Seven dry-stone terraces on a Charlotte hilltop.
An empty-nester couple, recently retired, wanted a garden they could ‘walk into’ rather than ‘look at from the deck.’ The hilltop site had a steep north-facing slope, dramatic Mt. Philo views, and an enthusiastic deer population. They asked for a meditation walk, fruit trees, and a place to read in the afternoon sun.
— The brief
What the clients wanted.
An empty-nester couple, recently retired, wanted a garden they could ‘walk into’ rather than ‘look at from the deck.’ The hilltop site had a steep north-facing slope, dramatic Mt. Philo views, and an enthusiastic deer population. They asked for a meditation walk, fruit trees, and a place to read in the afternoon sun.
The challenge.
The 30-degree slope was the main constraint — un-terraced, the property was unwalkable for half the year. Deer pressure required a stewardship strategy rather than a fence (the views were too important). Four-season interest mattered to clients who watch the garden through long Vermont winters.
— Project specs
— What we built
Project elements.
Seven terraces, each 18-24″ high, dry-laid in local fieldstone with daylighted French drains. A 60-foot meditation walk runs east-west across the upper terraces, paved in granite. Three fruit trees (apple, cherry, plum) at the top; mixed perennials and ornamental grasses throughout; a single cedar bench at the lowest terrace facing Mt. Philo. Deer-resistant plant palette throughout — natives, salvias, alliums, lavender.
Stone
Local Vermont fieldstone
Timber
Cedar arbor + benches
Location
Charlotte, VT
Year
2023
Duration
9 months
Scope
Master plan + Build
— How it came together
The Cairn & Cedar Method, this project.
Same Method as every project — site visit, design, quote, build.
Site visit
Two-hour walk with the architect. Light, slope, drainage, microclimate measured. We listen, you talk.
Design
Hand-drawn schematic, then full construction documents. Material specs, sections, footing detail.
Quote
Fixed-price proposal, line-itemed by trade. You see the math. Change orders signed before any change.
Build
Our in-house crew on site every working day. Architect at every milestone. Punch list closed before final invoice.
— The outcome
What happened after we finished.
— Project notes
Worth knowing about this project.
What was unique about this site?
The 30-degree slope was the main constraint — un-terraced, the property was unwalkable for half the year. Deer pressure required a stewardship strategy rather than a fence (the views were too important). Four-season interest mattered to clients who watch the garden through long Vermont winters.
What materials were specified?
Stone: Local Vermont fieldstone. Timber: Cedar arbor + benches. All sourced within 60 miles of the project.
How long did construction take?
9 months from first site visit to final cleanup. Construction phase varied based on the integrated disciplines.
What was the disciplines mix?
Master plan + Build
What’s the outcome two seasons later?
The clients spend more time outside than they did at their previous lakefront house. The walls have weathered through two winters with zero movement. Deer browsing is below 5% — the plant palette is doing the work a fence would have done.
Can we visit the project?
Some projects we can arrange property tours by appointment, with the owner’s permission. Ask during the site visit if a similar property is available to walk.