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Stylishly Sensitive Landscape

HARDSCAPE CONSTRUCTION & DESIGN: EARTH & STONE
LANDSCAPING: PRINCI AND SON DETAILED LANDSCAPING
TEXT: MATTEAU LEDUC
PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY: GEORGE PEET

Owners and business partners Jim Martin of JF Martin Real Estate and Richard Pashoian took one look at the property on the corner of 22 Highland St. in West Yarmouth and immediately saw its hidden potential. The property sits in Hyannis Park, an established seaside community, whose history can be traced back to the late 1800s.

Knowing it wouldn’t stay on the market long, they had to act quickly. So they bought it the first day it was listed on the Multiple Listing Service for $425,000.

Martin and Pachione tore down the existing 1918 two-bedroom, one-bathroom home on the property and built a 3,100-square-foot three-bedroom, three-bathroom spec home with views of Lewis Bay and Nantucket Sound. All of this required a new septic system and landscaping.

“We were aware of the potential problems and knew it would be a challenge, especially on the landscaping end,” says Martin, “but we also knew the potential.”

The back half of the property abuts a wetland. Although extremely picturesque, with the summer breeze gently blowing the new crop of cattails—the perfect backdrop for watching the seasons change and wildlife interact in its natural habitat—such a fragile eco-system presents a slew of design/build challenges and a whole set of state and local codes to be met.

One stipulation that was called for by the Yarmouth Conservation Commission was to replace the existing cesspool-type septic system with what is referred to as an “innovative and alternative system.”

To solve these landscaping challenges, Martin and Pachione hired Mike Takach, owner of Earth & Stone in Harwich. Earth & Stone did all of the site work, including demolition of the original home, installation of the septic system and all hardscaping, including stone walls and an outdoor patio.

“Because we did the initial demo on the home,” Takach says, “we had an idea of what we would be up against.”

Demolition of the existing structure and installation of the new septic system came first. To meet the conservation commission’s requirement, the owners chose a Singulair system, designed to treat biologically all incoming wastewater and return only high-quality effluent back to the environment. The effluent released back into the ground is purportedly 99.95 percent free of any toxins or pathogens, far greater than most Title V systems. It essentially acts as a mini wastewater treatment facility, using oxygenation and UV light technology to treat the wastewater. This system does come at a cost, though—nearly four times more than a standard septic installation.

Then came the hardscaping.

Two design challenges Takach had to meet were to build a walkway up to the front door’s new loftier elevation and to create a terrace, which would allow for views of Lewis Bay. “When we built the outdoor patio,” Takach points out, “we wanted to design something with low walls so that you could get the full aspect of those views, but we still had to make sure it was safe and met the local building codes.”

For the planting, Takach tapped Brendan Princi of Princi and Son Detailed Landscaping of Dennisport. Princi’s approach was to blend a natural Cape Cod oceanside feel with that of a more formal look to complement the new home’s refined lines. He achieved the beachy look by using ornamental grasses and the more elegant feel by using strategically placed centerpiece trees, such as a weeping Japanese maple and a weeping cherry, along with low-growing privet. He also added two potted spiraling dwarf Alberta Spruce topiaries to the front entry.

“This wasn’t your typical ‘beach house’ on Cape Cod,” Princi says. “It was really more formal; therefore, my vision for this particular project was to blend the beachy Cape Cod setting with the newer, more formal look of the house.”

To hide where the new septic breaches the ground’s surface, he used carpet juniper. To complement the stone walls, he chose a Silver King euonymus, which has two-toned yellow and white foliage and can be maintained as a ground cover.

Princi also took notice that the home abuts a picturesque wetland, home to many different species of wildlife and seaside birds throughout the year. “For that I planted some Japanese holly. Not only does it look great in the winter, but it produces berries that will attract all the birds around here, really making this new home feel even more connected to its surrounding areas.”

Princi chose plants for seasonal interest, as well. “I wanted to make sure there was always something blooming throughout the year,” he says. Lavender PJM Rhododendrons were planted for early spring bloom, for example, spirea and daylilies for mid-summer bloom, sedum for fall and Gold Thread cypress for year-round interest.

For the lawn, Princi used sod. “We were afraid that being by the ocean the seed wouldn’t take correctly due to all the wind. Someone else in a different area could probably get away without sod and keep their cost down.”

He estimates the sod and plantings cost about $15,000.

The entire landscaping project, including hardscape, took four weeks to complete. The owners are pleased with the results. “Mike did such a great job with the stonework,” Martin says. “It looks as though the house has always been there.”

Project overview
Budget: $75,000

• Demolish and remove existing structure
• Clear the lot
• Install new septic system
• Build stone walls, walkways, patio,
driveway and front parking area
• Create new landscape with grass
and plantings
• Abide by wetlands laws

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