United States of America -- California -- Los Angeles County -- Pasadena
Scope and Contents:
This file contains 28 digital images and 1 folder.
General:
This 1 ¾ acre property was established by the current owners in 1996.The property features a combination of creative hardscape and landscapes that reflect the local Mediterranean climate. The home itself was built in 1909 by architect John C. Austin for Harriet Ada and William Edgar Webb. The current owners worked with Mark Rios to clear all garden hardscape and remove the garage to make space for their garden design. The rectilinear lines that characterize the front of the house are echoed by the low perimeter wall, boxwood hedge, and layered plantings of muhly grass and California field sedge. The concrete left over from renovation demolition was repurposed to form the main hardscape elements of the property: the swimming pool, walkways, and garden walls. The rear terrace juxtaposes bold square concrete pads with organically shaped stepping-stones, acting as a transition from hardscape to landscape.
Major plantings added during renovation were Western sycamores, London planetrees, a variety of roses, and other plants and shrubs. In 2002, the owners purchased the property to the south and used the space to enhance their gardens and added two sports courts. In 2014, they replaced 10,000 square feet of lawn with meadow grasses such as evergreen, red fountain, Lindheimer's muhly grass, and porcupine grass. The landscape design allowed for a series of garden "rooms." These various rooms consist of citrus plantings and an elevated vegetable garden, rose and perennial gardens, a podocarpus maze, and an expansive lawn. There are a variety of colorful cooking, dining, and seating areas surrounded by elegant plantings throughout the property. A series of three rectangular garden beds that reflect the colors of the interior décor sit between the rear terrace and outdoor dining room. A gravel walkway adjacent to the pool is framed by a garden of 150 rose bushes including climbers, grandiflora, floribunda, hybrid tea, and English shrub roses, with wooden archways placed throughout the path.
Persons associated with the garden include: Mr. William Edgar Webb (former owner, 1909-1922); Harriet Webb (former owner, 1909-1922); Mr. Charles K. Henry (former owner, circa 1923); Walter Farabe (former owner, 1924); Kathleen Farabe (former owner, circa 1924); Jonothan Platt Underwood (former owner, 1924-1926); John C. Austin (architect, 1909); Mark Rios (landscape architect, 1995-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.
Wentworth House (Pasadena, California) 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.
