The Gardens

Fred and Joan are avid gardeners and because of their theatrical background, their gardens tend to be a little dramatic. There is a surprise around every corner. Fred's theory to establishing gardens is the following; "when you mow with a lawn tractor, any place you cannot reach with the mower easily becomes a flower garden". There are no untouched areas of their 1.7 acres. As with the development of the house, their gardens are ever changing and evolving.

As a set and lighting designer, Fred has spent much of his professional career designing theatrical productions, coporate theatre, and special events. So he sees his home as just another set, only this one is living. The topiary garden is another expression of bringing theatre and art to life. Most of the topiaries are Eastern Red Cedar which are either dug up from the woods, or left to grow where they volunteer. Many other topiaries are euyonomus, holly, privot, and azaleas. As the plants begins its' life, it sort of says to Fred what it wants to be; a spiral, a ball, an animal, or an archectural element. He trims them about 3 times a year. The oldest are 12 years old while new ones are started every year.

Fred has always had some sort of greenhouse. His real love is for tropical plants. When he had his business in Richmond, Va. he began to collect ficus trees and other tropical foliage to use with his decorating of parties. He kept all of these plants and brought them with him to Roanoke Island where they have found their home in the conservatory. Most of the plants were planted in the ground, but a few couldn't wait and they just jumped out of their pots and into the ground. The conservatory also houses in winter the many tropical bloomers that are featured in the courtyard.

When they moved to the Outer Banks, Fred and Joan had wanted to live on the beach, but that was too expensive, too populated, and too dangerous in hurricanes. So instead, they were able to find a very large lot in the middle of Roanoke Island. But it had no beach! That is when they brought in their "sandune" which is the backdrop of a large Koi pond. Here they have cactus, Fred loves prickly plants, palm trees, agaves, and ornamental grasses.

One of the latest areas to be worked on is the courtyard. This garden will become one of the most used areas around the house. During hot summer days a splash in the small pool is refreshing. In the evening dinner can be served in the Comedor (Spanish for covered outdoor eating area). The vision for this was one of Fred's first, but it had to wait till all of the stucco walls were finished. Joan has been making the some 500 brick pavers that will cover the small pea stone.  One can sit here even on cold days when the sun heats up all the stone. The spiral staircase leads up to the hotub on the pumphouse roof, a great place to watch the stars at night.

The east side of the property was an over-grown woods. After a few years of clearing, Fred was able to start his shade garden. Here he grows some 40 kinds of hostas and adds color with some 200 hydranga he has propogated. To make walking easier, a brick walkway was laid, and small bridges were constructed over some dry rock beds.

On the west side of the home is the look that the Brumbach's like perhaps the best. "We really like the desert landscaping of Arizona". To that end, they have brought in over 50 tons of rock of various sizes. And again the prickly plants prevail with the agave. These plants are about 8 years old and they should soon bloom. this event is very impressive with bloom towers of some 20'. Also there are many Oleanders on the property, a staple of the Outer Banks.