In Jan and Lane Savage’s garden oasis, the calendar brings into focus an ever-changing showcase of flora. Terraces leveled from the slopes of the mountainside property create a living amphitheater of sorts, where the radiant performers include peonies, roses, and dahlias. The burbling of a fountain lends a melodic quality to the scene, and bright, nectar-rich plants encourage bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds to flit among the petals.
The garden is luminous in the early morning and just before sunset, especially when blooms are at their peak through midsummer. “The combination of fading light and brilliant color,” Jan says, “is really something to behold.”
Lane purchased the statue of Saint Francis of Assisi, pictured above, which takes pride of place beneath the window of his wife’s sewing room.
Above: Wooden steps, a gravel walkway, and a path of stepping stones bid guests explore the tranquil retreat.
Easygoing calibrachoa, shown above—also known by the name Million Bells—finds favor for its petunia-like blossoms, long blooming season, and tendency to sprawl.
Text Melissa Lester
To discover more floral beauty, see “The Summer Sanctuary” on page 65 of the Flowers and Gardens 2017 special issue from Victoria Classics.