Locally quarried Cape Ann granite retaining walls carve terraces from the steep hillside while lending a timeless New England character. Custom fencing constructed with cedar, galvanized wire, and granite posts preserves views while subtly defining the pool garden. Thoughtfully layered plantings soften the hardscape and create a private retreat that feels seamlessly integrated into its surroundings. | Photographs by Caryn B. Davis

Landscape Designer Hilarie Holdsworth Turns an Overgrown Gloucester Hillside Into a Series of Inviting Terraces Anchored by Spaces Designed for Summer Living

Danielle Evans-ColeJuly 17, 2026

Landscape designer Hilarie Holdsworth’s client enjoys sweeping views of Gloucester’s rocky East Gloucester coastline from her 2001 shingle-style contemporary home. But in 2022, the backyard was in need of a transformation. “She had this steeply sloped spot—you couldn’t even see it,” recalls Holdsworth. “It was so over - grown with invasive honeysuckle, catbrier, and Norway maples that it was basically an impenetrable spot.” The challenge was to create a new pool and surrounding gardens that would serve the client as both a gathering space for her children and young grandchildren and an entertaining destination for cocktail par

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Landscape Designer Hilarie Holdsworth Turns an Overgrown Gloucester Hillside Into a Series of Inviting Terraces Anchored by Spaces Designed for Summer Living

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