Take a moment to breathe in this Brunswick Garden's aroma.

 

As one approaches the corner of Robin and David Robinson's corner Brunswick property, they come upon a short boxwood hedge encircling a stone "harvest maiden" wearing a crown of fresh flowers. At her feet, a diagonal brick path adorned with hostas leads from the curb through the front yard to a latticed gate covered with climbing roses and clematis, hinting at more delightful garden scenes beyond. Many are compelled by curiosity to keep walking along the sidewalk and stop at the driveway in the hopes of discovering the proprietors. "We enjoy it when individuals pause to converse," says Robin, who greets guests as she steps outside and leads them past a garage topped with a pergola covered in more roses and clematis to a side yard full of wavy perennial beds.

David, a retired gardener, and Robin, a retired nurse, acquired an old apple tree, a few lilacs, and a hemlock and pin oak planted by Robin's grandmother when they moved into her family's 1846 Greek Revival on a quarter-acre property in 2015. At this point, Robin states, "We've used up every inch." Every garden is centered on a seat, a sculpture, or both."We don't take it very seriously, but we have a penchant for collecting statuary," David explains. Under the ancient apple tree, in a bed of purple heuchera, lily of the valley, and variegated hostas, is a stone sphinx with the face of Madame de Pompadour, the 18th-century French mistress of King Louis XV. The sphinx is reclining next to a wrought-iron seat and chair. Amidst heuchera, blue agapanthus, white peonies, and yellow lilies sits "Doris's Bench," named for a neighbor who uses the silvered cedar bench for rest during her walks. It is situated a short distance away.

Nestled behind the cedar seat, the front of a shed topped with a cupola and matching heron-shaped weather vane to those on the house is colored by a pair of burgundy Japanese weeping maples. A little brick patio next door features an old Thai Buddha perched atop a level headstone. Nestled under a Japanese maple, it's encircled by a patch of hot-pink ragged-robin that the same gardener pulled from a Westbrook roadside ditch, fluffy pink Japanese burnet, blue Siberian irises, and creamy phlox. Above the irises is a metal sundial in the shape of a globe set on a stone plinth. A wrought-iron table and chairs are situated on a smaller patio.

The Robinsons like having their solitude as well as sharing their garden with others. So they divided off a brick courtyard nestled between lattice fence covered with roses and clematis and the home. They dine there, tending to potted annuals and creating little borders of pink geraniums, yellow irises, and blue columbine. "This garden of ours is so much fun," Robin remarks. All we want is for the day to have more hours. We always seem to be playing outside when the sun sets.