United States of America -- Pennsylvania -- Allegheny -- Pittsburgh
Scope and Contents:
The folder includes worksheets, photocopy of an article, and other information.
General:
From the street one can tell that Reverie was the work of a creative gardener: the yew hedges have been sculpted in a crenellated pattern. A flagstone walkway leads to the house with garden beds on either side containing ferns, ivy, toadflax and pachysandra ground covers, boxwoods and other evergreen shrubs. To one side the driveway is studded with cobblestone patches, and on the other side there is a moss garden with shade-loving perennials and shrubs including hosta and bleeding heart, hydrangeas, hollies and mountain laurel. Creeping thyme with a pink flower was used extensively as a ground cover in the entry garden, and boulders were placed around the perimeter. The gardens behind the two-story stucco house are entered through a wrought iron gate. A patio was laid with three large sandstones and randomly placed cobbles. Stone and cobble walkways lead to different parts of the garden and ground covers grow over and around the walkways. Further down in the garden there is a large rectangular koi pond flanked by two pergolas with espaliered fruit trees. A small cobblestone patio was installed next to the garage. Additional straight line hedges marking off garden beds are clipped in button and cloud patterns. In all the garden areas perennials, ground covers and evergreen and deciduous shrubs are featured.
The previous owners created this garden beginning in the 1970s with the help of landscape architect Burt Morten. In 2009, the owners worked with Joseph Burgess, a horticulturist to make changes and as employed help managing the pond for koi, gold fish, frogs and plants. The owners have made every effort to maintain the symmetry of the garden.
Persons associated with the garden include Marvin F. and Jenny Boyle Scaife (former owners, 1916-1923); John F. and Rachel Mellon Walton (former owners, 1924-1929); Gladys D. Ober (former owner, 1929-1960); James and Edna Gray (former owners, 1960-1970); Karl F. and Janet F. Krieger (former owners, 1970-2007); Burt Morton (landscape designer, 1970s); Trevor and Antonia Macpherson (2007- ); Everett Sturgeon (designer of lily pond and pergola, 1987); Joseph O. Burgess (horticulturalist, 2002- ).
Everett Sturgeon designed the lily pond and pergola.
Related Materials:
Reverie related holdings consist of 1 folder (16 digital images)
See others in:
Garden Club of American collection, ca. 1920- [ongoing].
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.
