Capard House
Co. Laois
300-acre Grounds Renovation, a Walled Garden & Orangerie
Featured in Veranda Magazine and with an interior designed by renowned Martyn Lawrence Bullard, I worked with John & Heather Picerne to restore the grounds of this 300-acre private residence. The landscape is characterized by steep elevations, flowing rivers, and extreme weather. I led the development and renovation of the grounds, including a formal garden, the lake region, the addition of a boules lawn, and planting the orangerie. The jewel in the crown is the redesign of the 4-acre walled garden. From the illustrated concept, through budgeting, logistics, and construction, I helped the client to realize their dream of a naturally elegant retreat.
Restoring the Lakes Region
Three distinctly beautiful lakes are located in the lower fields. Together, they form an essential flood works system for the estate, which we overhauled to create a network of flow channels. At the same time, we redesigned the surrounding landscape to reflect the personality of each lake, creating a cohesive aesthetic to the region.
Boules Lawn Detail
Boules Lawn
Laburnum Walk After Blooming
In Full Bloom
Mature Woodlands
Mature woodlands are priceless and a joy to experience. Much time has been spent removing overgrown laurel to create access to nature’s living room. Clearing the invasive scrub has opened up walking and horse trails to previously inaccessible spaces. Newly visible mature trees make a dramatic frame for the main avenue and the Temple Lake. Recently, on the property, an enormous bowed oak tree blew over in a storm. The tree surgeons seasoned and milled the timber, using it to build a naturally arched bridge over a stream in the lower woods… one tree, one bridge, homegrown.
“Valerie has been our landscape designer for 4 years. In that time, we see her creative skills in the formal gardens, woodlands, courtyards and grounds. Working with Valerie is uncomplicated. She keeps us informed, hears our concerns, and acts accordingly. We are very happy to have entrusted our piece of Irish landscape to her care.”
