Some gardens have a story to tell, and some are so highly personal that they are extensions of those who create them. Other gardens seem to work in concert with Mother Nature, where the human hand takes a back seat to the seasonal symphonies she chooses to orchestrate. Rarely, though, do all three types converge into one garden space. Such is a garden called MapleWalk, created by Lib Jones and Tom Nunnenkamp. MapleWalk, in suburban Charlotte, North Carolina, weaves together unspoiled woodland beauty, an outstanding collection of trees and shrubs, and a bit of whimsy.

I visited MapleWalk recently on a crisp fall day. The low autumnal sun backlit the Japanese maples in an almost mystical way. Tom and Lib shared their story — one of romance, love of the land and passion for creating a beautiful space. The story was as interesting as the garden itself.

Let’s take a tour of MapleWalk. Jay Sifford Garden Design Tom and Lib bought their house in 1990. In true gardener fashion, they shopped for a yard with garden potential; a suitable house was second priority. They admit that they were typical Southern gardeners, growing azaleas and boxwood outdoors and African violets indoors. Even today, MapleWalk subtly shows its Southern charm, with an outstanding collection of camellias, azaleas and crape myrtles. But MapleWalk is so much more. Jay Sifford Garden Design The garden covers two and a quarter acres, previously three separate parcels. The second parcel became a study in patience as the previous owner held out for several years before agreeing to sell. The third parcel contained a home and was purchased for Lib’s late father. Today the home is rented with the understanding that Tom and Lib have free rein in the garden.

The second parcel, shown here, was completely covered in wisteria and poison ivy when purchased. Tom and Lib meticulously removed the vines over many weekends. They discovered piles of construction rubble underneath.

They removed more than 100 trees, had the remaining canopy raised to introduce more light, and brought in more than 40 tons of boulders. They discovered a 28-foot grade change from front to back.

Then they planted their garden. Jay Sifford Garden Design Tom and Lib received this Japanese maple (Acer palmatum dissectum ‘Red Dragon’, zones 5 to 8) as a wedding gift. Here the magic begins.

The tree still resides in their front yard. Several years ago a large limb fell across it during a storm, effectively breaking the tree in half. Tom took this as an opportunity to delve into the art of pruning. To this day, Lib refers to her husband as “The Happy Pruner.” Tom admits that, in his mind, good form takes precedence over color.

MapleWalk is home to 92 different Japanese maple cultivars as well as more than 50 conifers, 27 types of dogwoods and nine varieties of redbuds. Jay Sifford Garden Design The hosta path, near the entrance to the garden, boasts spectacular views overlooking the ravine. It was a treat to see a garden that celebrates the layers of woodland canopy and understory. Jay Sifford Garden Design This little guy clings to the handrail made of tree branches. He is a testament to the subtle whimsy of MapleWalk and its owners. Jay Sifford Garden Design Frequently the true beauty of a garden is found in its serendipitous details. Here autumn flashes its fleeting beauty in this composition of club moss (Selaginella kraussiana, zones 6 to 10) and full-moon maple (Acer japonicum acontifolium ‘Dancing Peacock’, zones 5 to 8). Jay Sifford Garden Design These gardeners also use brightly colored pottery to best advantage. This pot holds a weeping Ryusen maple and makes a perfect backdrop for another. Jay Sifford Garden Design The clear autumn sky creates a perfect foil for this big-leaf magnolia (Magnolia macrophylla, zones 5 to 8), which can boast leaves over 30 inches long. Jay Sifford Garden Design Another unique tree found on site is this false larch (Pseudolarix amabilis, zones 4 to 8). This deciduous conifer boasts spectacular fall color and texture. The foliage conjures up images of holiday fireworks. Jay Sifford Garden Design Lib says that one thing she most anticipates in autumn is her ‘Welch’s Pink’ beautyberry (Callicarpa americana ‘Welch’s Pink’, zones 6 to 8). This rare cultivar of the typical purple-fruited beautyberry is worth the wait. Jay Sifford Garden Design Almost every quintessential Southern garden is home to camellias. Tom is experimenting with training certain camellias for use as ground cover. He explains that some cultivars such as this fall-blooming Camellia sasanqua ‘Chansonette’ (zones 7 to 10) grow more laterally than vertically. The new growth can be pinned to the ground until it matures, providing a unique new use for this traditional Southern favorite. Jay Sifford Garden Design No true Southern garden would be complete without a crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia sp and cvs, zones 6 to 10). This specimen caught my eye as it seemed to harness and glow with the afternoon sunlight.

More about growing crape myrtles Tom and Lib feel privileged to call MapleWalk home. They are actively planning to make it a perpetual garden by creating a foundation to oversee its future. Such a tranquil garden in the midst of a metropolitan area earns its place as a respite from the frantic pace of modern life.