3. The Stone Courtyard
Between the barn and the house, I laid a courtyard of cobblestone and mossy stone, with a small fountain in the center. It is the part of the farm I never expected to love most. The fountain’s sound carries across the yard, the stone stays cool underfoot, and in the evening the whole space fills with lantern light. I edged the courtyard with low stone walls and tucked flower beds into the corners, so the hard stone never feels cold. Put a bench under the nearest tree and you have a place to sit and simply admire your own work.