This garden may be located in the middle of Oklahoma, but the look is unmistakably Virginia. Designer Bryan Ramsey anchored the space with a pair of outbuildings--one for storage and the other a playhouse for the girls. Though the brick raised beds are not symmetrical, they lend an air of formality and enabled John and his crew to bring in quality soil that was easier to garden in than the existing clay. Paths within the beds are made of crushed oyster shells. Lower walkways are mulched with bark.

photo: Used solely for its texture and scale, this container is left unplanted.