In Mattapoisett, garden gazing is as much a rite of summer as tootling around the harbor in boats.
Deanne Girouard is the epitome of a seaside gardener. Around her home in the heart of Mattapoisett Village, her passion for gardening has blossomed into breathtaking borders and colorful beds that stop passersby in their tracks. Whenever I walk by her charming home with its wide front porch and classic white picket fence, my eyes are drawn instinctively to the garden beyond.
More often than not, Deanne is right there among the flowers – weeding, planting, deadheading, tending to the ever-changing tapestry she has created. It’s clear this garden is more than a hobby; it’s a labor of love. Or, as Deanne says with a smile, “It’s my happy place.”
I had the chance to explore Deanne’s garden last week, and as you might expect, there’s far more to it than what passersby see from the street. Talking with a dedicated gardener is as much about the journey as the destination. Their fascination lies not only in the finished landscape but also in the process of creating it. In the end, you learn as much about the gardener as you do about the garden.
We began in the backyard, where a row of Persicaria polymorpha, commonly known as giant fleece flower, caught my eye. The towering, eight-foot plants, topped with airy white plumes, form a dramatic backdrop to an island bed. Deanne explained that the entire hedge grew from a single $10 plant she purchased years ago from Avant Gardens. Through root cuttings, that one plant multiplied into the impressive drift that now anchors the garden.
As we scanned the back perimeter of the property, it became clear that some of Deanne’s earliest gardening efforts were devoted to creating privacy. A row of towering trees now forms a living screen, including a striking Himalayan variegated pine whose blue-green needles are tipped with soft yellow, making it a nice accent tree. “It’s beautiful in winter with the snow,” Deanne said.
“I planted the Leyland cypress myself,” she added. “I have my own ecosystem back here. It’s cooler.”
Other standouts include a handsome Carolina allspice that has grown to nearly twice its advertised eight-foot height and an ‘Elizabeth’ magnolia that has been outwitted by squirrels every spring.
“They eat the buds like corn dogs,” Deanne laughed. “I’ve yet to see it in full bloom!”
Perhaps one reason the plants thrive so well is the foundation beneath them. Deanne enriched the beds with farm soil from Westport and continues to feed them with composted manure. Like any well-loved garden, this one is constantly evolving. Plants are regularly moved to better suit the landscape and the changing needs of the property, which over the years has been enjoyed by her children and grandchildren and, for many years, welcomed guests as an inn.
One of the first flowers to catch my eye was crocosmia, basking in the sunshine beside a statue of “Mimi the Mermaid,” a whimsical figure that reminded me of Copenhagen’s famed Little Mermaid. Deanne describes crocosmia as a delicate version of Bird of Paradise, and its fiery blooms certainly have a tropical flair.
The bed is a magnet for hummingbirds and butterflies. White and magenta rose campion mingle with bold sweeps of garden loosestrife (Lysimachia) and cheerful black-eyed Susans, while the fans of spent iris foliage provide structure. At their feet, a carpet of spurge and sedum ties the planting together.
When designing this island bed, Deanne wanted bold, tall plantings that would stand out when viewed from the back porch and the house. The task wasn’t easy. The area was riddled with tree roots, making every planting hole a challenge.
Across the lawn, a lush garden embraces the expansive back porch and fans out from the stone patio, where comfortable chairs invite visitors to sit and take in the view. Pots overflowing with vibrant chartreuse foliage and upright rosemary soften the patio before giving way to deeply layered borders of shrubs, yellow daylilies, herbs, and perennials. The plantings blur the line between the stone terrace and the lawn, making the transition feel effortless.
Overhead, hanging baskets spill with cascading orange begonias, while the property’s signature swordfish sign – a nod to its years as a bed-and-breakfast – provides a touch of nostalgia. Nearby, a bucket, spade, an array of homegrown seedlings awaiting planting and other gardening tools rest where they were last used, a quiet reminder that a beautiful garden is never truly finished.
Everywhere you look, there is something to admire – climbing roses, fragrant herbs, colorful containers, and beautifully planted window boxes. Among Deanne’s many talents is her gift for creating window boxes that are works of art. One, tucked beneath a painting of poppies, echoes the artwork above with a lush tapestry of foliage and delicate blooms. Coleus, polka dot plant (Hypoestes phyllostachya), and creeping fig spill gracefully over the rim of the white planter.
The entire garden feels relaxed and welcoming, made even more inviting by the soundtrack of ’70s music drifting through the air.
Like any devoted gardener, Deanne propagates many of her own plants and carefully saves seeds, storing them in a cool, dark place for future seasons. She takes a practical approach to her roses, too. “I feed them when I think of it,” she laughs.
The front garden is the one that captures the attention of passersby – a joyful cottage garden overflowing with color and texture. Hollyhocks, delphiniums, yarrow, Shasta daisies, balloon flowers, nepeta, zinnias, peonies, dahlias, sedum, and cosmos fill the beds, all following a succession of spring bulbs and early bloomers.
“Every week I try to have something blooming,” Deanne says, noting that she cultivates the soil every two days to keep it loose, encourage worms, and help with irrigation.
The sun-drenched window boxes are impossible to overlook. Overflowing with colorful annuals and cascading greenery, they frame the house with the same exuberance found throughout the garden. Deanne was especially delighted by one standout plant: a chocolate-scented cosmos with deep maroon blooms. “Magic!” I exclaimed, making sure to put it on my shopping list. Just beyond the spacious front porch, a narrow ribbon of lawn is bordered on both sides by lush perennial beds, creating an inviting approach and a garden that celebrates the entire growing season.
A garden often reveals as much about the person tending it as it does about the plants themselves. After exploring Deanne’s garden, I asked her to share the experiences, influences, and inspirations that shaped her journey as a gardener:
Who influenced you as a gardener?: “I’ve loved planting flower seeds (nasturtiums and zinnias) since I was a small child and rescuing my mom’s failing African violets and coleus, treating them in my plant ‘hospital.’ I learned about plants from my parents, especially my father, who had a huge organic vegetable garden that we worked in together.
Flower gardening inspiration came from our beloved neighbor, Edith Healy. She was like a grandmother to me. She had a beautiful perennial flower garden perfected to ensure constant color. I never left her home without a bouquet. She instructed me to pick stem by stem, teaching me the names of each perennial. She had a beautiful ‘wall’ of hollyhocks lining the walkway to her back entry, perpetually loaded with bumble bees.”
Favorite season to garden?:”Definitely spring! Plants are waking up and it’s cool weather for cleaning out beds and transplanting.”
Advice for novice gardeners?:”Visit many nurseries, talk to fellow gardeners, and read gardening books. During the winter months, enjoying the plethora of excellent gardening books helps inspire you to be creative with your garden planning.”
What inspires your window boxes?:”The first decision I make is coming up with my color scheme. Last year’s color scheme I took from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. This year’s color palette came from a floral outdoor mat I purchased at Ocean State Job Lot!
Secondly, I visit my favorite nurseries early and scout out the plants that interest me. I sketch out how I want the plants arranged based on color contrast, differing textures, and growing habits. Deep and wide window boxes are needed. I mix in a bit of Osmocote and snugly plant the selection. I use 12–14 plants per my ‘extra large’ window boxes. I have eight boxes in total, and four are designed differently because of light or shade needs.”
What does gardening do for you?:”It’s the old cliché… It’s my happy place.
I love being outdoors no matter the weather, listening to the birds, with my cat Daisy nearby and always my music playing. If I’m working in the front gardens, I enjoy talking to people passing by, but mostly it’s a time of solitude. Good for the soul, I think. I feel so vividly alive.”
“Earth laughs in flowers.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson.
The Seaside Gardener
By Laura McLean