This Orleans property offered the perfect opportunity to blend utility with natural beauty. We began by harvesting black locust logs directly from the land—an incredibly rot-resistant wood known as “stonewood.” After shaving the bark to prevent future suckering, we used a string line to outline the garden perimeter and guide the placement of the irregular, naturally shaped posts.
The homeowner wanted to keep the character of the logs intact, so we preserved the Y-shaped branches to allow for seasonal decorations and personal touches. Once the posts were set, we installed 40-inch deer fencing for above-ground protection and buried 12-inch vole fencing to guard from below.
To finish it off, we shaped clean growing rows, laid drip line irrigation, and left the garden ready for planting — secure, functional, and full of rustic charm.