Gardens

Inside a Chesapeake Bay Garden

Explore the gardens of this Maryland estate
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A corner of the vegetable garden on Chip and Sally Akridge’s sprawling estate near Oxford, Maryland.

A corner of the vegetable garden on Chip and Sally Akridge’s sprawling estate near Oxford, Maryland.

Photo: Patricia Lyons

A path to the European-inspired stumpery garden.

A path to the European-inspired stumpery garden.

Photo: Patricia Lyons

The stumpery garden is filled with upended tree stumps, their exposed roots gnarled around cascades of ferns, hellebore, and primrose.

The stumpery garden is filled with upended tree stumps, their exposed roots gnarled around cascades of ferns, hellebore, and primrose.

Photo: Patricia Lyons

The estate’s pool pergola.

The estate’s pool pergola.

Photo: Patricia Lyons

A water view from the main house.

A water view from the main house.

Photo: Patricia Lyons

Chip and Sally Akridge.

Chip and Sally Akridge.

Photo: Patricia Lyons

Bliss, one of the Akridges’ Labs, keeps watch.

Bliss, one of the Akridges’ Labs, keeps watch.

Photo: Patricia Lyons

The main house.

The main house.

Photo: Patricia Lyons

Paths link green spaces.

Paths link green spaces.

Photo: Patricia Lyons

The Akridges at work in the kitchen garden.

The Akridges at work in the kitchen garden.

Photo: Patricia Lyons

The lush cutting garden.

The lush cutting garden.

Photo: Patricia Lyons

A winding, well-tended path leads to the stumpery.

A winding, well-tended path leads to the stumpery.

Photo: Patricia Lyons

Under Sally’s direction, the beds are now filled with hostas, bearded iris, roses, tree peonies, and ornamental onions.

Under Sally’s direction, the beds are now filled with hostas, bearded iris, roses, tree peonies, and ornamental onions.

Photo: Patricia Lyons

Chives in the garden.

Chives in the garden.

Photo: Patricia Lyons

Ornamental onions.

Ornamental onions.

Photo: Patricia Lyons

The Akridges have returned two-thirds of the commercial agricultural acreage they’ve acquired back into wildlife habitat.

The Akridges have returned two-thirds of the commercial agricultural acreage they’ve acquired back into wildlife habitat.

Photo: Patricia Lyons

“We like to honor those who were here before us, because we are just the custodians for a while.”—Sally Akridge

“We like to honor those who were here before us, because we are just the custodians for a while.”—Sally Akridge

Photo: Patricia Lyons

Starting uphill and sloping toward the water, twenty-nine raised beds sprout strawberries, rhubarb, sweet peas, carrots, collards, okra, heirloom tomatoes, potatoes, and Chip’s favorite—popping corn.

Starting uphill and sloping toward the water, twenty-nine raised beds sprout strawberries, rhubarb, sweet peas, carrots, collards, okra, heirloom tomatoes, potatoes, and Chip’s favorite—popping corn.

Photo: Patricia Lyons

A half-mile straight entrance drive is tightly flanked in spring by a sea of daffodils originally planted by a 1885—1928 mistress of the house who was also the founder of the local garden club.

A half-mile straight entrance drive is tightly flanked in spring by a sea of daffodils originally planted by a 1885—1928 mistress of the house who was also the founder of the local garden club.

Photo: Patricia Lyons

The estate grew as the Akridges acquired surrounding agricultural parcels that had been destined for high-density residential development.

The estate grew as the Akridges acquired surrounding agricultural parcels that had been destined for high-density residential development.

Photo: Patricia Lyons

A turn-of-the-century resident of the property designed the 80′ x 50′ English-style formal garden, complete with redbrick enclosure.

A turn-of-the-century resident of the property designed the 80′ x 50′ English-style formal garden, complete with redbrick enclosure.

Photo: Patricia Lyons

Photo: Patricia Lyons

Photo: Patricia Lyons

Photo: Patricia Lyons

Photo: Patricia Lyons