THere is a book I have called "the New Country Garden" by Hollander and Connelly. There are several examples. The pictures are nice. One pic has flowering crab apples; another has flowering pear trees; another driveway is lined with locust trees. You should try to find the book. The estates are quite expansive and expensive. But there would be some nice examples to look at.

That is a beautiful property! With so many projects, are there some that you want to start with? The windbreak probably require evergreens, which you might want to get started now to give them a chance to grow. If I am understanding correctly the windbreak needs to go in the area near the cross roads? How close you can plant near the roads so driver's line of sight is not impaired?

I'm picturing the area bounded by sidewalks in front of house as having a border mix of flowers and small shrubs, say in a L shape, near sidewalks to soften then. Use some "airy" plants, like russian sage, or knautia. And part of it could "flow out" from the bed, with a little paved or pea gravel spot for a bench or two chairs. Could look very welcoming.

The square behind the house: it looks like something was already there since the land has a definition to it the photos. Do you want to fence it in, or use shrubs only to enclose it? I think shrubs could look pretty against a white fence and give it a layered look. You could have shrubs against the fence, and have some flower beds in front. Maybe an ornamental pond also. I see the square being the outdoor living space, barbques, play area for children, etc.

Do you have deer in your area? That will make a differnce on you plant/shrub/tree selections also.

And, as previous poster, jlb suggested, read garden books and magazines for inspiration.

Good luck with all those projects!

Thanks, I think the place has a lot of possibilities.

THe two things that I think are essential are a windbreak and a working garden layout. That first would be in the area that the patio faces toward. THere are swales in the ground that indicate water runoff (see ditches by roadside? Usually there's water in them. The land is a "giant sponge" according to my neighbor. THat windbreak area is often overly moist. I made a list of plants that can handle wet feet. Few are evergreen. Not sure about impairing vision--you can see for a long ways as it's level horse pasture.

I had also thought shrubs and flowers in that center area, but wasn't sure about shrub sizes. I love Koreanspice viburnum and anything fragrant. Would that grow too large for that area?

If there was anything behind the house, it's long gone. I took the metal detector out there and found nada. I would like to extend the area off the patio--right now you step off a raised concrete pad into the grass. At first I though of a kitchen garden, but we're plannng to have a major farm canning garden anyway, so that could be overkill. I can't do anything in that area yet since we are driving over it to remove debris and the debilitated slate roof is going to come off and make a major mess in the process.

THere are deer in the woods, but so far, no one, including gardening neighbor, is bothered by them. THe issue there is rabbits/woodchucks.

I got a little lost on what was where even with the visual but that's me not your explanation I'm sure:)
Just something to investigate on windbreaks. I think its Univ of Nebraksa extension or maybe North Dakotoa that has some fairly specific information on windbreak distances and how to put a really effective one together. Its on line, because I have windbreak issues too. I think most people want to put a windbreak pretty close to the house but according to their schematics it should be further out. Usually layered with an outer layer of tough shrubs, then evergreens, then more shrubs. I'm not sure how much difference anyone would really notice but I think you should give the info a look. Then layering some shrubs near the house creates a warmer microclimate and also helps the heating bills.
If you lined the road with privacy trees I'd decide on whether decidous vs. evergreens or a mix depending on whether you want winter solar gain and light (or perhaps the distances make that a non-player but at any rate remember what those trees will shade when your planning other flower and vegetable beds).
You might put an irregular curving bed (kidney bean shape would fit nicely) of some sort in the middle of the sidewalk to break up the idea of straight lines. Mound it a bit in the middle and put in some small virburnums or flowering shrubs good for hummingbirds and perannials around the edges.
Flowering trees - Crabs are always nice, or a native naturalized cherry of some sort or a Washington Hawthorn - they are quite pretty in the winter and provide food for birds like Cedar Waxwings.
Looking up trees for birds and wildlife should give you some good choices.

I thought of something else, do you have a county cooperative extension or county agent? They can be very helpful with plant selections, crop health, etc. and probably could advise you on the windbreak.

I thought you needed the windbreak at the corner of property near crossroads. Where I live in suburbia, any plantings have to be set back from road and below a certain height, etc. when they are near a corner.

Before attemping an answer could you:
1. Tell me the names of the tall trees presently growing on your neighbor's property and across the road on your property.
2. Do you have a well for water supply?
3. Is the barn electrified?
4. Can you live with dwarf fruit trees or do you prefer the tall growing type?
5. Interested in growing grapes?

I think the curve in the driveway would not contraindicated making an allee of trees along it; it could look fabulous. What I think will be more of a challenge is making it a convincing landscape feature on such an otherwise barren property. The tricks will probably be to complement the allee by having other fairly densely planted areas on the property, and by artfully designing the openings at either end to make them welcoming rather than like entrances to a tunnel. Perhaps flaring the openings and extending the plantings a good ways around the road and parking areas.

Nandina:
1. Trees I am aware of--oak, pine on one side. THe other neighbors have white (canoe?) birch, but I haven't been over there to look at what they have. Across the street is a mix--hickory, black walnut and what may be young maples (but I'm not sure). Hemlock grows well. It's a fruit growing area--thousands of acres worth of stone fruit and apples, pears, berries, etc.

2. It's a well. Lots of water. We have a stream.
3. The barn is electrified. So is the shed.
4. I thought of both semi-dwarf for espaliering and standard for an area off the map that can't be seen in the pics.
5. Yes, I am interested. Some people in the mid-Atlantic are warning me that growing grapes can be a PITA though.

Karinl--I am hoping to put more plantings on the property-definitely. It was one of the mysteries as to why a place that may be 200 years old has no sign of gardens. It's practically barren of effort. I need to get much better at propagation or it will take me forever to make an impact.

There are a number of ways to approach your land planning. If I remember correctly, this is a second home. It sounds as though you want to develop a self sustaining property. Okay...let's tackle the two major problems first.

Heavy winds that blow slate roof off. I can't promise you that any windbreak is going to solve this problem. Suggest that on the very wet, windward side of property you plant just one tree variety in three staggered rows; Bald cypress(Taxodium distichum). Toward the house side, about 40' from the trees install two rows of grapes spaced 20' apart (or so you can run a mower between comfortably). (Note: Always keep ease of mowing in mind when you add anything to a large property.) Think of the grapes as a windbreak, also. They would not have to be grown with the usual precision of pruning, etc. Just the foliage controlled as needed. Should you desire, plant in front of the grapes a mixed shrub border. Raise them up on a slight berm above water table. Viburnums, blueberries, even dwarf fruit trees could be grown on this berm.

If wind is a summer problem then veggie garden would probably have to be enclosed with a solid board fence, dwarf fruit trees espaliered along the outside. Garden might be best situated in the square formed by barn and shed, as wide as you want to make it. If the deer find you it may be necessary to install an electric fence outside the garden area to prevent them from fence jumping.

The 'V' between the sidewalks by the house looks like a spot for a parterre garden of kitchen herbs plus an ornamental, small tree, limbed up, planted at the sidwalk 'V'.

Trees along curving drive...Donald Wymann flowering crab. Beautiful used in this manner. Bright red apples hang on all winter. A more upright growing ornamental tree than many of the other crab trees.

Just a few quick thoughts for you. Your best advisors are neighboring farmers who know the territory. This Forum really cannot be of much help to you.

Nandina,

Thanks for your thoughts. I would like some edible grapes though! The wind comes from the NW in the winter and with storm systems moving through year round.

I haven't seen any bald cypress in the area, but I'll look for them at the nursery to see what they look like up close.

I'm going to check local resources too, but since I have such a hard time visualizing from a picture or a book to this plot of land, I figured this would be a good place to come to see what automatic responses would be. I think the hardest part is to actually stop thinking and move the first dirt!

Wow, that is quite a property! A while ago somebody was asking if aerial photos would be helpful...I guess they can be. One question that I have: is that where you want your driveway and parking area? It sure seems like a long haul to the house to unload groceries.

- Brent

Instead of a specific landscape reccomendation, I have two book reccomendations for you:

Natural Landscaping by John Diekleman

and

Noah's Garden by Sara Stein

With that large of an expanse of property, perhaps those two books might be an inspiration for you.

Thanks for the book recommendations. I would definitely like to aid some naturalistic plantings across the street and in certain areas on the house side. Other than poison ivy, wild rose and fox grapes, that is!

Brent--Yeah, a loooong walk--ya think?!! The drive to the barn makes sense, but as constructed, it takes absolutely FOREVER to haul the trash to the road and to bring things from the car just to the front door!

I don't know why the previous owners did this *unless* it has to do with drainage issues where the kitchen wing is.
Believe me, it isn't fun to get stuck there. We had a U-haul with an upright piano being delivered from the rear and our two neighbors had to come with tractors to get it out of the ruts made!

I assume you love the gardening process and are looking for something beautiful as well as practical. How close are you to Frederick, MD? There is a wonderful nursery/garden in Frederick that is a large piece of farm-land that the owner has created many different gardens in. One of her goals is to show the public what different plants look like working in a natural setting. But it all flows so nicely and is so beautiful. See link for their web address. You might want to take a trip there if you aren't too far away.

Here is a link that might be useful: Surreybrooke

The property you have shown is a beautiful setting. It is a blank slate waiting for your touch. Below I have attatched the Maryland Cooperative Extension site. It is a good place to start when you need ideas and facts about what grows best in your area. Try the Plant Diagnostic tab, it has a wealth of information......Dianne

Here is a link that might be useful: Maryland Cooperative Extension