Compact Urban and Japanese Garden at Twin Oaks (Akron, Ohio)
United States of America -- Ohio -- Summit -- Akron
Scope and Contents:
The folder includes worksheets and a features plan.
General:
The main feature of this property is a compact Japanese-style garden at the rear of the townhome built by the owners in 1991. Visits to Japan inspired the garden's creation in the approximately 0.06 acre space. Inspiration for the plant material came from the Portland Japanese Garden's trees and shrubs. A collection of 25 bonsai specimens represents 15 species with the oldest being 200 years of age. Other plantings include bamboo, a Japanese cherry tree, a Japanese maple, a Japanese white pine, a red pine, cedars, arborvita, azaleas, tree and herbaceous peonies, ferns, hosta, ornamental grasses, hydrangeas, an espaliered wisteria, and clematis.
Hardscapes, furnishings, and accents of the garden include two teak benches, a birdbath, a Pennsylvania bluestone patio with wrought iron table and chairs for dining, sculptures of cranes and a dragon, planter boxes, a Buddhist prayer bell, four stone Japanese lanterns and two smaller metal lanterns, a Zen garden with a coin basin and 20 ton of boulders. Water features include an upper pond containing a water iris that spills into a lower pond holding water lilies, water hyacinth and koi. Stairs made of marble gravel and granite pavers traverse the garden on its east side and lead through the garden from the dwelling to an exit gate. Other pathways in the garden are composed of stepping stones. There is a wooden fence with a gate and a small greenhouse.
At the front of the dwelling is a brick courtyard garden that the owners describe as English in inspiration. Foundation plantings and containers include seasonal annuals and herbs. Additional plant material includes ivy, azalea, rhododendron, hosta, Korean lilac and clematis. The courtyard was constructed around an old oak trunk that was struck by lightning. There is seating and accents including a sundial from Tuscany and a wall sculpture of the Greek god Bacchus.
Persons associated with the garden include: John Vittum (designer, 1991- ) and Wilson Lewis (garden installer, 1991).
Related Materials:
Compact Urban and Japanese Garden at Twin Oaks related holdings consist of 1 folder (9 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.
