Six years ago this garden in Massachusetts was a neglected landscape overrun with invasives like poison ivy, bittersweet and euonymus. However, a couple with a 2-year-old son and a dog saw past the tangled yard, drawn to the property's woodland setting as well as the town of Belmont Hill's proximity to Boston.

Soon after buying the home, they called upon landscape architect Matthew Cunningham, who had a vision of a main entry path through a colorful front yard perennial garden and a serene backyard woodland garden. "My clients wanted a rural feel with contemporary elements that would contrast with the simple and elegant traditional lines of the house," says Cunningham. They also wished for low-maintenance, drought-tolerant, critter-resistant and colorful plants in the front. Matthew Cunningham Landscape Design LLC Sneak peek! Salvia, miscanthus and peonies combine warm and cool colors. Matthew Cunningham Landscape Design LLC "As soon as I saw the house, I had a vision of a perennial garden with a walkway path slicing through it," says Cunningham. The front yard enjoys full sun for most of the day, which creates a perfect microclimate for these plants. Matthew Cunningham Landscape Design LLC At the end of the entry path, a breezeway connects the main house to the garage and serves as the main threshold into the home. The back side of the breezeway is all glass and enjoys views of the backyard.

Two large pots of miscanthus flank the front door. "We play around with the plants in these containers seasonally ... we've also used large boxwoods and fuchsia to add color, texture and height next to the door," says Cunningham. "The garden is always evolving." Matthew Cunningham Landscape Design LLC The mounded forms and spires of the perennials, ornamental grasses and inkberry contrast with the boxy shape of the house.

"The plantings are seasonal," explains Cunningham. Waves of color from different plants bloom throughout the season, while glossy and silvery leaves provide contrast for most of the year. The plant selection includes Russian sage, giant alliums, salvia and white peonies. Matthew Cunningham Landscape Design LLC Catmint and geranium rozanne add ever-blooming color down the front walkway throughout the summer.

The walkway and the driveway are made of Chip and Seal, which has an asphalt base, then a layer of liquified tar topped with a layer of embedded crushed pea stones. This gives the look of stones without the scatter caused by shoveling and plowing in the winter. Matthew Cunningham Landscape Design LLC Purple coneflowers, Russian sage and ornamental grasses bloom through July and August. Matthew Cunningham Landscape Design LLC Astilbes, geraniums and caramel coral bells show the wide variety of color and texture in the blooms and their foliage. Matthew Cunningham Landscape Design LLC "The established canopy in the backyard means that it enjoys dappled shade all day long," says Cunningham. In contrast to the explosion of color out front, the backyard takes its cues from its serene woodland setting. Plants like mountain laurel and ferns add to the softness and lush green surroundings. Matthew Cunningham Landscape Design LLC Large elements of the backyard's new design include this dining terrace and a lawn terrace, created by dry laid stone retaining walls.

"In the backyard, we used the brick to create texture and patterns that were not too loud," says Cunningham. While the house has a running bond-brick pattern, the bricks in the backyard were turned on edge to create contrast and tone down the busyness of the patterns. Matthew Cunningham Landscape Design LLC "I used manganese iron spot brick for the backyard. I love these particular bricks because they take on different colors," Cunningham says. "In the morning, they have a rich mahogany color, while in the afternoon they give off iridescent purplish blue hues." Matthew Cunningham Landscape Design LLC Beneath the dining terrace is a lawn terrace that overlooks the surrounding woodland. No mortar was used in building these walls, and Cunningham raves about the landscape construction company that completed the renovation, Gardenform. Matthew Cunningham Landscape Design LLC A hand-crafted stone stairway connects both of the terraces to the rest of the yard. "The clients really wanted to use a local stone," says Cunningham. Thus, he found this Goshen stone, a granite from a nearby quarry.

Pops of purple from catmint and allium tie the back garden to the front. Matthew Cunningham Landscape Design LLC The terracing and use of stone walls provides crisp changes in grade. Matthew Cunningham Landscape Design LLC "The garden's geometry pulls from the house and channels views to special plants and areas on the property," explains Cunningham.These horizontal bands of brick slice through an herb garden. "The voids between the bricks contain creeping thyme, culinary thyme, rosemary and chives ... the kind of plants that are aromatic underfoot," says Cunningham. Matthew Cunningham Landscape Design LLC A narrow gravel walkway through the herb garden channels the view to a grove of existing paper birch trees. "These beautiful trees serve as living sculptures," notes Cunningham. Matthew Cunningham Landscape Design LLC Carefully placed punches of color in the foreground have a dark forested backdrop provided by conservation woodlands. Matthew Cunningham Landscape Design LLC Sedona, chief critter of the backyard, loves to hang out in this beautiful landscape, and apparently likes to match his Pucci-esque accessories to the perennials. Matthew Cunningham Landscape Design LLC This home's landscape continues to evolve, and Cunningham is currently trying to establish grass on the boccie court. Here's a glimpse at the plan to help you place all of the photographs into their greater context.

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