SOFT AS A BREEZE

Inspired by the Cape Cod surroundings, a landscape designer creates a serene garden reminiscent of the dunes.

- LAURA FENTON photos KYLE J. CALDWELL

The front yard of this home in Provincetown, MA, features a wooden path to the front door that almost appears to float. "It's a reference to the dunes of Cape Cod, where you have a lot of boardwalks that keep people from trampling on native vegetation," landscape designer Marissa Angell says. "At the same time, it brings you a little bit closer to the plants that surround you."

The first time landscape designer Marissa Angell consulted with homeowners Scott Sanders and Brad Lamm on their Cape Cod garden, she suggested a field trip.

From the street, a low fence with roses pushing their way through the slats, above, is an invitation for passersby to take a look at the garden. The 'New Dawn' climbing roses thrive in the coastal climate. Angell, right, used locally sourced gravel on top of wood mulch to suppress weeds and prevent evaporation for a natural and modern look.

“Scott and Brad like a lot of softer colors and gentle plants that are reminiscent of the coast,” Angell says. So they headed to the nearby dunes for inspiration, where a vision quickly took root.