Summer Street Residence Update Arlington, Massachusetts
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Catherine Oranchak/Landscape Architect
Summer Street Residence Arlington, Massachusetts In 2020, we revisited the original landscape design completed a half-dozen years prior. The homeowners’ use of the space had changed. Maximizing gathering spaces for use throughout the year became a priority. A bluestone patio was added. Surrounding the outdoor living room, ornamental and edible plants were combined creating an outdoor oasis that expands the deck’s outdoor dining spaces and, together, extend the home’s first floor footprint into the landscape. 
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Lakefront Gardens Shrewsbury, Massachusetts
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Catherine Oranchak/Landscape Architect
Set up on a hill overlooking Lake Quinsigamond, the grounds for this property include a fieldstone wall-edged entry drive, a garden path leading to a swimming pool complex with pergola opposite a pool house. Lush garden spaces connect each space to the other and provide a tranquil setting for the family to gather. An open lawn borders the lake ensuring distant views. Completed 2018 |
An Urban Retreat Dorchester, Massachusetts
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Catherine Oranchak/Landscape Architect
Step through the six foot tall cedar fence and gate into an urban retreat. Three paved terrace spaces change this sloping back yard into distinct comfortable outdoor rooms for dining, sitting and playing- all viewed from a mahogany deck just outside the living room. Permeable concrete unit pavers, granite steps, stone walls, fencing and deck, together with the planting beds provide the framework for this calm and restful landscape. Completed 2016 |
Waltham Gardens Waltham, Massachusetts
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Catherine Oranchak/Landscape Architect
A fieldstone wall provides separation from the private front yard to the public street while ensuring a majestic setting for the home. A small mahogany deck allows for a smooth transition from the house to a bluestone patio which welcomes the residents to their gardens. Design was completed in September of 2015. Phase 1- the back yard was completed in July 2016 Phase 2- the front yard was completed in July 2017 |
Perennial Garden Albany, New York
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Catherine Oranchak/Landscape Architect
Peace and tranquility are brought to this lush garden landscape with the infusion of color, texture and ornament. Mature garden photos taken summer 2016 |
Jamaica Plain Residence Boston, Massachusetts
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Catherine Oranchak/Landscape Architect with Beausoleil Gardens
Creating a tranquil urban oasis was the goal of this garden re-design project. Including a new outdoor gathering space into the existing garden meant re-envisioning the plant palette and adding more seasonal variety. A new antique brick patio was added, existing plants were re-positioned and new plants were placed. The richness of texture, color, hue and dimension were built upon to imbue the space with a calm and peaceful feel. Completed 2014 |
Summer Street Residence Arlington, Massachusetts
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Catherine Oranchak/Landscape Architect
When the homeowners demolished a small back porch and replaced it with a spacious open deck, the remainder of the property longed for a new vision. The landscape was structured to reflect the recent deck, providing an organizational framework to house a full and lush palette of plant material that provided four season interest including both edible and ornamental varieties. To better describe the proposed plan, the garden was divided into sub-areas with drawings, photographs and descriptive text for each. In this way, the homeowners could more easily phase in the new design over time. Many existing perennial plants were re-organized and re-located as per the proposal. Completed 2013 |
Goddard Circle Residence Brookline, Massachusetts
Planting Plan
Catherine Oranchak/Landscape Architect
The architecture of the house puts the garage in a prominent vantage point and nestles the front door within a private nook. The design of the front garden sought to shift the focus from the automobile to the pedestrian. The renovated front garden is divided into three distinct zones; Arrival, Lawn and Entry Garden.
The Arrival remains predominantly vehicular but simplified. An open green lawn incorporates planting at the edges only, creating the illusion of a broad and expansive property. Clusters of planting were used to screen views of neighboring homes and concentrate all landscape detail precisely at the front door. The driveway, then, becomes an element within a larger landscape.
The architecture of the house puts the garage in a prominent vantage point and nestles the front door within a private nook. The design of the front garden sought to shift the focus from the automobile to the pedestrian. The renovated front garden is divided into three distinct zones; Arrival, Lawn and Entry Garden.
The Arrival remains predominantly vehicular but simplified. An open green lawn incorporates planting at the edges only, creating the illusion of a broad and expansive property. Clusters of planting were used to screen views of neighboring homes and concentrate all landscape detail precisely at the front door. The driveway, then, becomes an element within a larger landscape.
View of Entry Garden from Lawn
A fieldstone wall separates the Lawn area from the Entry Garden, making both a private and quiet space set apart from the more public lawn. A row of Japanese Maples and Daylilies helps reinforce the separation. A rich plant palette is utilized within the Entry Garden including Inkberry, Christmas Fern, Sweet Woodruff, Iris, and Pachysandra. A rectangular Koi Pond, however, is the jewel of this garden. Magnolia Waterlily, Horsetail and Water Lettuce over which regularly spaced spray jets dot the surface of the pond share this aquatic landscape with the magnificent Koi fish.
 Koi Pond |
 Spray jets at Koi Pond |
 Steps to side garden |
 View of rear garden and roof drainage |
 Water garden plants |
 Pennsylvania Flat Fieldstone detail |