United States of America -- Wisconsin -- Waukesha County -- Hartland
Rosecrest (Hartland, Wisconsin)
Scope and Contents:
16 digital images (2017-2018) and 1 file folder with historical images and other information.
General:
The first residence on this property was a log cabin built circa 1840 by a Swedish settler; there is local lore that remnants of his building were found when the sunken garden was installed in the 1920's. This ten-acre property established in 1926 was part of a larger farm followed by a family compound on Pine Lake. Donald John Bushey designed the sunken garden, which required extensive excavation, with a long pergola and a row of seven large arches. In 1995 the garden was redesigned and refurbished and the owners kept the historic, formal elements in situ, had the gardens replanted in time for a family wedding, then finished their new house. Rosecrest now includes the sunken garden with a 110-foot long pergola, one new and one restored pond with fountains, elaborately patterned parterres and statuary with deep mixed borders and towering trees around the perimeter of the lawn. Additional historic features that were retained are stone pillars and several stone benches.
Roses, for which the garden was named, were a prominent part of the landscape until depredations by local deer necessitated changes to the plant material. Knockout and David Austin shrub roses are grown still. In 2018 existing shrubs included several vibernums, winterberry, boxwood, hemlock and sumac; existing trees included several varieties of cedar, pine, spruce and maple, also crabapple, gingko, linden and plum. Dozens of perennials and annuals fill the grid of parterres and the deep borders. The sunken garden has been opened for many charity fundraisers, three garden tours, wedding photo shoots, and many family events.
Persons associated with the garden include: Gustaf Unionius (former owner, 1840-1841); Albert Chapman (former owner, 1841-1895); the Mayer family (former owners, 1895-1991); Donald John Bushey (1896-1966) (landscape architect, designer of sunken garden, 1925-1926)(Hawks Landscape Co. (garden design, 1995); Janet Gamble, Meg Miller, Al Holt, Steve Wege, Joe Pauley (gardeners and landscapers, no dates available); Lee Kaster (gardener,1977-1984), Liban's Landscaping (landscape maintenance, 2018- ); Judith Stark Landscape Architects (patio landscape, no dates available); Wachtel Tree Science (arborists, 2018- ).
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.
