34 PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM {punchline} ABOVE: Figs, honey, grapes, dried persimmons and tomato jam, all from Denise’s garden; Pomegranate, cherry laurel and ‘Swane’s Golden’ cypress trees flank the swimming pool’s border. “I wanted to see Denise’s grandchildren frolicking through there, picking fresh figs—that was her dream—and I think it’s come to be a reality,” says Leslie. “She’s had a lot of pure enjoyment from the garden. Those grandkids know every fruit tree, when they’re ripe, their seasons, and they know where their food comes from. That’s so awesome.” Walk out the back door and you’ll see a gracious, spacious backyard, pleasing to the eye and perfect for family gatherings— including the wedding of Denise and Woody’s son in 2022. Dig a little deeper, and you’ll find every corner is cleverly used to its best advantage: heat-loving tomato varieties line the fence along the tennis court, which absorbs sunshine and reflects warmth. A cutting garden of lanky flowers is half-hidden by glossy fig trees. A narrow gravel Graceful trees hide figs and bumpy green avocados among their leaves, while a stately row of pomegranate trees flanks the swimming pool. Chinotto sour orange blossoms perfume the air, and patches of herbs and lacy alyssum attract pollinators. Leslie describes her style as “plantheavy, layered and lush,” and delights in designing gardens that have a soft, romantic feel. “A big part of my work is growing food and flowers for harvest, creating beautiful spaces and creating gardens that are meaningful, that reflect your family story, your heritage and culture,” Leslie says. Denise wanted a tangible way to share the cultural traditions she’d learned from her Italian immigrant grandparents and pass them down to her grandkids. “That has been really inspiring as a design mission for the property,” Leslie shares. “I love the idea that gardens can be spaces where we can literally grow our family stories.” ons from raised planters: plump tomatoes, deep green padron peppers, floppy yellow zucchini blossoms, glossy eggplants. Denise steps past the tall serrated fronds of an artichoke and ruddy stalks of rhubarb, and skirts the two beehives, explaining that they’re still abuzz from the beekeeper’s visit the day before.
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