The Emerson Garden related holdings consist of 1 folder and 8 35 mm. slides (photographs). The folder includes worksheets, a site plan with plant names, additional images, and other information.
General:
Located on approximately a half acre, the Emerson Garden was established in 1978 by landscape architect Harriet Rodes Bakewell. Bakewell's design is most representative in the backyard with the interlocking 'L' shapes of the terrace, the reflecting pool and grassed area in front of the waterfall. A 'secret' gate, built between two sections of parallel brick walls is not visible from either back or front yard. Bakewell designed the garden with mature plants with the intention that this would be the last home she resided in. Plantings were used to create more appealing vistas. Trees were planted to hide views of the street and neighbor's driveways and a special attention was made to incorporate elements in harmony with the surroundings.
The current owner contacted Bakewell's protégé Cathy Williams to help restore the grounds to Bakewell's original plan. Though development in the neighborhood has proven to be a hindrance, much of the grounds have been restored to the original plan. The garden includes viburnum and forsythia and the diseased trees have been replaced with different species.
Harriet Bakewell was the first female to graduate from Washington University with a degree in landscape architecture. Her father, George T. Moore, served as the second director of the Missouri Botanical Garden. In the 1970s, Bakewell moved to a 1930 cottage in Ladue, Missouri, now known as "Twin Cottages." Bakewell's work includes Operation Brightside, the Japanese Garden at the Missouri Botanical Garden, and the Steinberg Rink in Forest Park. The Garden Club of America awarded her the Mrs. Oakleigh Thorn Medal in 1983 describing her work as follows: "Each of her landscape projects is unique, but all set a high standard for their definition of space and selection of plants and construction materials." Images MO087007 and 008 are best representations of original Bakewell's design which can also be seen in a 'Better Homes and Gardens' publication.
Garden features include benches, birdbaths, cutting gardens, espaliers, flower beds, gates, gazing globes, hedges, herb gardens, retaining walls, swimming pools, and waterfalls.
Persons associated with the garden include Harriet Bakewell (former owner, landscape architect, 1970s-1980s); Thomas and Mary Fox (former owners, 1995); Mark and Cassandra Weaver (former owners, 1995-1998); J.V. Seibel & Sons (original brickwork, 1970s-1999); Tim Gamma (arborist, 1998- ); Cathy Williams (landscape architect, 1998); Susan Emerson (garden restoration, 1998- ).
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.
