Ortberg Gardens at Forest Hill (Cedar Rapids, Iowa)
United States of America -- Iowa -- Linn -- Cedar Rapids
Scope and Contents:
The folder includes worksheets and photocopies of articles and historic photographs.
General:
The Greek Revival house had an interesting history, having been cut in half and moved from its original location to this one and one-third acre hillside lot in 1929. The gardens, lawn and trees installed by previous owners had been neglected by the time the current owners took possession in 1997. Clearing the weeds from a semi-shaded circular bed uncovered the original hosta and peony garden planted by the Armstrong family circa 1930. The owners added limestone edging and a large iron urn as a focal point, along with spring blooming daffodils, trillium, bleeding heart, blue bells, pulmonaria, and allium, which are followed by astilbe, wild ginger, hydrangea, and turtlehead (chelone) in summer. Flower beds are more casually planted with heirloom varieties of hollyhock, foxglove, feverfew, peony, iris and sweet William, mostly in shades of pink, purple and white. A boxwood hedge planted years before provided seedlings for other hedges that complement the formal style of the house. Shaped boxwood, boxwood in containers and trimmed hedges or limestone walls define garden rooms.
The sunny backyard was redesigned in 2003, adding a limestone retaining wall to divide it into two levels with a fountain on the upper level. A small part of a glass conservatory that was about to be demolished was acquired and attached to the garage, and is used in spring for starting heirloom vegetables and flowers, then used for dining in summer when the trees have leafed out and shaded the room. Winding paths connect a formal herb garden with an antique finial as its focal point, three raised vegetable beds next to the house, the greenhouse, a rose arbor at the entrance to the backyard, and sun and shade perennial and biennial garden beds. Antique containers and ornaments as well as a bench found at a flea market that may have sat outside this house nearly a century ago relate the gardens to the late Victorian style of the house.
Persons associated with the garden include Samuel G. and Anna Cooper Armstrong (former owners, 1903-1929); Anna Cooper Armstrong (former owner, 1929-1948); Frank B. and Margaret Armstrong Race (former owners, 1948-1986); Walter J. and Maureen K. Hale (former owners, 1986-1993); Robert and Joni Hilton (former owners, 1993-1997); Charles A. Dieman (1873-1937) and Ferdinand C. Fiske (1856-1930) (architects, 1903); Theodore Stark & Sons (builder, 1903); E.W. LaPlant (house mover, 1929); Mondanero Concrete (landscaping, 2003); Larry Lorenz (construction, 2008); Chalupsky Nursery (landscaping, 2002, 2014); Mitch Odell (garden assistant, 2010-2012); Stanley Wrobel (construction and garden assistant, 2013-2015).
Related Materials:
Ortberg Gardens at Forest Hill related holdings consist of 1 folder (13 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.