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Catalog Data

Former owner:
Norfleet Mr.  Search this
Norfleet, Mrs.  Search this
Stout, C. B. Mr.  Search this
Stout, C. B. Mrs.  Search this
Shoemaker, O'Farrell, Dr.  Search this
Shoemaker, O'Farrell, Mrs.  Search this
Gardener:
Gray, Obadiah  Search this
Garden designer:
Stout, Warda Stevens  Search this
Horticulturist:
Stout, Warda Stevens  Search this
Provenance:
Memphis Garden Club  Search this
Collection Creator:
Garden Club of America  Search this
Type:
Archival materials
Place:
Charnwood (Memphis, Tennessee)
United States of America -- Tennessee -- Shelby County -- Memphis
Scope and Contents:
The folder includes worksheets.
General:
The gardens at Charnwood, a three-acre property in Memphis, Tennessee, were designed beginning in 1925 by Warda Stevens Stout, a former owner. There were massive plantings of perennial flowers, roses and bulbs in formal garden beds around a large fountain and on three terraces that led to an exedra. Features included old columns, artificial ruins, a wishing well and an irregularly shaped koi pond and water garden. The style of the garden was Italianate, complementing the style of the house. Today most of the ornamental gardens are gone: the flowering terraces have been replaced by lawns, the former flower beds around the fountain are nearly bare, and the pond flowers are towering. Remnants of the brick walks and steps can be seen. A large swimming pool was installed near Mrs. Stout's wishing well and the old chicken coop is now used as a garden shed.
Persons associated with the garden include Mr. and Mrs. Norfleet (former owners, until 1925); Mr. and Mrs. C.B. Stout (former owners, beginning in 1925); Dr. and Mrs. O'Farrell Shoemaker (former owners); Obadiah Gray (gardener); and Warda Stevens Stout (garden designer and horticulturist).
Related Materials:
Charnwood related holdings consist of 1 folder (20 35mm slides (photographs); 1 photographic print)
Additional materials are also located in History of Homes and Gardens of Tennessee (edition unknown); "Easter Garden Tour" published in the" Commercial Appeal", 1937.
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.
Topic:
Gardens -- Tennessee -- Memphis  Search this
Collection Citation:
Smithsonian Institution, Archives of American Gardens, The Garden Club of America collection.
Identifier:
AAG.GCA, File TN078
See more items in:
The Garden Club of America collection
The Garden Club of America collection / Series 1: United States Garden Images / Tennessee
Archival Repository:
Archives of American Gardens
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/kb62b6976b1-77cc-46b5-860c-6729422c46dd
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-aag-gca-ref10943