
Flower Magazine

Gentleman GARDENER
On the grounds of his East Hampton country home, Marshall Watson
curates garden “rooms” as authentic and elegant as his world-class interiors.
BY MARGARET ZAINEY ROUX PHOTOGRAPHY BY BLUE CARREON

If you know interior design, then you know
the name Marshall Watson. Throughout his
40-year career, his work has graced countless
magazine covers and dozens of showhouses,
and he recently released his second book,
Defining Elegance (Rizzoli 2025). But what
you may not know about the New York
City-based, Kansas City-bred designer is that
his innate ability to create picture-perfect
rooms is only rivaled by his inherent ability to cultivate
breathtaking gardens.
“Gardening is in my DNA,” Marshall says. “My mother and
father were both avid gardeners who relished everything from
pruning simple hedges to propagating specialty roses. However,
it took several years for me and my two brothers to acquire our
green thumbs. Now it’s a labor
of love and a perennial topic of
conversation. We all share tips,
swap plants, and even engage
in a little friendly competition
to see who can grow the most
beautiful roses. It’s usually me,
by the way.”
Take a stroll through the
grounds that surround
Marshall and husband Paul
Sparks’s idyllic East Hampton
estate, and it’s easy to see
why he’s most likely to take
home the prize. The property
features multiple gardens
laid out like interior rooms
that cohesively flow together
while also having their own
unique personalities. “Over
the years, I’ve discovered
that many of the lessons
I’ve learned about interior
design can be applied to
garden design,” Marshall
says. “Whether indoors or
outdoors, the best designed
spaces are those that can be
appreciated from every angle.
They should also present a
narrative that poignantly unfolds as you move through them.”
Behind a pair of lacquered Chinese Chippendale gates lies the
walled garden. Named for its towering hedges and brick borders,
it begins with a forecourt blooming with Roald Dahl, Autumn
Sunset, and Eden Climber roses that infuse the area with color.
Marshall compares the space to a “foyer” where he and Paul
greet guests with cocktails before treating them to a sunset tour.
The pebbled hardscape transitions to a French-inspired potager
bursting with tomatoes, lettuces, herbs, and root vegetables.
Drawing on his extensive knowledge of 18th-century garden
practices, Marshall strategically grows onions, marigolds, and
other scented plantings amidst the bounty to organically deter
insects. The potager also features pavers milled from the
unsalvageable trunks of wild oaks, sassafras, and sand cherry
trees that fell on the property during Hurricane Sandy. A
pathway of these solid-wood discs leads to a staircase that
ascends to the hilltop gazebo. Here, panoramic views of the
lush landscape and Gardiners Bay can be enjoyed. Nestled
among Japanese cut-leaf maples, variegated dogwoods, and
mounds of roses, the structure’s classical and commanding
presence projects the illusion of grandeur, but its history isn’t
as deeply rooted as one might think. “The majestic ‘hill’ was
actually formed from a giant mound of dirt that was dumped on
the land before we owned it,”
Marshall laughs. “The gazebo
was a fortuitous find on a
backroad in the Berkshires. I
immediately pulled over when
we saw the ‘for sale’ sign. Its
craftsmanship was impeccable,
and its proportions were perfect.
The price seemed right, too,
until I got the bill to transport
it across the Long Island Sound.”
Situated on a bluff roughly 30
feet above the butterfly-flocked
pollinator garden is the seaside
garden. It’s frequently the setting
for moonlit dinners around the
stately Italian-limestone-and-
green-marble pedestal table
encased with contemporary
Michael Taylor klismos-style
chairs for comfort and contrast.
The arrangement anchors the
sweeping space with its weight
and scale while its simple forms
keep the focus on the postcard-
worthy vistas.
As Marshall reflects on his
garden, he compares his work to
what he does with his interior
design projects. “Inside a home,
I am constantly pursuing beauty, elegance, and perfection,”
he says. “It’s controlled and attained by fostering symmetry,
order, and balance. On the other hand, in the garden, I find
that beauty comes from experimenting, learning, and making
mistakes. Trust me—I’ve got a compost pile of murdered plants
to prove it. The garden is a place for letting go and allowing
Mother Nature to take over. To me, that is calming, liberating,
and a nice change of pace.”
PREVIOUS PAGES, LEFT TO RIGHT: Located atop a man-made hill overlooking the potager and seaside garden, the gazebo has a
been-there-forever look despite being a new addition to the property. It was made by a master carpenter who handcrafted it from
wood and zinc. • “I am a student of gardening—I will never stop learning,” says Marshall. THESE PAGES, ABOVE: Chinese Chippendale
garden gates lead to the forecourt. Their marine blue lacquered finish reflects the cool hue and smooth texture of Gardiner Bay’s
placid waters. • OPPOSITE: A shady spot near the reflecting pool offers another option for waterside dining. Peonies, Japanese irises,
and crabapple trees line the brick patio.

Marshall formed an allée of
agapanthus along a pebbled
walkway. The feathery purple
plants were gifted from his
brother and sister-in-law.
Daisies and alyssum also line
the path, which is punctuated
by fastigiate American pin
oaks at each corner.

“Over the years, I’ve discovered that many of the lessons I’ve learned about interior design can be applied to garden design.” —MARSHALL WATSON
OPPOSITE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: The trunk of a Korean lilac is wrapped in euonymus. Crystal Fountain clematis
grows beneath it. • Zephirine Drouhin climbing roses sprawl across the pool house pergola. • A French wire spire
supports tomatoes and brings a sculptural, vertical element into the potager. • Sculpted boxwoods and David Austin
roses frame the entry. ABOVE: London plane trees hover above the seaside garden and its bluestone terrace.
