From small planters and pots to full gardens, Christopher Stauffer of Pemberley Garden Revival has become a hidden gardening gem for Old Town homeowners.During the pandemic quarantine, Christopher found his passion for gardening. Seeing his work around town and the community support sealed his purpose. Pemberley's business name is an ode to Mr. Darcy's estate from Pride & Prejudice, one of Christopher's favorite books. Adding "Garden Revival" captures the business simply. Many of Old Town's homes have good bones that just need to be revived, styled, and brought back to life! Pemberley not only consults with clients and coordinates vendor costs, but also manages the projects, designs the gardens, and completes the project himself. 

Christopher Stauffer, Pemberley Garden Revival

 When Christopher moved into his home in Old Town just six months ago, he saw a need to revive his own garden. Taking out trees, building water features, and reimagining his outdoor entertainment space, all went into designing a unique garden space.This summer, the city ended up taking out a large tree in front of his house, opening up the opportunity to turn their shade garden into a sun garden. Working out front in the garden allowed Christopher to meet neighbors, show his skill set, and gain more experience working in and utilizing a small garden space. Neighbors passing by noticed his work and asked for help in their own garden boxes and lots. The results were fantastic, and from there, word of mouth took over.  

 Photos from Christopher's Lee Street home garden

A touch of gourds to transition the garden into fall

 Old Town homes often do not have a lot of yard and garden space to work with. Planter boxes and small gardens are where Alexandrians can show off their personalities, and Pemberley is up for the challenge. Christopher enjoys working in a small space and believes there is no space too small for a revival - small planters, flower beds, and flower boxes can give a home a ton of personality.Christopher believes garden space should bring peace and allow clients to go into a Zen place. He knows everyone has different tastes, so he works with each client to match their aesthetics while bringing in his eye for design. When visiting his garden, you can see Christopher takes this principle into his own space. Tranquil water sounds and the calm and serene seating area transform the space into a truly happy place.So, what are Christopher's must-haves in a garden space?

1. Water Feature: A simple way to add peace and tranquility to a space.
2. Evergreens: A staple to bring color and greenery to all seasons.
3. Planters: An easy way to bring some variance and visual levels to a garden.

While talking with Christopher, I saw these features beautifully displayed in his backyard garden. Christopher designed and built an overflowing water pot fountain in his backyard. It adds a peaceful and unique touch to the landscape and has inspired water features in his client's projects. 

 Christopher's designed water feature and repurposed wine rack turned trellis

  Moving forward, Pemberley Garden Revival will continue to transform Alexandria one garden at a time. As his business grows, Christopher hopes to take on more extensive gardens as an in-house gardener to assist with maintaining the garden and transitioning it from one season to the next.If you're looking to bring a little life back into your garden, call on Pemberley Garden Revival! You can contact Christopher at pemberley614@gmail.com or call 240.925.1666.