SANDPLAIN MEADOW OASIS / RESIDENTIAL LANDSCAPE
01 / THE BRIEF
An ecological landscape plan for a 0.95-acre residence in Southampton brings together aging in place, family gatherings, gardening, natural play, and lower-maintenance stewardship. Analysis of circulation, soils, drainage, vegetation, sun, groundwater, and regional habitat shaped a long-term framework for everyday life outdoors.
The excessively drained Windsor sandy soils, location over the Barnes Aquifer, and proximity to MESA Priority Habitat grounded the design in regional ecology. Sandplain meadow and pitch pine–scrub oak communities connect the garden with the character of its larger landscape.
The plan integrates rain gardens, rainwater harvesting, native screening, food-producing plants, shaded gathering areas, an expanded deck, accessible paths, and wildlife observation. Plant palettes respond to hydrology, soils, light, habitat function, seasonal character, and long-term care.
CIRCULATION & ACCESS
Movement follows patches of lawn between the kitchen deck, vegetable garden, planting beds, and play areas. Narrow deck steps and an informal front entrance limit comfortable access. Existing shade pulls seating to the western edge, away from the main play spaces.
Create a firm primary circulation loop, improve entry, and place shaded gathering where family activities remain visible.
A sheltered courtyard makes the front yard a place to spend time. A colorful meadow and orchard-framed clearing create more private destinations beyond the house.
The balanceMore enclosure and a stylized meadow bring a moderate level of ongoing care.
The final directionThe final design combines the ecological structure of plant communities with a clear arrival, accessible daily routes, productive planting, and a range of sunny and shaded play spaces.
FRONT YARD
A formal stone approach and layered planting give guests a clear route from driveway to porch. The front lawn becomes a meadow courtyard with seating between dogwoods.
DECK / PERGOLA / ACCESS
The kitchen door becomes the start of an outdoor room. More deck space, overhead shade, stone transitions, and a ramp connect everyday life inside with the garden beyond.
ROOF / SWALE / RAIN GARDEN
Roof water is part of the garden’s structure. Rain barrels support watering; overflows and downspouts feed planted features that carry water away from the house before it enters the ground.
SHADE / VIEW / PLAY
The meadow is a place to enter and inhabit. A small shelter creates an outdoor room without closing off the surrounding habitat.
A wet-to-dry sequence runs from basin to slope to berm. Each plant occupies the hydrologic position that suits it.
Care focus: establish cover and keep water routes clear.
Sweetfern, small shrubs, dogwoods, and perennials create continuity as planting wraps from shade into sun.
Care focus: targeted compost, mulch, and selective editing.
Shade-tolerant grasses and flowering plants soften the front courtyard around clear paths and seating.
Care focus: allow seed set, then mow selectively for height and structure.
Broadleaf evergreens, transplanted false cypress, shrubs, and groundcovers make the road edge more private.
Care focus: moisture-retentive soil and layered plant structure.
Pitch pine, scrub oak, low shrubs, and groundcovers create a regional plant community around gathering.
Care focus: protect the developing canopy and retain a usable understory.
Dry-site grasses, flowering forbs, and low shrubs make use of the soil already present.
Care focus: seasonal mowing, clear paths, and selective woody management.
Prioritize access, water movement, soil preparation in garden beds, and the tree and shrub structure that will create future shade.
Allow meadow plants to mature and set seed. Provide establishment care where needed, keep primary paths clear, and watch how new planting responds to the dry site.
Use seasonal mowing and selective editing to control height and woody growth. The front meadow can be managed differently from the larger southern habitat area.
Extend firm paths if access needs change. Edit garden planting, adjust shade and seating, and keep water access practical as the household and landscape evolve.
Zaviere Drumm · The Conway School · Fall 2025
Site inventory, landscape character, and existing spatial relationships.
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