Bourbon Shack

Heading south, we had our final stop over. Our friends Barry Archung and Rick Benoit were kind to put us up for the night before we flew out the next day. Barry is a landscape designer and the most knowledgeable plants-man I've ever known. Spending one hour with him will teach you more than a month of hard study. At their beautiful  home they created a small outpost known as the Bourbon Shack. It's non-electrified and heated by wood stove, it is the ultimate in charming and we wanted to spend the night there. It's a one room cottage with board and batten siding and a ceder shingle roof. The interior walls are open to the studs and underside of the roof shows the ship sheathing and ceder shingles. All wood and no paint except the door. To top it off the piers that support the cabin are granite posts.

The bourbon Shack seen from
the garden patio.

Granite piers, granite steps and a
sliding barn door. There are always
potted plants ready for planting on
this large Marblehead, Ma. lot.

The sign was painted by Milissa
Hudak as a cabin warming.

Newport is no new port

On our trip north we stopped into Newport, Rhode Island. We were there to see the property of friends in preparation to create a new garden. However, it didn't take us long to venture out to the 'Old Town' to see all the 18th century homes. Newport is one of those lovely New England towns composed of homes spanning four centuries. The town is of course known for the palatial 'cottages' built on Bellevue Avenue but there is a treasure trove of large and small wooden homes that have been well restored. Although the styles are many, the gambrel roofed, wood sided house is very prominent. Here are some examples.

A very small house at the waters edge. The inappropriate water side
deck can be overlooked simply because the views are spectacular.
The roof is another story. The present insensitive asphalt roof
glaringly stands out. A ceder shingle roof would be the right choice.

Here's a large duplex. Phenomenal restoration with a ceder shingle roof.
Notice the 'invisible storm panel' over the original twelve over twelve paned windows.
These invisible storms are the modern equivalent to the double hung storm window.
They are just as efficient, protect the original windows from winter weather
and are better looking. The real difference is that, come summer, the new storm
windows are removed, allowing the beautiful original windows
with their wavy glass to be shown off.

Another great restoration with a ceder shingle roof and window in their full glory.

Preservation is well received in Newport. There are good examples on
nearly every block. So many of the homes are right at the public right of
way, giving the town a great deal of charm.  For gardeners, the
challenge is to make a lot out of a little. Because gardens are so small
they must be well conceived. And they are.