Set along Hudson Bayou, Cathy’s Garden surrounds a century-old Sarasota residence with a landscape shaped by architecture, history, and the subtropical character of its setting.

The design builds upon the established character of the property rather than attempting to redefine it. Beneath a mature canopy, layers of palms and subtropical vegetation create a sequence of gardens that move between shaded paths, open lawns, intimate courtyards, terraces, and water.

Throughout the property, landscape and architecture are deliberately intertwined. Planting softens the historic structure and frames its arched openings, while garden spaces extend the experience of the house outward into the landscape. A secluded lily pond introduces a quieter moment within the composition, reinforcing the property's relationship to water and the ecology of Hudson Bayou.

New interventions were approached with restraint, allowing the landscape to feel accumulated rather than newly imposed. The result is a garden that feels as though it has evolved alongside the house—rooted in its history, responsive to its setting, and designed for its next century.