Garden Tour No. 8 - Croswell Home (continued) The house is French Provincial, and is designed around a central courtyard with all first-floor rooms oriented toward it.  With a lot only 55’ wide, one would think the courtyard and garden area would be limited, but that is not the case.  The main patio contains a table and chairs and is large enough for entertaining.  The primary feature is a nine-foot wide fireplace perfect for warming those cool nights.  Trumpet vine climbs the brick wall on both sides.  Other plants include a lemon tree and a bay magnolia.  Mrs. Croswell, a knowledgeable gardener, says she likes to have as many “permanent” plants as possible, and adds seasonal blooms for color from time to time, mainly in pots.  For this reason the main courtyard has a lush, green look throughout most of the year. To the right of the fireplace, toward the front gate, is a walkway between two rows of Italian cypress trees.  Inside the front gate is another seating area nestled on gravel.  The inside of the front gate is mirrored, with a very pleasing effect.  This area is bordered by shrubs and several society garlic plants.  There is a large decorative concrete orb in this section, and an antique Spanish harrow provides a nice rustic touch. Left of the fireplace is a walkway to the rear gate which leads to a second garden area.  Along the walkway are maidenhair ferns and creeping fig. The second garden area in the back of the house contains a putting green and also serves as a cooking area.  The putting green is surrounded by annuals, and the entire area is filled with plants, both in-ground and potted.  Elephant garlic and false indigo provide springtime blooms, and red honeysuckle climbs the fence that surrounds the garden.  There are a lemon tree and a smoke tree in pots, and drift roses along the fence.  Ficus climbs the wall of the house in this area, and there are several rosemary and lavender plants that are indigenous to Southern France.  A unique driftwood planter contains mixed succulents.  Decorative items included a metal star on the fence as well as mushrooms, a globe, and an outdoor clock.  Outside the putting green area, rhudbeckia line the side of the fence along the drive, and juniper provide ground cover at the street. The Croswells’ garden areas were designed by landscape architect Andy McCrory and installed by Mark Adcock with Executive Landscape.  With seasonal additions provided by Mrs. Croswell, the result is two distinct garden areas that are warm and inviting, and filled with a broad variety of plant life. Tablescapes for the Croswell home provided by The Everyday Gourmet. Photo by Lisa Agent