July 2022

Cascading Dreams

Longtime Wilmington residents, Brook and Peter Dorosko, discovered a hidden gem.  Brook recalls the “Oh my gosh” moment when they realized the spa-like setting would be the focal point and very heart of their new residence. 

All it took was one step onto the front porch!  Through the glass doors, we could see the water as it cascaded into the heated pool and the flickering flames of fire, with golf greens beyond. We knew we were home.

French doors open from the family room to the upper terrace and expansive, silver travertine pool deck.  Brook and Peter can easily accommodate guests on special occasions, such as Derby Day, supper club dinners and swim parties.

The Doroskos love to entertain. The custom pool pavilion features a summer kitchen and an outdoor TV.

A dramatic fire bowl is set on a custom pedestal decorated with RealStone Nero Honed Shadowstone in a vertical application. This contemporary material is one of many stacked-stone styles available.

The house and outdoor space had been renovated for the previous owner by Mark Johnson Custom Homes. Brook added her personal touch with artistic floral arrangements in vibrant colors. 

This past spring, with the help of her trusted landscaper, Richard Finke of Bushmasters, Brook designed a stunning dry creek bed to serve as a border between the whimsical garden and the plush lawn. She selected an impressive sandstone bridge which leads to a cozy seating area, guarded by her cherished giraffe, Gigi. 

We call this Garden Whisperer ... because giraffes don’t talk!

Nearby the homeowners created another charming nook. 

Pete and I made our own dragonfly garden, and we call it the Dragonfly Field.

My favorite place to be is in the pool with the waterfall cascading from above. The salt water is very inviting, with cool relief at any time, especially after long walks or gardening.  

Many thanks to Brook and Peter for sharing their project with us.

Save the Date

(Photo courtesy of Robert B Butler)

Visit the Juniper Level Botanic Gardens

in downtown Raleigh for their

FREE Open Garden days

July 15-17 and July 22-24 

Enjoy self-guided tours, plant purchases and talks with the experts.

Juniper, a 28-acre educational, research, and display garden, contains over 27,000 different kinds of plants, making it one of the top five collections in the U.S. 

Hop on over to Airlie Gardens

Hoppy Times at Airlie Gardens 

celebrates ten years of

annual art exhibits and

features ten unique oversized fiberglass rabbits.

July 8th through December 31st

CORRECTION: In our June Newsletter we mistakenly described a beloved, local artist as “the late Doug Campbell”.  To our delight, we have been notified that he is very much alive and well.  Our apologies.

If this was forwarded to you by a friend, here’s how you can subscribe for free.

Developed by Tri Media 3 LLC