The Mulford Family Garden, located on two acres, was purchased in 1998 by the current owner. At the time, the house was surrounded by giant oak trees and a garden had so completely overgrown that the creek was not visible. The owners envisioned its potential and hired Nashville landscape architect Benjamin G. Page, Jr. (ASLA) to design an extensive garden renovation.The garden is now a special refuge for wildlife and a place of adventure and discovery for their children and their friends. Features include a tree house, forts and secret paths cut behind the hedges. The design incorporated the view of the creek, but rather than make it the focal point of the garden its view is meant to be a surprise. The final landscaping phase was the construction of a bridge to connect the property to the home of the owner's sister across the creek. Each summer, the property serves as a day camp for about fifty young children, organized in different areas of the garden.
Other properties designed by Benjamin Page include the residence of the Vice President of the United States at the Naval Observatory in Washington, D.C., The Dixon Gallery and Gardens in Memphis, Tennessee. The design for the Mulford house was implemented by Paul Fields (ASLA), President and Director of Design for Lambert's Landscape Company of Dallas.
Persons associated with the garden include Benjamin G Page, Jr. (landscape architect, 1998), Paul Fields (landscape architect, 2000),Schoelkopf family (1933), Shelby family (dates unknown) and Perrin family (dates unknown).
Related Materials:
The Mulford Family Garden related holdings consist of 1 folder (27 35 mm. slides (photographs) + 1 photographic print)
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.
