Stern
Linda and Bill Stern
2134 Bermuda Hills Road
Linda Stern envisioned her front garden as an interplay of shades of green. What at first may sound prosaic becomes poetic as she brings her background in design to one of the prettiest landscapes with a golf course view. We strongly suspect that the hue of her thumb blends well with her choice of colors.
The Persian ivy around the front façade may look familiar. Linda grew it from a “mother” plant at the Governor’s Mansion. That the many Japanese maples find the Stern home a hospitable place is clear from the volunteers that pop up through the ivy. Linda plants these small trees in her own yard or gives them to fortunate friends.
As you walk around the house, you’ll see a bed of Louisiana iris from Linda’s grandmother’s garden in Mississippi and the collection of antique rose bushes continues the historic feel of this area. Notice the clever use of patterned squares in the grass....they cover the footprint of a room that was removed when the Sterns renovated the house.
A beautifully planted fountain area leads your eye to the expanse of the golf course beyond. The small garden that seems to sit on the course now was planted by the Sterns before the fence was installed. The homeowners still maintain it and it becomes a gift of beauty to the community.
Before you follow the green and white of the Sasanqua camellia and fern plantings along the side stairs, take time to wander the pathways in the garden near the tennis courts beyond the wall. This could be a park that any neighborhood would covet and it’s the site of many family sporting events when the Stern children are at home. Underlying the obvious beauty of this setting is the conviction that this is first and foremost a family home.
On the house side of the wall is the “Second Chance Nursery” where Linda gives stubborn and ailing plants an opportunity to measure up to her standards. It’s difficult to believe that this is not behavior modification at its best. What plant in its right mind would not want to be part of this beautiful landscape!
