Colston Burrell is widely recognized for his expertise as a garden designer, writer and speaker specializing in native plants in his bird hill garden near Charlottesville Virginia.
Cole had always been friendly at conferences but never showed me his beautiful garden until this spring when my friend Leslie Harris from nearby had secured an invitation for his spring garden open house event (which draws hundreds). So she invited me along.
Even among the massive crowds, I managed to have enough conversations with Cole that it dawned on me that we both attended school in Bon Air, near Richmond – although admittedly I was ahead in age!
Cole has some wonderful advice for creating the ideal garden: From his website:
Bird Hill is a 10-acre pleasure grounds, featuring woodland, meadow, and garden features inspired by the beauty of regional landscape. I designed it as both an observation point from within the house as well as to be enjoyed from within the garden itself – both perspectives provide stunning vistas! With special emphasis placed upon plantings rich with texture, color, and scent to create comfortable spaces designed to promote relaxation – these include native species as well as selections from around the globe that fit harmoniously within nature’s framework.
Circular spaces can be found throughout, inspired by landscape architect Jens Jensen who used them to add order to nature’s randomness. Shaded beds surround the house and overflow with sedges, ferns, bulbs, hellebores, wildflowers, shrubs and flowering trees – including some temperate and tropical species which blend perfectly for an extended season long feast of foliage and blooms – plus potted plants, small water features antique stone pieces and architectural salvage.
These iPhone photos should give an impression of the beauty and serenity of Cole’s garden. If any plants need identification, leave a comment here and I’ll ask him for the info!
