Date:  February 29, 2024  |   Story: Tiffany Adams  |   Photography: Rett Peek  |  

A small start leads to a full, flourishing garden at Chris H. Olsen’s getaway

“I’m just going to do azaleas and keep the yard simple.” That was the line that central Arkansas landscape designer Chris H. Olsen told himself when purchasing his rural retreat in Cabot. After completing the interiors (featured in the October 2023 issue of At Home in Arkansas), it seemed almost reflexive for him to turn his attention to the outdoors, a space that existed in the form of a bare country lawn when he signed the deed. “The idea for azaleas progressed to a cutting garden, and now here we are,” he says with a laugh.

The growth plan started with the biggest pieces of the puzzle first; Chris decided to add conifers around the home’s pre-existing gazebo for texture and evergreen color and also plant Japanese maples as a seasonal highlight. Next, he built a fountain and planted a side garden with numerous varieties that are perfect for cutting and using in arrangements. This area is as much of an interior focus as an exterior one. “I decided to create a focal garden here. When you stand indoors near the windows, you get the full essence of the landscape,” he says. Continuing on to the backyard, the newly constructed pool and lounge area are ideal for entertaining and often attract guests. “My nephew ended up building a home next door, so I put in the pool as a sort-of insurance policy that he and his future children will take care of me when I’m old because they want to swim,” Chris jokes.

While the entire outdoor living area is only a few years out from its initial installation, it appears full thanks to his philosophy of “shoving and cramming” in as many plants as possible. “I also mix in a lot of annuals for empty spaces during the first year of a garden, but over time I use less and less of them,” he says. The result is a colorful, peaceful setting that’s perfectly reflective of him and inviting for guests. “Life goes so fast,” Chris reflects, “so whatever you always wanted in your space, just do it and enjoy it. You don’t have to spend a lot of money, and you don’t need to be shy of color; all colors go together.”

Joy, Contained
The entry is lined with classic terracotta pots overflowing with flowers and greenery. “Everything planted in these was formerly a hanging basket; it’s so easy to just plop in,” Chris says of the eye-pleasing combinations that include geraniums, impatiens, red sister, coleus, and ferns. He notes his secret to full, continuous blooms is consistently fertilizing every two weeks.

“This garden is alive with color and texture­—there’s adventure around every corner.”
—Chris H. Olsen

Stepping Out
Chris updated the former brick and vinyl siding exterior with native stone, an earthy palette of paint, and posts created from cedar trees on the property. Stepping stones original to the home lead from the front porch to what is now the fountain and continue through the garden. “I like to add in ground cover with the stepping stones and don’t mind stepping over a plant or two as I walk through the garden,” Chris says. Here, he used creeping Jenny, sedum, and dichondra to connect the walkway. Geraniums, coleus, and impatiens add color along the borders.

Red dahlias bring height and early spring color to the garden and also make for excellent cut flowers.

Deer-proof coneflowers are a low-maintenance, self-seeding addition.

Impatiens, creeping Jenny and Ground Ivy, which is also known as Runaway Robin, are a vibrant mix.

Bi-color angelonia or summer snapdragons (foreground) mix with ‘Fireworks’ gomphrena to create a range of purple plantings.

Designed to be a focal point from the interior windows, the low-maintenance, concrete water feature has copper piping that gives a soothing sound.

Add Some Variety
“I have a mix-and-match philosophy. I mix all different colors and heights,” Chris says, pointing to the range of plant varieties and the palette of the garden. Zebra grass, ‘Midnight Model’ salvia, purple coneflowers, lime coleus, golden creeping Jenny, and dahlias are just a few of the selections growing together here. “Everything is designed to grow at will. It’s untamed but organized,” he says, adding that rows of boxwoods around the perimeter keep everything in bounds. An existing vinyl gazebo was updated with a matte paint color that gives the look of wood. “I like to sit here to eat breakfast in the morning and then come out again in the evening with a glass of wine,” Chris says.

Gathering Grounds
During the renovation, French doors were added across the back of the home along with a spacious deck that leads to the pool. The space is divided into separate areas for dining and conversation with a palette of bright blue adding a cheerful flair. While the gliders are new, Chris says they are meant to bring a “vintage vibe” to the space. A long, raised planter, purchased from Jenifer’s Antiques in Conway, further defines the area, separating the deck from the pool. “It’s a true living railing,” Chris says of the find.

Ready for a Splash
Chris notes the pool is built on a retaining wall for two reasons: First, the design simulates a cow trough that would be authentic to the setting, and, secondly, it helps to keep wild animals out of the water. Native gray flagstone gives a natural look on the surround, and steps that span the width of the pool create a grand entrance and offer plenty of seating. While Botanica Gardens is known for landscape design, Chris notes he and the team “love to design and concept pools for clients.”

Design Resources
Landscape and pool design Chris H. Olsen, Botanica Gardens Landscape accessories, outdoor furnishings, and plantings Botanica Gardens