Here’s how a local dentist with a passion for nature and a penchant for design nurtures his creative side.
by Catherine Ruth Kelly
photographs by Dustin and Susie Peck
Growing up in rural South Boston, Virginia, Davis Ligon regularly helped his parents with the planting and tending of vegetable and flower gardens on their 50-acre farm. His father oversaw the vegetables while his mother preferred to grow flowers, but Ligon was equally influenced by both. He fondly recalls designing his own garden beds when he was in middle school.
“I’ve always been a nature lover and an outdoorsman,” Ligon says. “I innately feel a pull to create a sense of space, and I like the challenge of balancing scale and proportion from nature and translating that into a personal garden space.”
Left: Ligon’s 9-year-old labradoodle, Teddy, happily rests on the front porch. Ligon designed the lattice structure behind the swing to offer an attractive backdrop and cozy gathering space. Right: A pair of dog statues, named Teddy and June after Ligon’s dogs, greet visitors at the front garden gate.
During Ligon’s undergraduate years at the University of Virginia, he was keenly aware of UVA founder Thomas Jefferson’s love of gardening and landscape architecture. Ligon sought out Jefferson’s serpentine-walled gardens tucked alongside the main campus, escaping the bustling student scene to read or study in a serene, natural setting.
“Spending time in these historic gardens was a big inspiration and nurtured my love and passion for garden design,” says Ligon.
After completing his postdoctoral dental residency at UNC Chapel Hill in 2004, Ligon moved to Charlotte, where he settled into a dental practice and a 1928 Craftsman bungalow in the historic Eastover neighborhood.
“I’ve loved this house and have renovated it inside and out,” Ligon says. “In a way, the yard has been a creative lab for me to experiment with different plants and different designs.”
Left: Blue Moon Kentucky wisteria vine climbs up an archway in the side garden. Center: A faux-bois garden bench is nestled between boxwoods and beneath a Blue Atlas cedar tree in the corner of the front garden. Right: Ligon designed the lateral structure in the front yard, where he espaliered two Little Gem magnolia trees on either side of a large terracotta urn.
In 2017, after losing a large oak tree that provided a grand presence and copious shade, Ligon’s front yard was converted from total shade to full sun exposure. Recognizing the need for a complete overhaul of the plantings in that area, Ligon engaged local landscape designer Laurie Durden to oversee the redesign, which included planting some smaller trees in the front, adding a fountain and lining the sidewalk with a camellia hedge for privacy. Since then, Ligon has continued to enhance both the front yard and the side gardens with a variety of horticultural and structural updates.
“I’m a dentist but need a creative outlet, so I do that through gardening,” explains Ligon. “I like to tinker and change things on a regular basis.”
When Ligon’s yard was selected for the annual Wing Haven Gardeners’ Garden Tour last spring, he was inspired to take on some significant projects to prepare his yard for the event. In an effort to create a statement in the front upon entering the garden, he designed a wooden structure strung with galvanized wire, where he espaliered Little Gem magnolia trees that flank a large terra-cotta planter in the middle. To complement the new structure, he added simple arches along the side garden pathway, which draw the eye toward the backyard while echoing the design theme in the front.
“I really like the mix of classic and modern,” Ligon says. “The new structures have a more minimalist feel with sharp edges and clean lines, and I love the juxtaposition of that modern style next to the traditional architecture of my house.”
Left: A quirky sculptural table flanked by rocking chairs welcomes guests on the front porch. Right: A jasmine vine grows atop a garden gate, which leads to the backyard.
An avid supporter of the arts, Ligon’s art collection is on display both inside and outside of his home. He found the concrete hand-shaped table on his front porch in High Point several years ago, and the faux-bois bench is a treasure from the former Metrolina Antique Market. Two of his favorite pieces are fiberglass chairs that resemble spinning tops. These “Spun” chairs were designed by Heatherwick Studio in London.
“They look like heavy sculptures, but they are lightweight garden seats you can sit in and roll all the way around, like you’re on a giant spinning top,” says Ligon. “They bring out the kid in most serious adults!”
Ligon enjoys entertaining family and friends in his garden and frequently hosts outdoor gatherings when the flowering plants are at their peak.
“I like the old-fashioned way people used to entertain on their front porches,” Ligon says. “I’ve worked hard to create a sense of place in my yard, and I love sharing it with my family, friends and neighbors.” SP
Featured image: A pair of whimsical but functional spinning-top chairs welcome guests in the front garden.
