United States of America -- New Hampshire -- Cheshire -- Jaffrey Center
Cutterfield (Jaffrey Center, New Hampshire)
Scope and Contents:
31 digital images (2008-2017) and 1 file folder.
General:
In 2006 the owners began expanding their 1981 Cape Cod style house downhill, the only direction available since the more than one acre, in town property was next to an historic district cemetery and subject to setback restrictions. The expansion plus the installation of a barn built from roughhewn hemlock to house a model T car meant moving or destroying mature plants and a vegetable garden. Many trees and shrubs were moved to the roadside perimeter to improve screening, and vegetables and herbs are grown successfully in containers, window boxes, and a raised bed outside the kitchen door. The varying elevations required stone retaining walls to support new perennial beds. Landscape designer Gordon Hayward recommended straight sightlines for borders around the rectangular house. The layout of the house and barn on different elevations was softened as the plantings matured. The terraced beds linked by stone stairs combine texture, color, size and shape, with the use of complimentary colors and, increasingly, foliage plants. All of the garden beds are planted with shrubs, small trees, perennials and some annuals. Different paving materials as well as elevations define the garden rooms.
The barn garden further away from the house's two stone terraces is planted with vertical shrubs for screening and more showy perennials such as phlox, beebalm, poppy, Shasta daisy, poppy and iris; their less than attractive die-back is not noticed from the upper levels. As these plants have grown a secluded, secret garden emerged. A brick patio was added for dining. The owners encourage wildlife with birdhouses and keep the grass longer to provide cover. Native New England plants are emphasized that will provide habitat for wildlife and improve their organic ecosystem. These include columbine, wild strawberry, cardinal flower, mountain mint, black-eyed Susan, blue-eyed grass, sugar maple, serviceberry, mountain laurel, red-twig dogwood, viburnum, ferns, trumpet honeysuckle, raspberry and blueberry. The whole property includes a field and woodland. The Cutterfield House gardens have been opened several times for garden tours and fund-raising events.
Persons associated with the garden include: John Cutter (former owner, 1790-1835); Esther Cutter Rice and Laban Rice (former owners, 1835-1873); Jonas C. and George L. Rice and James H. Drugg (former owners, 1873-1887); Mortimer Cutter (former owner, 1887-1894); Dr. C.P. Lyman (former owner, 1894-1903); Annie P. Henchman (former owner, 1903/1904-1917); Lawrence Wetherell (former owner, 1917/1918-1974); Charles H. Hearsey (former owner, 1974-1975); David T. Smith (former owner, 1976-1979); Florence P. and Roger R. Smith (former owners, 1979-1991); Susan G. Crim (former owner, 1991-1993); Franklin Pierce College (former owner, 1993-1994); Kathleen and Jonathan Sistare (former owners, 1994-1998); Sarah Henry Waters (owner, 1998 2015); Sarah Henry Waters Larsen and Bruce Walter Larsen (owners, 2015- ); Gordon Hayward (landscape designer, 2006-2007); Maude Odgers (gardener, 2006-2007); Our Town Landscaping (landscapers, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2013, 2017); Nancy Ellis (gardener, 2015-2018); David Drasba (architect, 2006-2007).
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 -- New Hampshire -- Jaffrey Center Search this
Collection Citation:
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.
