A wooded Druid Hills garden planted with TLC

Home and Garden

A wooded Druid Hills garden planted with TLC

David and Carolyn Gould bought their Druid Hills home for the garden, not the house. They planted it with tender loving care, creating a wooded wonderland.

David and Carolyn Gould purchased this Druid Hills property in 1999, but not because they loved the home. They were wild about the property and its gardening potential. A decade ago, the land was mostly grass and privet, they explain, but is now densely planted with trees, perennials, shrubs and garden features. "Our objective was to make the house go away," Carolyn joked. "We've wondered if they can do a 'house-ectomy.'

The Goulds reshaped the sidewalk in front of their home, allowing for a curving stonepath that echoes the stream running across the property. David McMullin of New Moon Gardens has worked with the couple for years on their plant selection and design, as well as choosing plants to help prevent stream erosion.

This stone patio is also a new addition to the home, which faces the stream. The Goulds transplanted grasses from the waterway into containers, and perennials such as hostas and oakleaf hydrangea provide color and textural interest.

The Goulds shy away from using lots of annual color; instead, they turn to more unusual plants such as this juniper bonsai for floral flair.

David Gould explained that a heavy rain can literally move trees growing along their property's stream. This willow tree seems to hang ominously toward their home, but as Carolyn explains, she doesn't believe in cutting down trees.

While visiting Thailand, David Gould became interested in the wooden walkways built over rice fields. Last year, the couple built a similar meandering pathway in the rear of their property. David said he planted grasses and phlox that he hopes will grow to roughly the same height as the pathway.

Carolyn asked builders to construct the pathway over this fallen tree. The pathway leads to a small deck, where the couple placed two carved chairs they brought back from Thailand.

Garden ornaments are used sparingly in this wetlands space, save for stone toadstools.

The Goulds prefer a natural appeal to their landscape. "We didn't want it to look formal (as in an) English garden," David Gould said.

Vegetable gardening is Carolyn's favorite pastime; here, they grow such fruit and vegetables as heirloom tomatoes, peas, beans, carrots, onions to cantaloupe, strawberries and pears. The couple installed raised beds four years ago because the soil was too-nutrient rich, David explained.

The Goulds planted this espaliered Bartlett pear tree about a year ago.

While much of the Gould's landscape is woodland, this newly built pergola sets a decidedly more formal tone to this backyard area. They plan to accent the piece with a sweet-smelling climbing vine such as jasmine.

Hardscaping behind the home is softened with mondo grass and sedum, and the sides of this patio are flanked with pineapple guava, which David harvests in the fall for jelly. The shrub blooms with pink petals and red stamens. "They're really beautiful - they kind of look like fireworks," Carolyn said.

Container plants are filled with foliage in bright, differing colors and textures.

Married for 23 years, the gardening duo loves spending time outside in their outdoor kitchen with their two teenaged daughters, Andrea, 13 and Ali, 15. "We spend more time outside than we do in," David said. Spike plants and cacti abound in container plants, as well as the four leaf clover-shaped water feature.

The scents of rosemary and ornamental sage waft through this stone-flanked lawn. The couple, seated here with dog Trae, also planted roses mixed with evergreen for color. When not working or traveling, the couple spends most of their time in their expansive, diverse garden. "Everyday you are out here, something is new, something is different, something has changed," Carolyn said.

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David and Carolyn Gould purchased this Druid Hills property in 1999, but not because they loved the home. They were wild about the property and its gardening potential. A decade ago, the land was mostly grass and privet, they explain, but is now densely planted with trees, perennials, shrubs and garden features. "Our objective was to make the house go away," Carolyn joked. "We've wondered if they can do a 'house-ectomy.'

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