File consists of 2-inch medallion and letter to S. Dillon Ripley from Pennsylvania's governor's office.
Collection Restrictions:
Large portions of this collection are digitized, and while these materials are being prepared for public access through this finding aid, researchers can request digital copies by contacting the Rinzler Archives at rinzlerarchives@si.edu or (202) 633-7322.
Collection Rights:
Copyright restrictions apply. Contact archives staff for information.
Collection Citation:
Ralph Rinzler papers and audio recordings, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections, Smithsonian Institution.
United States of America -- Pennsylvania -- Allegheny County -- Sewickley
Scope and Contents:
The folder includes worksheets, historical and biographical information, and images.
General:
The area was settled circa 1790 by soldiers from the Revolutionary War who were compensated with land to farm. Descendants subdivided their properties during the 19th and early 20th centuries, and eventually there were residences and a 9-hole golf course on 40 acres that had been rich farmland. In the 1930's the golf course was converted to residential properties, and this property's slightly more than one-half acre were the first and second holes of the old golf course. The Beaux Arts red brick house has both neoclassical and Italianate features that are complemented by renovations to the house and gardens by the current owners. The property was densely shaded by white pine, hemlock and Norway spruce; about 28 trees have been removed. Existing square brick pillars with globular finials and an acanthus leaf design were replicated and six unadorned pillars were erected on the street side of the property among pleached copper beeches. A hedge of false cypress along the driveway leads to a wooden fence with old and new pillars at either end and new garages. The main entrance is at the side of the house and was remodeled with neoclassical features, as was the rebuilt two-story porch at the rear of the house. A brick freestanding wall opposite the main entrance has Italianate arched insets with topiary shrubs pruned to fit as well as small statues of cherubs.
An existing medallion shaped swimming pool had to be fenced to conform to local codes so graded beds were added and planted with shrubs that eventually will disguise the ornamental wrought iron picket fence. These include hybridized hydrangeas in purple and pink, tree peonies, boxwood and white azaleas. Outside the fence the graded beds are filled with serviceberry, ornamental cherries, Japanese maple, leucothoe, and serviceberry under original hemlocks and pines; and in one corner there is an understory of witch hazel. These beds separate the pool from the rest of the garden. An arbor and gate that is the egress from the pool garden is painted white to match all the trim on the house and planted with clematis and climbing hydrangea. Two espaliered pear trees and a pruned peach tree grow against the new brick wall that separates the pool garden from the driveway. At the back of the property a row of rainbow knockout roses adds color.
Persons associated with the garden include: Peter J. and Gertrude T. Hannaway (former owners prior to October 2006); Brandon Smith (architect, circa 1931-1935); and Elise E. Keely (landscape designer, 2008).
Related Materials:
Beeches related holdings consist of 1 folder (8 photographic prints; 40 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.
United States of America -- California -- San Mateo County -- Hillsborough
Date:
1993 Jun.
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.
United States of America -- Florida -- Sarasota County -- Sarasota
Scope and Contents:
This file contains 18 digital images and 1 folder.
General:
Completed in 2020, this Eastern-inspired garden in St. Armands Key includes various elements indicative of an ancient Persian garden, including a pavilion, water features, and mosaics depicting Islamic Mughal motifs. The design of this 8,731 square foot property is formal and symmetrical. Its name derives from a 1258 poem written by Persian poet, Sa'di. The garden took more than three years to complete, with most of the work being preparatory; the soil had to be replaced, the engineering, plumbing, and electrical work for the garden and central fountain all had to be implemented before they could add the plants, pathways, benches, and medallions. All materials used to create the garden, pavilion, and tile mosaics were sourced in Florida.
The owner has been a docent at the Freer Gallery of the Smithsonian Institution for 30 years, and has remained a scholar of eastern art, architecture, and literature, especially that of the Persian Mughal Empire. In 2009, she purchased a historically designated Mediterranean revival winter home on St. Armands Key and in 2012 purchased the lot next door. Though she had not originally envisioned putting a garden in the space, the idea grew when she met the landscape architect Mario Nievera at a Founders Garden Club of Sarasota Flower Talk in 2016. Her ideal garden was one tailored to the size of the lot, climate and soil conditions of the area of Florida. The owner and Nierva assembled a team including Matt Jackson, the Perez Brothers who created the pavilion, Joyce Hart, an interior designer, Dan Droney, the designer and fabricator of hand-made tiles, and Pat Hebda of Treasure Cove in Sarasota who provided custom architectural elements for the pavilion. The garden owner's daughter contributed by researching details about ancient Persian Gardens.
Surrounding the property is a high, cream-colored, concrete wall with an ornate iron gate marking the entrance. The main focal point of the garden is a 1,000 sq. foot cream-colored limestone pavilion of Persian Mughal-style architecture with a ceiling-high mosaic patterned with Islamic Mughal motifs. This building features three triangular archways facing the front and two archways on either side, with eight columns supporting the structure. The pavilion also operates as a one-bedroom apartment that faces the rear of the property, which was mandated by the city to meet their building code. In front of the pavilion is a central courtyard with a fountain in the center. The design of the fountain is a star lined with blue, yellow, and white tiles, within a quatrefoil of various solid green and patterned tiles. Marble pathways with narrow strips of confederate jasmine in their center lead from the fountain to two elaborate tile medallions on either side of the fountain. The east medallion features a five-clawed Chinese Imperial Dragon on a yellow background, while the west medallion depicts on a blue background, a Simurgh, or mythical bird from Persian mythology. Each medallion is surrounded by a ring of confederate jasmine and a long marble bench on one side. A short marble pathway directly in front of the central fountain leads to a tile Persian rug crafted from handmade red, blue, orange, green, and white, tiles with star and floral patterns.
All plants were carefully considered in terms of their size, color, their perfume, appropriateness to the location, balance and symmetry in the space. The property features three varieties of palm trees, as well as Geiger trees, cypress, citrus, bamboo, and pomegranate. Two vivid colors of Granada roses were used, along with apricot drift, coral drift, and new dawn.
Persons associated with the garden include: John Ringling and Owen Burns t/a John Ringling Estates (former owners, 1917 – 1948); Arthur Vining Davis t/a Arvida Corp. (former owner, 1948 – 1976); Kathryn N. Mason (former owner, 1976 – 1992); Joergen and Maria Haher (former owners, 1992 – 1996); Bretley and Mona Koth (former owners, 1996 – 1998); Matthew Gribbon (former owner, 1998 – 2008); Thomas R. Olin, Jr. (former owner, 2008 – 2012); Mario Nievera (landscape architect, 2016 – 2020); Matt Jackman (landscape architect, 2017 – 2020); Jim Soler (pavilion architect, 2015); Perez Brothers (construction co., 2015 – 2020); Joyce Hart (interior designer, 2015 – 2020); Dan Droney (designer/fabricator of tiles, 2018 – 2020); Pat Hebda (treasure core custom architectural elements, 2015 – 2020).
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.
United States of America -- Illinois -- Cook -- Winnetka
Scope and Contents:
The folder includes worksheets, site plans, and additional information.
General:
The three acre property was cleared of all but two trees and graded so that the house, nine garden rooms, and even the walk into the woodland garden would be accessible to people with differing physical abilities. The house is styled after a 16th century French manor house without stairs that might impede anyone from entering. Garden rooms are enclosed by tall clipped yew hedges in the neoclassical style. The formal motor court in front of the house has a double row of pleached linden at the perimeter and a central medallion of clipped boxwood, English ivy, lawn and four sphere shaped yews. The terrace behind the house is edged with petunias in summer leading to a lawn and a woodland garden planted with evergreens and wildflowers. Along one side of the central lawn there is an allée of honey locust with large containers filled with tulips in spring and hydrangeas in summer backed by a perennial and shrub garden with a white garden at one end that includes roses, cosmos and tree peonies. Parterres planted with roses and varieties of herbs that would have been found in monastery gardens, topiaries shaped like swans, and a pergola covered by wisteria were inspired by a 16th century French engraving. West of the house in one of the few pitched areas there is a paved patio with boxwood clipped to resemble billowing clouds, known as the amphitheater. A wetlands known as the dells was constructed to retain run-off from heavy rainfall.
Throughout the property the walkways are wide and flat so that a person in a wheel chair could have another person walking beside them. Fragrance also was an important quality when choosing plants. An antique maple shades a provincial fountain, redbuds, violas, and ferns, and the other historic tree on the property is an elm. The property attracts wildlife, including more than 120 bird species that feed on the berries, breeding mallards, and a fox family. Various evergreen and deciduous trees around the perimeter are enclosed by woven willow branch wattle fencing.
Persons associated with the garden include Thomas H. Beeby (architect, 1990); Deborah Nevins (landscape designer, 1992); Bartlett Tree Experts (arborist, 2016- ); Mariani Landscape (landscape architects, 2016- ).
Related Materials:
House in the Garden related holdings consist of 1 folder (23 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.
United States of America -- Connecticut -- Fairfield County -- New Canaan
Gair (New Canaan, Connecticut)
Date:
1930-1939
Scope and Contents note:
The folder includes a catalog sheet and 10 photoprints.
General note:
The landscape is articulated with groupings and rows of lipped confers; yews, junipers, fir, and pine. Formal gardens, bordered by low clipped box are laid out on an axis. A small pool and fountain are located in the center medallion. The pool, set into the lawn, is surrounded by a low clipped hedge and perennial beds. A pond is naturalized with plantings of loose shrubs and dwarf conifers.
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.
