United States of America -- Rhode Island -- Newport County -- Newport
Scope and Contents:
The folder includes worksheets and photocopies of articles, historic photographs, and landscape architect's plans, transcripts of interviews, and other information.
General:
The Whim is a seaside New England garden comprised of flower and shrub borders and a sunken quadrangle planted along the foundation walls of demolished greenhouses, with follies, sculptures, steps to the ocean planted with lavender, and swaths of lawn. The walls and privet hedges trimmed to calibrated heights protect the flowers from the salt spray and winds off the ocean while not blocking the view. The 3.4 acre property has other garden areas surrounding the lawns, including a border of bright blue Nikko hydrangeas that are fed aluminum sulfate, a crabapple border, a shed draped with a climbing rose, a secret garden with kousa dogwood and viburnum, and a shady garden walk alongside the house. Garden areas are named for the animal and other sculptures that are featured, including a heron by Walter Matia in the heron quadrangle, eagles at the head of the eagle borders, and rabbits copied from the ones that were at Chateau-sur-Mer, a Newport mansion.
This property was once part of a larger property that had gardens designed by Beatrix Farrand for her aunt, the author Edith Wharton. The Evangeline climbing rose that covers the tool shed was transplanted from the Wharton garden many years ago, and renamed the Miss Newport rose by the owner. Friends and associates have contributed design ideas and artifacts to this garden: the mushroom shaped garden furniture once belonged to a friend, the gazebo was purchased and installed by one of the gardeners, and the steps were fabricated from discarded Newport curbing.
Persons associated with the garden include Raymond Thayer, (landscape architect, 1968-present); T. J. Brown and Timothy Brown, (gardeners, 1952-present); Anne Baptista (property manager, 1989-present); and Jerica Ford (gardener, 2007-present).
Related Materials:
The Whim related holdings consist of 1 folder (20 digital images)
Collection Restrictions:
Access to original archival materials by appointment only. Researcher must submit request for appointment in writing. Certain items may be restricted and not available to researchers. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.
Collection Rights:
Archives of American Gardens encourages the use of its archival materials for non-commercial, educational and personal use under the fair use provision of U.S. copyright law. Use or copyright restrictions may exist. It is incumbent upon the researcher to ascertain copyright status and assume responsibility for usage. All requests for duplication and use must be submitted in writing and approved by Archives of American Gardens. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.
Smithsonian Institution, Archives of American Gardens, The Garden Club of America collection.
Sponsor:
A project to describe images in this finding aid received Federal support from the Smithsonian Collections Care Initiative, administered by the National Collections Program.
