Tucked just outside of Charlottesville, Virginia, the 2025 Southern Living Idea House landscape reflects the thoughtful balance of Southern tradition and modern homestead living. Set on a peaceful five-acre property and designed by Waterstreet Studio, the gardens are shaped by clean lines, purposeful planting, and a deep connection to place. From formal parterres to edible borders, the design honors time-tested garden elements while embracing a fresh, functional approach to outdoor life.
Throughout the grounds, Southern Living Plant Collection selections are used to define space, soften edges, and add lasting beauty with minimal maintenance. This philosophy extends into the Herb and Kitchen Garden, where structure and style meet in a space designed for everyday use.
Inspired by the layout of a traditional French potager, this kitchen garden blends edible plants, herbs, and flowering perennials into a colorful, productive space that feels as refined as it is practical.
A hedge of blueberries lines one edge of the garden, offering seasonal interest, from spring blossoms to summer fruit and vibrant fall foliage. In each of the garden’s four quadrants, willow trellises from Monticello’s Garden Shop add vertical structure and support fast-growing, DownHome Harvest® ‘Osage’ Thornless Blackberries, bringing height, shade, and harvest. At ground level, low-growing plants like Blue-eyed Grass, Blue Star, and Alpine Strawberry soften the garden’s edges and invite pollinators. Encircling the beds, a border of Chef’s Choice® Culinary Rosemary offers evergreen structure and culinary value. With its compact growth and fragrant foliage, it provides both visual definition and practical use, making it the ideal frame for a rotating mix of herbs and edibles.
This kitchen garden is more than ornamental; it’s a working part of the landscape designed for gathering, harvesting, and enjoying the simple beauty of growing your own.
