The original garden was an earth backyard edging, a few feet of side paths separating the house from neighbors' homes. The house dates from the late 18" century when the village was active in coastal trade. It is located one block from a major wharf on the harbor where steamboats cruising Long Island Sound brought New York passengers who after 1837 continued their journeys on the Stonington to Providence Railway.

The entrance to the garden directly from the sidewalk on the street is up two granite steps and through a gate in a shoulder-high wooden fence enclosing the property. On one side is an interior lean-to for garbage pails.

A patterned brick path passes the length of the house. This attractive and distinguished brickwork is new hardscaping by the present owner. The edge has a raised bed of perennial shrubs backed by the clapboard exterior wall of the neighboring home to the west. On the path is a bench beside the kitchen door and an outdoor grill in summer.

At the corner where a tool shed is built snug against the house there are large, half-cut whiskey barrels and pots of various sizes. These containers are planted with cherry tomatoes, various herbs, and annual flowers such as nasturtiums. One barrel tub has only mint. Placement of these can be varied because they sit on bases with wheels. Smaller pots positioned at the house comers are also interchangeable. The garden acquires the feel of a container garden.