Hello ~

Gosh, how time flies! This is my 100th post! Seems like yesterday when I first sat down at my desk to start this blog. I hope you have enjoyed all the antiques, collections, travel destinations, homes and gardens featured.

Speaking of gardens, I have a showstopping garden tour to share. Thanks a million to my good friend, fellow blogger and design colleague, Phyllis Higgerson of Henhurst Interiors, for this special guest post on style icon Bunny Williams’ magical garden in Connecticut. And for the giveaway – a signed copy of Bunny’s classic, top selling book: An Affair With A House.

Phyllis is a brilliant interior designer whose sophisticated work I greatly admire. Enjoy some of her projects on her website, blog and Instagram page – you won’t be disappointed!

Take it away, Phyllis!!

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Last weekend I had the pleasure of touring Bunny Williams’ Connecticut garden during one of The Garden Conservancy’s Open Days in Litchfield County. It was a perfect early summer morning and a joy to explore the varied gardens that surround the house as well as viewing some of the interiors. I came away with a lot of inspiration, and I am thrilled to be sharing here today at Tone on Tone.

The property features two formal gardens (a sunken garden with a lovely water feature and a boxwood parterre), an expansive cutting and vegetable garden complex with an extraordinary chicken coop, woodland trails complete with a cool, bubbling stream, a fruit tree orchard and a classically-inspired pool pavilion with a knock-out view. Let’s begin.

Currently blooming amid clipped evergreens and boxwood spheres in the sunken garden to the left of the house were loads of alliums.

A view across the small pool filled with koi and water lilies to a field cut with trails and dotted with birdhouses.

The terrace at the back of the house featuring potted boxwoods.

To the right of the house is the barn, a spot for entertaining guests or finding a quiet place to read.

Two things about Bunny Williams that became readily apparent during my tour: she is the consummate hostess and her dogs are truly part of the family. They are welcome everywhere and their comfort is always considered.

The guest room in the barn loft.

The parterre garden behind the barn. The structure on the left side of the photo is the conservatory attached to the back of the barn.

On one side of the parterre is a fence that has been allowed to weather grey and is underplanted with hostas. In the center of the two far boxwood beds are dwarf Koren lilacs; in the near beds are two Italian oil jars. One of Bunny’s beloved dogs in the lower left hand corner:

A hornbeam hedge forms a wall on the other side of the parterre. At the back is a rustic pergola covered in climbing roses.

The service barn at the vegetable and cutting garden:
An expansive green house over-winters exotic and tropical plants and the potted fig trees currently positioned around the garden.

An elegant compost receptacle:

Bunny mentioned the chickens are her husband’s passion. They certainly live in high style at the aviary.

The path to the pool house through the orchard of heirloom apple trees:

The pool house was inspired by an 18th-century French garden folly and built to the exact proportions of a classical Greek temple.

The building is also equipped for entertaining with a small kitchen and bar.

It is a magical spot.

Many thanks to our gracious hostess who warmly greeted visitors, made sure we saw everything, and spent time answering questions and signing copies of her books. Much more detail about the garden can be found in An Affair With A House. And many thanks to my dear friend, Loi, for welcoming me to contribute to Tone on Tone.

ABOVE: Bunny Williams

For more information on visiting Open Garden Days throughout the country visit the Garden Conservancy.

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Wasn’t that a lovely tour? Such incredible ornaments, structures and plantings! I love all the “outdoor rooms.” Many thanks, Phyllis!!

As mentioned, we have a signed copy of An Affair With A House to give away. Just leave a comment (one per person), and we’ll pick the lucky winner via Random.Org on July 8th at 8:00 PM Eastern time. The giveaway is open to all, and the book will be shipped free of charge.

Cheers,
Loi