United States of America -- Pennsylvania -- Erie -- Erie
Scope and Contents:
The folder includes worksheets, garden plans, a planting list, historical images, and photocopies of garden tour directories.
General:
This six acre property had been farmland before it was purchased and developed by the Stout family, who built a ranch style house in 1956 and installed trees, shrubs, and foundation plantings. Circa 1962 a formal garden of French style was designed by Wayside Gardens, laid out symmetrically in four quadrants hedged in by privet and viburnum, and anchored by four blue spruce trees at the corners. The French garden remains today but two of the spruce trees and some of the privets were removed to open the formal garden to other parts of the property. Gardens that have been added over time include vegetable and herb gardens with boxwood hedges, a swimming pool and surrounding garden containing rosa rugosa, rhododendron, ornamental grasses and tropical plants, an all-white secret garden behind privet hedges, a 115-foot long perennial border, a vineyard, and a grove of bamboo.
The 1960s plan included an orchard, still existing but replanted with fruit trees, black walnut, chestnut and hazelnut trees, black raspberries, black currants and hundreds of naturalized daffodils. Originally four acres were left as field and brush-hogged twice each year; now there are three acres of field populated by redwing black birds, monarch butterflies, deer, turkeys and pheasants, designated an official Backyard Wildlife Habitat in 1994 by the National Wildlife Federation.
The Stout/Bestoso Garden has participated in the Garden Conservancy's Open Days, and the owner is active in the Carrie T. Watson chapter of the Garden Clubs.
Persons associated with the garden include: John Metcalf (former owner, -1955) and Donald F. Stout (former owner, 1955-1986).
Related Materials:
Stout/Bestoso Garden related holdings consist of 1 folder (19 digital images; 1 photographic print)
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.
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