my work, especially interacting with prospective and existing clients.”

As for trends, “Small is in, with emphasis on privacy and family needs; what is appropriate, not ostentatious, and properly sized for the functions you want to do there,” he says. “It should be open yet feel cozy, but not crowded, and have wonderful natural light. Most of the emphasis today goes into the kitchen and family

Craftsmanship continued from page 27

Antique ceilings contrast with sleek, gray-lacquered cabinetry and concrete and stainless countertops, travertine wide-plank floor and contemporary track lighting in Blansfield’s interpretation of rough luxe in Redding, which won a HOBI 2010 Remodeled Home of the Year.

Olson Photographic

See Craftsmanship page 30

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Dimos takes a holistic view of the environ-ment. The property’s natural features, exist-ing plantings and man-made structures all play into the process of landscape design. Considering how outdoor spaces will be enjoyed by the homeowners is also impor-tant in determining the flow of pathways and gardens.

According to Ms. Dimos, “Trees, in the right place, are essential to any garden. They are the architecture of the landscape.” She also shared that while there is no such thing as a no-maintenance garden, trees are definitely a valuable low-maintenance player. That said, after hardscape design, the first planting decisions should involve trees — keeping some, removing others and adding new varieties straight away.

True to her professional promise, Helen Dimos’s own Barlow Mountain Garden is “responsive to the uniqueness of the site, the architecture of the residence and [of course] the owner’s taste.”

A gravel drive complements the age-old stone terracing that works its way around this historic residence. The front entry

path is flanked by hellebores in white and various shades of purple. The side garden is filled with peonies, their lush green leaves providing the perfect backdrop for splashes of intense color. Adding a touch of whimsy, another owl (a carved totem straight from Maine) serves as a sentry near the entrance to the adjacent parterre garden, where the boxwood is joined by more peonies, cat-mint and other flowering plants.

Further along is a large fenced vegetable and cutting garden of tomatoes, raspberries, rhubarb and irises. Some of the ornamental shrubs and trees planted along the paths include a beauty bush, with its unusual flaky bark; several lilac bushes in white, lavender, and blue; and a Harry Lauder’s walking stick. Another perennial favored by Ms. Dimos is clematis. A purple one climbs the branches of a butterfly bush, giving the appearance of a strange new hybrid when both are in bloom. Shade gardens complete the picture and include ferns, rhododen-dron, hydrangea, hellebores, peonies and a red maple tree. The repetitive use of favorite perennials throughout the property

creates a feeling of connectedness from one garden area to the next.

Ms. Dimos worked with the natural con-tours of the land, which cascades gently from the back of the house to the rear of the prop-erty. The transitions along the way are subtle — structured gardens blend into grassy areas, and these fade off to untamed meadow that ultimately meets the wetland border. The mature trees work well with those the couple planted when they arrived. There are many varieties, some of which include fern leaf beech, fern leaf walnut, white oak, pin oak, mossycup oak and Alaskan cedar.

The Barlow Mountain Garden is refresh-

ingly free of any chemicals (the wisdom of the owls at work, no doubt). The result is a softer and more natural looking garden landscape that, like the historic residence it adorns, makes one believe it was estab-lished long ago.

For directions, see the conservancy Web site, gardenconservancy.org. Reservations or advance tickets not necessary. The $5 admission to view a garden goes to the Garden Conservancy to fulfill its mission of nurturing and preserving America’s gar-dens. ■

Barlow Mountain continued from page 15

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Free In-Home Consultation203-847-4179

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room. A home should have visual, textural interest and built-ins, wonderful things that are part of the house, like bookcases and pocket doors.”

A new look is rough lux. “People want to experience a combination of natural and luxury goods,” he explains. “European clean lines combined with old New England feel — old wood, new ceramics, clean plumb-ing lines and great Italian fixtures. When

people see it, they tend to love it.”Outside spaces are also increasingly pop-

ular. “People want to be outside; it’s desir-able, exciting, Jim says. “People are bring-ing the inside out. They want fun spaces, open flows, water features — a soothing feeling that wasn’t there before — to feel, ‘I’m home; I’m in a wonderful place.’”

For more information, blansfieldbuilders.com or 203-797-9174. ■

Craftsmanship continued from page 28

and accessories they contain. “Detail is very important,” Olga says. “I pay a lot of atten-tion to it and I believe the book captures my approach.”

Private Retreats - Public Statements is available through Olga’s Web site: OlgaAdlerInteriors.com or at Books on the Common on Main Street in Ridgefield.

Although attending to detail is impor-tant, Olga says maintaining clean, unclut-tered lines and space is equally important. “You may have beautiful objects, but if you have too many of them in one space, you don’t see any of them,” Olga says. “Striking a balance is very important. And so is sen-sitivity to spatial relationships.”

Olga has traveled extensively and uses her experiences and her designer’s eye to incorporate decorative elements from

around the world, including Africa and Asia, into her work, which she describes as “classic with a global twist.”

After arriving in America in 2003, Olga studied interior design at New York University and developed a network of partnerships with the area’s finest suppliers and service providers. “We all work togeth-er as a team to create rooms that are unique but also classic, with details and finishing of the highest quality.”

In the end, Olga says she wants to see her clients in rooms that are beautiful, functional and stress-free. “If I could have one wish for my clients when I am done, it would be to sit back, relax and enjoy.”

For details: olgaadlerinteriors.com; to schedule an appointment, 203-438-4743 or [email protected]. ■

Olga Adler continued from page 20

A spacious recently remodeled kitchen/family room in New Canaan.

Jim Fuhrm

ann Photography

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Home May 2011, North/South Edition • Hersam Acorn Newspapers