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.

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.