Exterior Design

A Whimsical Garden In North Fargo

Whimsical garden from Hoglund Landscape & Design

Paulette Rasteadt asked Hoglund Landscape & Design for help transforming her backyard into something magical. Hoglund then began hardscaping, while Rasteadt took up gardening as a hobby.

Photos by J. Alan Paul Photography

For her seven granddaughters, Paulette Rasteadt’s garden is a curiosity. The fact that this is a special place is easy to see from the moment you walk through the wooden gate that leads into her backyard. From the soothing sounds of the natural stone water feature to the hot-tub-gazebo-turned reading nook, this homeowner has put in a lot of work over the last twenty years to make her garden what it is today.

Whimsical garden from Hoglund Landscape & Design

Whimsical garden from Hoglund Landscape & Design

Whimsical garden from Hoglund Landscape & Design

1997

Rasteadt purchased her North Fargo home in 1992, but the backyard remained empty save for a lone cherry tree and rhubarb plant until about 1997. That was when she asked Hoglund Landscape & Design for help transforming her backyard into something magical. Hoglund then began hardscaping, while Rasteadt took up gardening as a hobby.

“I garden because it’s my exercise,” Rasteadt said. However, it takes many years to create such a masterpiece. “We’ve been building on this backyard for decades. You don’t get it all at once. Some of these plants are over twenty years old,” she explained.

Whimsical garden from Hoglund Landscape & Design

This mystic dahlia is one of Rasteadt’s favorite flowers in all of her garden.

Today

Today, Rasteadt’s backyard features various seating areas, a water feature and plenty of hidden treasures, but perhaps one of the most interesting surprises is a hot-tub-gazebo-turned reading nook. “I love to sit here and read and listen to the water and I can see the flowers,” Rasteadt said.

Whimsical garden from Hoglund Landscape & Design

Whimsical garden from Hoglund Landscape & Design

In one corner of the yard, Rasteadt has what she calls her “spring and fall garden,” which allows her to look out the window while stuck indoors during those cooler months and enjoy the view of early and late blooming plants. In the opposite corner of her yard, Rasteadt has a veine-covered trellis arbor that was originally built by Hoglund for one of his very first booths at the Red River Valley Home and Garden Show many years ago. After the show was over, he could not think of a better permanent residence for the trellis arbor than in Rasteadt’s backyard.

Some of the hidden treasures in her backyard include vintage tricycles, a bench made of reclaimed wood from her family barn up in Maddock, ND, and hidden stepping stones (some of which were sourced from the old streets of Downtown Fargo), just to name a few. She also has many bird houses scattered throughout the greenery.

Whimsical garden from Hoglund Landscape & Design

Whimsical garden from Hoglund Landscape & Design

Whimsical garden from Hoglund Landscape & Design

Whimsical garden from Hoglund Landscape & Design

“I garden because it’s my exercise.” – Paulette Rasteadt

Whimsical garden from Hoglund Landscape & Design

Whimsical garden from Hoglund Landscape & Design

Whimsical garden from Hoglund Landscape & Design

Whimsical garden from Hoglund Landscape & Design

Whimsical garden from Hoglund Landscape & Design

This section of the garden was designated for Rasteadt’s granddaughters’ use. “When she was little, my oldest granddaughter was really into planting the garden back there. Maybe my 18-month-old granddaughter will take that up again once she gets bigger,” Rasteadt mused.

Whimsical garden from Hoglund Landscape & Design

Rasteadt also has a play area for her grandkids that is separated from the garden by a little fence.

If she had to guess, Rasteadt would say that her backyard currently consists of 70 percent perennials and 30 percent annuals. Each spring and summer, Rasteadt enjoys visiting all of the different greenhouses in Fargo, Moorhead and West Fargo.

“I have to visit every green house in town. It gets boring to me if I don’t do something different or try new plants. I went to some excellent garden talks this summer that gave me some different ideas and renewed my enthusiasm,” Rasteadt shared. This year, one of her favorite garden talks was hosted by West Fargo Public Library.

Whimsical garden from Hoglund Landscape & Design

Whimsical garden from Hoglund Landscape & Design

Whimsical garden from Hoglund Landscape & Design

Whenever she has an idea for a new addition to her backyard, Rasteadt knows that Hoglund can bring her ideas to life. Together with his small team and a foreman who has been with Hoglund Landscape & Design for 33 years, Hoglund stays busy all season long. With a portfolio including projects like Rasteadt’s garden, it is no mystery why this landscaper is in demand.

Whimsical garden from Hoglund Landscape & Design

Whimsical garden from Hoglund Landscape & Design

Paulette Rasteadt and Stan Hoglund sit in Rasteadt’s backyard underneath the trellis arbor that Hoglund built.

Whimsical garden from Hoglund Landscape & Design

Whimsical garden from Hoglund Landscape & Design

Whimsical garden from Hoglund Landscape & Design

Hoglund Landscape & Design

2509 Elm St N, Fargo

701-371-3737

hoglundlandscapes.com

 

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