Orcutt Garden

Ithaca, NY 

Dianne and Jim Orcutt have developed their suburban lot into a series of garden rooms that make their property feel much larger than it is. Plantings in front of the house and adjacent to the driveway consist of trees, shrubs, ground covers, ornamental grasses and perennials and are chosen for their low appeal to deer, as these areas are not fenced and deer pressure is high in this part of Tompkins County. Inside the fenced area lush, colorful perennials gardens completely surround the pool, and the deck is planted with large containers. A woodland garden next to the pool is planted with a textural mix of shade-tolerant perennials. This garden is a great example of how to transform a level, rectangular lot into an interesting, colorful and varied series of gardens, some of which are deer-resistant.

NOTE: This garden was featured on an Open Days Garden Tour and is not open to the public at other times.

Last updated October 15, 2022