United States of America -- Louisiana -- Orleans -- New Orleans
Scope and Contents:
The folder includes worksheets, photocopies of book excerpts and other material.
General:
Greenbough is an one and one half acre urban property in New Orleans with formal green and white gardens installed by the current owners, who kept and modified features from previous gardens designed for this property. The first owners of the 1932 classical red brick house, built by architect Richard Koch, followed his garden design and used the plants prescribed by society garden designer, Dorothy (Baby) Hardy. The dark green and white plantings included Japanese yew trees, azaleas, sweet olives, jasmine, camellias and boxwood, all typical of elegant southern style. The next owners had the garden redone by landscape architect Blayney Fox Myers, with child- and sports-friendly features and much more color in the flower beds. The trees and shrubs in front of the house were overgrown and choked by volunteers, which were removed. New hedges were planted for privacy, a boxwood border was replanted and the parterres were redefined. A rose bed was planted in front of the house. Hardscape improvements included repairing a slate walkway and adding the brick wall around the property. An allée of crape myrtle trees planted at that time has matured into a feature for this garden.
Since 1997 the current owners have returned to the original formal green and white palette, enlarging the back garden lawn and planting masses of white gardenias and azaleas, with seasonal white flowers planted in parterres or containers and white caladium inserted in borders. Although the L-shaped house has many views into the garden particular attention was given to the areas seen from the al fresco garden room including the hybrid tea rose garden at the front of the house where an extended walk improved access. A tall hedge of Japanese yew and hollies, azaleas and an undulating boxwood border can be viewed across the front lawn, and a Japanese magnolia adds another touch of color. Outside the kitchen formal parterres are planted with herbs and three arches on the garage are draped with Confederate jasmine. There is a flagstone terrace behind the house with steps leading to four formal parterres planted with seasonal white flowers, each containing a statue representing one of the four seasons. The crape myrtle allée stands tall over a gravel walkway next to a large swath of jasmine ground cover. Additional classical statuary, olive jars and Victorian urns from the original garden are featured, along with boxwood clipped into balls and pyramids.
Persons associated with the garden include: Mrs. Harry Howard and Mrs. Louis (Flores Howard) Sussdorff (former owners, 1932-1987); Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth (Allison Crutcher) McAshan (former owners, 1989-1997); Richard Koch (architect of house and garden, 1932); Dorothy (Baby) Hardie (garden designer, 1938); Michael Toups (architect, 1990); Blayney Fox Myers (landscape architect, 1990); Melinda Taylor (plants, 1990); Christopher Fischer (planting and design, 1998).
Richard Koch was architect of the house and garden.
Related Materials:
Greenbough related holdings consist of 2 folder (2 photographic prints; 85 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.
