The Paul and Georgianna Erskine Garden (Pasadena, California)
United States of America -- California -- Los Angeles County -- Pasadena
Scope and Contents:
The folders include worksheets and a garden plan.
General:
Established 1937, this one-acre garden is on a wedge-shaped site which was contoured to fit into a sloping hillside and configured to include all of the elements which are typically identified with outdoor California entertaining and living. Its original owner was a nurseryman interested in landscape design, and many of the landscape features date from his development of the property. Beds of azaleas and camellias were interspersed with a collection of ferns and gardenias. Liquid amber (gum) trees were planted to recall the fall foliage of the east and to complement the colonial southeastern style of the house. Since 1961 the current owners have made many changes to the original design. A brick terrace flush with the lawn with steps down from the house was added. In the 1980s damage from storms and falling trees led to the current design of "garden rooms." The rose garden has been enlarged to include an extended arbor and a folly has been constructed in the south beds. New varieties have been added to the azalea and camellia collections, including a Camellia reticulata 'Howard Asper'. Other plants include a lace-cap hydrangea brought as a cutting from a private garden off Cape Cod and a Vireya rhododendron from the Strybing Arboretum. The rose garden features many gift roses, but especially the cluster-flowered 'Iceberg'.
This garden was originally documented for the Archives of American Gardens in 2001. An update of the garden documentation was provided in 2012.
Persons associated with the garden include: Mr. and Mrs. Morris Miller (former owners and nurseryman, 1937-1961); Horace Colby (landscape architect, 1937); James J. Yoch (landscape architect, 1981); and Thomas Batchelor Cox (architect, 1981).
Related Materials:
The Paul and Georgianna Erskine Garden related holdings consist of 2 folders (8 35 mm slides; 6 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.
