Valley Forge Garden

What was once an unimaginative slab of lawn surrounding a 19-century converted church, is now a garden refuge. Rough, monolithic stone steps and a grove of pawpaw introduce visitors to a gravel path, which bends into a gentle oval around the property.

Dispensing entirely with turf grass, layers of herbaceous forbs and grasses abound in texture, color and continued seasonal interest. A large shade tree set asymmetrically provides segmentation, scrims the space beyond and hosts a prized swing, on which one can coast through joy and wonder.