Search Results

Landscape designer:

Wood, Sally  Search this

Gardener:

Stasen, Wendy  Search this

Horticulturist:

Stasen, Wendy  Search this

Former owner:

Willcox, James M.  Search this

Architect:

Hall, Arthur W.  Search this

Provenance:

The Weeders  Search this

Collection Creator:

Garden Club of America  Search this

Type:

Archival materials

Place:

Toad Hall (Berwyn, Pennsylvania)

United States of America -- Pennsylvania -- Chester County -- Berwyn

Scope and Contents:

The folder includes worksheets, site plans, additional images of the house (including one of it under construction in 1930-31), and other information.

General:

Located on an 11.5 acre site, this garden surrounds Toad Hall, the house which sits at the crest of a hill. The current owners acquired the property in 1961 and have been developing the site and the gardens ever since. One owner grew up on an English estate, an experience that is reflected in her grasp of site planning, views and vistas, understanding of plants, love of roses, and the use of garden accents such as ornamental iron gateways, treillage, containers, brightly painted obelisks, fountains, and numerous metal and wood sculptures. Various established gardens are organized by axes and cross axes and include a woodland garden, a pergola and reflecting pool, a secret garden, and a vegetable garden with raised beds for tender tropicals. From the bottom of these gardens a long vista leads the eye to a fountain set in a small side terrace next to the house. At the rear of the house a flagstone terrace has a dramatic view down a sweep of meadow to the woodland edge below. Many of the mature trees are original to the property, while other plants, like native rhododendron, were added by the original owner. Along the entrance driveway and beneath the house large stone boulders and carpets of spring bulbs, native ferns, and wildflowers enliven the forest floor, accessible by woodland paths. Deer are kept at bay by high iron fencing and a cattle guard at the gate.

Persons associated with the property and garden include Sally Wood (landscape designer, 1979); Wendy Stasen (gardener-horticulturist); James M. Willcox (former owner, 1930-1961); and Arthur W. Hall (architect, 1930).

Related Materials:

Toad Hall related holdings consist of 1 folder (19 35 mm. slides (photographs))

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.

Topic:

Gardens -- Pennsylvania -- Berwyn  Search this

Collection Citation:

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.

Identifier:

AAG.GCA, File PA670

See more items in:

The Garden Club of America collection

The Garden Club of America collection / Series 1: United States Garden Images / Pennsylvania

Archival Repository:

Archives of American Gardens

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/kb6e3b1b5b5-8127-40af-8584-7f3bb37afed7

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-aag-gca-ref16441

Landscape architect:

Schmidt, Owen  Search this

Provenance:

Garden Club of Wilmington  Search this

Collection Creator:

Garden Club of America  Search this

Type:

Archival materials

Place:

Glenderro Farm (Coatesville, Pennsylvania)

United States of America -- Pennsylvania -- Chester County -- Coatesville

Scope and Contents:

The folder includes a worksheet and site plan.

General:

Glenderro is a 250 acre farm. The gardens around the house include a terraced rock garden, ponds, and a vegetable garden. The owners make use of antique iron fencing and a blue heron sculpture by Clayton Bright.

Persons and organizations associated with the garden include: Walter Durham (architect, 1963); and Owen Schmidt (landscape architect, 1963).

Related Materials:

Glenderro Farm related holdings consist of 1 folder (8 35 mm. slides)

Additional information located at Charles Willing Collection, Architectural Archives of the University of Pennsylvania.

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.

Topic:

Gardens -- Pennsylvania -- Coatesville  Search this

Vegetable gardening  Search this

Rock gardens  Search this

Collection Citation:

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.

Identifier:

AAG.GCA, File PA643

See more items in:

The Garden Club of America collection

The Garden Club of America collection / Series 1: United States Garden Images / Pennsylvania

Archival Repository:

Archives of American Gardens

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/kb61e8e337a-ba5e-4a97-80d5-cb90c7a9afe0

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-aag-gca-ref16446

Former owner:

Dennis, Mildred  Search this

Dennis, Edward  Search this

Kearns, John  Search this

Kearns, Ruth  Search this

Provenance:

Carrie T. Watson Garden Club  Search this

Collection Creator:

Garden Club of America  Search this

Type:

Archival materials

Place:

Stoneybroke Acres (Erie, Pennsylvania)

United States of America -- Pennsylvania -- Erie -- Erie

Scope and Contents:

The folder includes worksheets, site plans, and additional information.

General:

The two and one-half acre property had an unfinished ranch style house, four trees and three arborvitae planted at the foundation in 1971, providing the current owners with a nearly blank landscape to develop into gardens. Once the house and brick porch were finished rhododendrons, azaleas and climbing hydrangea were planted at the foundation of the porch. Flower beds, trees and shrubs followed, with fast-growing Christmas trees and poplars among the shade trees and conifers, now numbering about 40. Also there are 25 island flower beds including naturalized swathes of daffodils intended to reduce the use of fertilizers on the land and a bed of ornamental grasses. There is a shade garden under five poplars planted in the 1970's that has many varieties of hostas, ferns, astilbes, wood poppies, ginger and Joe Pye weed, and does not require much maintenance. Along a dry stone wall are planted beds of bearded iris and day lilies. There is an enclosed garden for vegetables; recent crops include heirloom tomatoes and fingerling potatoes.

At one end of the property a field of native grasses and wildflowers, milkweed and a brush pile under towering conifers planted for Christmases past is an accredited national wildlife habitat. The three arborvitae at the foundation were transplanted many years ago and have grown into a 75 by 75 foot hedge. Two curving perennial flower gardens are connected by a wrought iron trellis that supports a climbing rose. Other decorative iron pieces are placed in flower beds; other features include a staddle stone, an antique statue of a girl holding a sheaf of wheat, an umbrella pine, a 60-foot tall copper beech, and a rock garden with a fountain. After 43 years the owners are still planting trees and an annual flower bed that is different every year.

In 1868 the property was part of the 45-acre Wilkens farm along the south shore of Lake Erie, growing wheat, oats and livestock. At the beginning of the 20th century nine commercial greenhouses were built to grow vegetables, but after five of them blew down in a 1944 snow storm the family's descendant sold the farm for subdivision development.

Persons associated with the garden include Mildred and Edward Dennis (former owners, 1959-); John and Ruth Kearns (former owners, 1965-).

Related Materials:

Stoneybroke Acres related holdings consist of 1 folder (17 digital images; 14 photographic prints)

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.

Topic:

Gardens -- Pennsylvania -- Erie  Search this

Collection Citation:

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.

Identifier:

AAG.GCA, File PA730

See more items in:

The Garden Club of America collection

The Garden Club of America collection / Series 1: United States Garden Images / Pennsylvania

Archival Repository:

Archives of American Gardens

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/kb6aa98c3ad-e540-4962-b93c-8666d9721afc

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-aag-gca-ref16458

Former owner:

Yahn, Elizabeth J.  Search this

Yahn, Walter S.  Search this

Architect:

Patterson, Chester A.  Search this

Landscape designer:

Maloney, Brett  Search this

Provenance:

Carrie T. Watson Garden Club  Search this

Collection Creator:

Garden Club of America  Search this

Type:

Archival materials

Place:

United States of America -- Pennsylvania -- Erie -- Erie

Scope and Contents:

1 folder and 20 digital images. The folder includes worksheets, historical and biographical information, and images.

General:

A canopy of mature trees, tall hedges and foundation plantings around the 1940's traditional style house were the backbones for the colorful and textural gardens the current owners have created over twenty years. Spring flowering trees and shrubs including dogwood, crabapple, redbud, ornamental cherries, azaleas and rhododendron were planted throughout the six acre property to celebrate the end of the long, gray winters in western Pennsylvania. Additional gardens were designed beginning in 1998 after the house was enlarged, including a brick patio with a fountain in front of the wide but narrow house that defines the entrance. Tall hedges are kept trimmed and define garden rooms close to the house while newer asymmetrical beds have been added further afield. These beds were planted with daffodils, ornamental grasses and shrubs that deer avoid; since the property is not fenced deer deterrents include a row of colorful ceramic balls to block their path as well as combinations of plants deer do not eat, such as alliums, with the hosta collection. Hanging planters, tuteurs and sculpture that add height and visual interest include three metal spheres that are moved around the garden rooms to highlight blooming. A hedge of crabapple and arborvitae along the road was planted for privacy.

In addition to 45 varieties of hosta and ten varieties of ornamental grasses the twelve garden rooms contain numerous perennials in beds, borders and containers, and collections of sedum, ground cover plants, and hydrangea. The chosen plants have to be hardy enough to survive without special care, and increasing shade from all the trees that were planted dictates more part-sun or shade perennials in the garden beds. Wrought iron furniture from the 1940's was painted purple while vintage cast iron urns were painted white and planted with red annuals. A bed of rocks and a row of ball-shaped boxwood were features inspired by visits to gardens in Japan.

Persons associated with the garden include Walter S. and Elizabeth J. Yahn (former owners, 1940-1980); Chester A. Patterson (architect, 1940); Michael Grab (architect, 1997); Brett Maloney (landscape designer, 1997- ); .

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.

Topic:

Gardens -- Pennsylvania -- Erie  Search this

Wolf Bend Garden (Erie, Pennsylvania)  Search this

Collection Citation:

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.

Identifier:

AAG.GCA, File PA835

See more items in:

The Garden Club of America collection

The Garden Club of America collection / Series 1: United States Garden Images / Pennsylvania

Archival Repository:

Archives of American Gardens

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/kb611356a5a-8f03-4825-a4be-255f584b79aa

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-aag-gca-ref16461

Landscape architect:

Sears, Thomas Warren, 1880-1966  Search this

Collection Creator:

Garden Club of America  Search this

Type:

Archival materials

Place:

Rocky Crest (Gladwyne, Pennsylvania)

United States of America -- Pennsylvania -- Montgomery County -- Gladwyne

Scope and Contents:

The folder includes a work sheet, site plans, and narrative history.

General:

Rocky Crest contains over fifteen acres that overlook Mill Creek. The lower 5.9 acres are known as the Alberta and Joseph Pew Memorial Preserve, protected in perpetuity under a conservation easement held by Natural Lands Trust. The upper 9.5 acres, also under an easement, contain the residence, carriage house, swimming pool, tennis courts, greenhouses, and gardens. The gardens were begun in 1905 by James S. Austin (1857-1919). Deeds at this time named the property "Rocky Crest." Austin used the name and applied it to a new, three-story, Colonial Revival stone estate that was built on the site by 1908. Existing features by Thomas Sears include a stone semicircular pool that leads to a raised rectangular garden; a stone terrace that serves as an overlook to the swimming pool and vista below; niche with fountain; integrated stone walls and steps; and small pools that feed into larger ones. In 1994, Christopher Masson replaced flagstone paving with block paving in the courtyard (later replaced by a gravel finish). Masson also designed a formal garden using a pattern of scalloped squares.

A large, gravel courtyard balances the front of this home. The courtyard leads through a wrought iron gate to a terrace from which to view formal garden beds enclosed by old stone walls. The double border sets off a pool house, which is graced by a trellised entry arch. To the left of the walled garden, the pool is fed by a Moorish-style waterway. The large brick and flagstone terrace behind the house boasts a box-edged parterre and oversees rolling lawn in the English landscape garden style.

Persons associated with the garden include: James S. Austin (former owner, 1905); Joseph N. and Alberta Pew, Jr. (former owners, 1919-1988); Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Burch (former owners, 1989-1994); Thomas W. Sears (landscape architect, 1934); and Christopher Masson (landscape architect, 1994).

Four Counties Garden Club facilitated the submission of this garden's documentation.

Related Materials:

Rocky Crest related holdings consist of 1 folder (3 35mm. slides)

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.

Topic:

Gardens -- Pennsylvania -- Gladwyne  Search this

Collection Citation:

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.

Identifier:

AAG.GCA, File PA634

See more items in:

The Garden Club of America collection

The Garden Club of America collection / Series 1: United States Garden Images / Pennsylvania

Archival Repository:

Archives of American Gardens

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/kb60166658d-7532-4fe2-ad47-28befea73c6b

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-aag-gca-ref16470

Former owner:

Penn, William  Search this

Architect:

Trumbauer, Horace  Search this

Garden designer:

Schneider, Nina  Search this

Gale, Charles H.  Search this

Landscape architect:

Gréber, Jacques  Search this

Weaner, Larry  Search this

Craftsman:

Yellin, Samuel  Search this

Provenance:

Wissahickon Garden Club  Search this

Collection Creator:

Garden Club of America  Search this

Type:

Archival materials

Place:

Erdenheim Farm (Lafayette Hill, Pennsylvania)

United States of America -- Pennsylvania -- Montgomery -- Lafayette Hill

Scope and Contents:

The folder includes worksheets, photocopies of articles and other information.

General:

The original tract containing Erdenheim Farm has a long history of ownership dating back to William Penn, the founder of the Pennsylvania colony, but the landscape design and architecture of the house and outbuildings date back to circa 1916-1971 when the property was owned by George D. Widener, Jr. In 2011 and 2012 the current owners restored sunken formal gardens and stone walls designed by Percival Gallagher, lead designer for Olmsted Brothers, with new plantings of iris, herbs and peonies, removing two rows of conifers that obscured the cascade (designed by Jacques Greber) leading from the greenhouse (designed by architect Horace Trumbauer). Gallagher (1874-1934) also designed the roadway system within the farm, the grass tennis court, a woodland walk and original plantings around the main house. Trumbauer (1868-1938) also updated and enlarged the original farmhouse in the Colonial revival style, working from 1916-1932, and designed the main entrance gate, outbuildings including workmen's cottages, three barns and a riding stable and a five arch stone bridge similar to those on English country estates.

Alongside the house there is a new bluestone terrace with cutouts for magnolia trees and a small fountain with planted metal containers. The gardens at the main house were redesigned in 2011 and 2012 and axial views to outlying gardens were reinforced. Ornamental gates designed by Samuel Yellin in the 1920s were attached to new iron fences that surround the house gardens. The current owners restored buildings, landscape and hardscape following the original designs, as stewards of an historical property, and made changes that enhance the sustainability of a working produce and livestock farm. Wildflower meadows were planted with grasses, sedges, rushes, lobelia, rudbeckia, asters and solidago in 2009 to provide habitat for birds and wild life and to reduce erosion into Wissahickon Creek, which traverses the property. An orchard with apple, apricot, peach, pear and plum trees also was planted in 2009. The Trumbauer-designed greenhouse and cold frames now grow micro greens, camellias and orchids. A three-acre organic vegetable garden and berry patch has been added near the Trumbauer sheep barn where produce is offered for sale in season. Livestock raised at Erdenheim Farm include cheviot sheep, Black Angus, belted Galloway and Scottish highland cattle.

Erdenheim means earthly home in German, the property was named by former owner Johannes George Hocker in the 18th century. The original substantial acreage has been reduced in size with much of it is being conserved by the Natural Lands Trust and the Whitemarsh Foundation. Also easements have been granted for public trails that are part of the Montgomery County Green Ribbon trail and the Whitemarsh township trail system.

William Penn (former owner, 1683); Jasper Farmer Jr. and members of the Farmer family (former owners, 1683-1745); Peter Robeson and Jonathan Robeson (former owners, 1745-1755); William Streper, Nathan Sheppard, Anthony Williams, Sr., Isaac Williams (former owners, 1755-1760s); Johannes George Hocker (former owner, 1763-1823); Caspar Schlater (former owner, 1823); Major General Henry Scheetz and family (former owners, 1823-1842); William W. Longstreth (former owner, 1842-1849); Dr. James McCrea (former owner, 1849-1855); Atherton Blight (former owner, 1855-1862); Aristedes Welch (former owner, 1862-1882); Norman W. Kittson and Louis Kittson (former owners, 1882-1896); Robert N. Carson (former owner, 1896-1916); George D. Widener, Jr. (former owner, 1916-1971); Fitz Eugene Dixon, Jr. and Edith Dixon (former owners, 1971-2009); Horace Trumbauer (architect, 1917-1932); Percival Gallagher of Olmsted Brothers (landscape architects, 1924-1931); Jacques Henri Auguste Greber (landscape architect, 1918); Samuel Yellin (1885-1940) (ornamental ironwork designer, 1920s); Charles Gale (garden designer, 1972-1973); Larry Weaner (landscape designer, 2009-2010); Christina Reeves (landscape architect, 2011); Nina Schneider (garden designer, 2012- ); Glenn Keys (architect, 2009-2010).

Related Materials:

Erdenheim Farm related holdings consist of 2 folders (4 35mm slides; 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.

Topic:

Gardens -- Pennsylvania -- Lafayette Hill  Search this

Collection Citation:

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.

Identifier:

AAG.GCA, File PA390

See more items in:

The Garden Club of America collection

The Garden Club of America collection / Series 1: United States Garden Images / Pennsylvania

Archival Repository:

Archives of American Gardens

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/kb675d03be6-757c-4e3a-a53c-4bd4bc2fac0a

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-aag-gca-ref16482

Owner:

Nichols, George  Search this

Nichols, Audrey  Search this

Landscape designer:

Peck, Frederick W. G.  Search this

Provenance:

The Garden Club of Philadelphia  Search this

Collection Creator:

Garden Club of America  Search this

Type:

Archival materials

Place:

The Andorra Garden of Mr. and Mrs. George Q. Nichols (Lafayette Hill, Pennsylvania)

United States of America -- Pennsylvania -- Montgomery County -- Lafayette Hill

Scope and Contents:

The folder includes worksheets, photocopies of articles, plant lists, and other information.

General:

Set in a tree-filled valley The Andorra Garden of Mr. and Mrs. George Q Nichols was inspired by English cottage gardens, with an antique stone barn and stone walls as well a formal courtyard created by landscape designer Frederick Peck in the 1950s. The property comprises five acres that once were part of a tree farm and benefits from the remaining mature trees. The recent owners concentrated on growing flowering shrubs, perennials and annuals including New Dawn and Madam Alfred Carriere climbing roses, tree peonies, clematis, climbing and bush hydrangea, Oriental poppies, delphinium, acanthus, hollyhocks, columbines, and foxgloves. Flower arrangements filled the house and were entered into competition at the Philadelphia Flower Show. The design of the garden included flowering borders along axial gravel paths that led between the barn and the house with large swaths of lawn. Borders with roses, clematis and honeysuckle growing up trellises were planted on either side of the eight-foot high stucco walls that enclose the garden. Three arched entries into the old barn are echoed in an antique arch over a doorway in the walls, and in an enormous mirror mounted on the house. The formal courtyard near the house includes a restored octagonal garden bed with a fountain in the center. The stone fireplace from the original kitchen outbuilding is nearby.

Flowers in darker shades of maroon, brown and black were featured in the garden to provide contrast and definition to the spaces. Antique stone benches and wrought iron pieces were featured. A sculpture created from a hoe, rakes, a shovel, watering can, bucket, scythe and other tools mounted on the side of the barn commemorates all the work that went into this garden, and the ones that preceded it.

The area was settled in 1700s by Swiss German farmers and the original farmhouse and barn were built circa 1750. In 1850 Richard Wistar bought the property and named it Andorra Farm. He planted many trees and intended to build a mansion on his estate but died in 1863. In 1882 the property was purchased for further development by Henry Howard Houston and a tree farm was established, later owned and run by the nurseryman William Warner Harper. Although much of the surrounded acreage was sold and developed for housing the Houston family retained ownership of part of the original property. A granddaughter of Henry Houston, Eleanor Houston Smith and her husband Lawrence Smith, donated 100 acres in the 1970s to Fairmount Park. It is now the Wissahickon Environmental Center, and its visitors' center is in a nurseryman's cottage that was built around a sycamore tree although that tree is no longer standing.

Persons associated with the garden include Richard Wistar (former owner, 1850-1863); Henry Howard Houston and family (former owners, beginning in 1882); William Warner Harper (nurseryman and former owner of Andorra Tree Farm, 1920-1934); Lukens family (former owners, beginning in 1929); George and Audrey Nichols (former owners, 1976-2008); Frederick Peck (landscape designer, 1950's).

Related Materials:

The Andorra Garden of Mr. and Mrs. George Q. Nichols related holdings consist of 1 folder (16 35mm slides (photographs))

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.

Topic:

Gardens -- Pennsylvania -- Lafayette Hill  Search this

Collection Citation:

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.

Identifier:

AAG.GCA, File PA665

See more items in:

The Garden Club of America collection

The Garden Club of America collection / Series 1: United States Garden Images / Pennsylvania

Archival Repository:

Archives of American Gardens

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/kb66f313c74-e358-499f-bae7-f0fa8ee4eace

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-aag-gca-ref16483

Provenance:

Wissahickon Garden Club  Search this

Former owner:

Jenks, John Story, Mrs., Jr.  Search this

Jenks, John Story, Jr.  Search this

Landscape architect:

Olmsted Brothers  Search this

Architect:

Zantzinger, Borie & Medary  Search this

Zantzinger, C. C.  Search this

Landscape designer:

Marzocco, Sharon  Search this

Smith, Martin  Search this

Collection Creator:

Garden Club of America  Search this

Type:

Archival materials

Place:

Jenks-Carrie Garden (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)

United States of America -- Pennsylvania -- Allegheny -- Pittsburgh

Scope and Contents:

This file contains 1 35mm slide (reproduction), 61 digital images and 2 folders.

General:

This 2.56 acre garden, established in 1912, was designed by the Olmsted Brothers for John Storey Jenks Jr. Jenks hired a leading Philadelphia firm of Zantzinger, Borie, and Medary, Architects, to design and build the Colonial Revival house during the years of 1908 and 1912. The overall property design is open, naturalistic, and blends into the edge of the Wissahickon Park and the watershed of the Wissahickon Creek. The garden is bordered on three sides by streets. One of the long borders is a monumental historic stone wall made of Wissahickon schist, a natural stone from the Wissahickon Valley.

The house is partially screened from the street by a large bed of rhododendrons, azaleas, evergreens, magnolias, mountain laurels, etc. As you enter the property, one sees a possibly 100 year old Cercidiphyllum japonica tree. The driveway curves into a circular approach to the house with the interior of the circle heavily planted with rhododendrons, mountain laurels, and two cedar trees. There is a diagonal grass path through the circle. To the west of the driveway is a grassy open space that gradually slopes to a flatter section which has a historic staircase with an ornamental cast iron gate serving as street entrance. This open space has deep borders of rhododendrons, azaleas, dogwoods, red buds, magnolias including a cucumber magnolia and a young Chesnut tree. There is a historic 1913 Olmsted designed rock garden positioned in the north corner of the garden. At the northeast corner of the property, there is another historic flight of steps from the street into the garden with an ornate historic ornamental iron gate. There is an exterior planted bed adjacent to this staircase entrance. In the northern section of the garden, a new open space serves as a bee apiary.

The property features a classical long formal garden with 10' foot perennial beds, framed by Arborvitae 'Emerald Green' on both sides of a grass parterre. The focal point of the main garden axis from the bluestone terrace is a grouping of free standing, historic walls. Adjacent to the formal garden, a covered outdoor swimming pool was built in the 1970's. On the east side of the formal garden are two enclosed vegetable gardens. The gardens are outlined in concrete walls covered with espaliered apple and pear trees. As one walks from the vegetable gardens, one enters the service area. Zantzinger, Borie, and Medary designed a series of connected out buildings in 1912. A dovecote sits on top of a potting shed and holds up a delightful hexagonal plan cupola with a weathervane. During the 1970's, the northwest part of the house was extended to add a one story garden room. A shallow terrace is located at the front of this garden room and has a staircase down into the garden. The recent owner added a new crescent shaped dwarf evergreen bed with two levels just below the formal garden. There is a small flight of stone steps to the flat grass area on top of the evergreen bed.

Persons associated with the garden include: Mr. And Mrs. John S. Jenks Jr. (former owners, 1908-1947); Mr. And Mrs. Morton Jenks (former owners, 1947-1956/1966-1984); Mr. And Mrs. Fitz Eugene Dixon, Jr. (former owners, 1956-1966); John Story Jenks and Charon H. Jenks (former owners, 1984-1996); Olmsted Brothers (landscape architects, 1908-1912); Zantzinger, Borie, Medary (architects, 1908-1912); Martin Smith (landscape designer, 1996); Sharon Marzocco (landscape designer 1996).

Varying form: Jenks-Carrie Garden

Related Materials:

Records related to this site can be found at the Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site, Olmsted Job Number 03479, John Story Jenks Jr.

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.

Topic:

Gardens -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh  Search this

Collection Citation:

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.

Identifier:

AAG.GCA, File PA020

See more items in:

The Garden Club of America collection

The Garden Club of America collection / Series 1: United States Garden Images / Pennsylvania

Archival Repository:

Archives of American Gardens

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/kb6681cff0d-d260-4ed1-bbfb-dd9a2b03de8c

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-aag-gca-ref16506

Landscape architect:

Hough, John  Search this

Managers:

Center City Residents' Association  Search this

Provenance:

The Weeders  Search this

Collection Creator:

Garden Club of America  Search this

Type:

Archival materials

Place:

Schuylkill River Park Community Garden (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)

United States of America -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia County -- Philadelphia

Scope and Contents:

The folder includes a work sheet, narrative description, copy of newsletter (Center City Residents' Association, February 2005), and site plan.

General:

In what was originally the Kelly Brickyard, an original community garden thrives today. In 1981, an organized group of neighbors petitioned the city for permission to use the vacated lot for gardening. The city of Philadelphia, under Mayor Wilson Goode, approved the construction budget for a community garden designed by landscape architect John Hough, inlcuding a pergola, walkways, fountain, iron fencing, and gates.After entering, the visitor proceeds down a long allee lined with sour cherry trees. The walkway leads to a central pergola with a cistern fountain enclosed by a trellis covered with four different kinds of grape vines. There are 72 raised bed plots of various sizes. "Tomato Lane," a 27 x 2 foot swath of land for tomato plants, was added in 2006.

Persons and organizations associated with the garden include: City of Philadelphia (owner, 1981-present); Center City Residents Association (managers, 1981-present); John Hough (landscape architect, 1981); and Greg and Lil Leavitt (sculptors, 1981-1982).

Related Materials:

Schuylkill River Park Community Garden related holdings consist of 1 folder (16 35 mm. slides)

Additional information located at Charles Willing Collection, Architectural Archives of the University of Pennsylvania.

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.

Topic:

Gardens -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia  Search this

Community gardens  Search this

Vegetable gardening  Search this

Collection Citation:

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.

Identifier:

AAG.GCA, File PA647

See more items in:

The Garden Club of America collection

The Garden Club of America collection / Series 1: United States Garden Images / Pennsylvania

Archival Repository:

Archives of American Gardens

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/kb660618d63-fe48-4823-a456-ba3043118157

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-aag-gca-ref16533

Garden designer:

Farley, Alice  Search this

Purple, Leslie  Search this

Provenance:

Wissahickon Garden Club  Search this

Collection Creator:

Garden Club of America  Search this

Type:

Archival materials

Place:

Cathedral Village (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)

United States of America -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia County -- Philadelphia

Scope and Contents:

The folder includes worksheets.

General:

Located in a retirement community, this small garden is comprised of three hundred square feet of gardens designed for a townhouse. The 10 by 10 foot front garden has low maintenance evergreens including a camellia, low hollies, ground cover, ivy, mondo grass, ferns and hardy cyclamens with a piece of local schist as a feature. The garden at the rear is more extensive and includes a terrace garden with container plants that is four feet deep and eight and one-half inches long, wrought iron outdoor furniture and a custom built shed. A climbing Gold Flame honeysuckle with orange flowers covers the roof of the shed in summer and attracts hummingbirds. A flagstone path divides the garden beyond a low sitting wall into two planting beds that are filled with flowering trees and shrubs including hydrangea and clematis, boxwood used as an edging, herbs and perennials. Ornaments include a rabbit weathervane, whimsical birdhouses and a bird feeding platform.

Glass windows and a glass siding door enhance bird watching from inside the townhouse. The crab apple and magnolia trees in the back garden and the shrubs create a private space for the owners.

Persons associated with the garden include Alice Farley (garden designer, 2003); Leslie Purple (garden designer, 2003).

Related Materials:

Cathedral Village related holdings consist of 1 folder (8 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.

Topic:

Gardens -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia  Search this

Collection Citation:

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.

Identifier:

AAG.GCA, File PA734

See more items in:

The Garden Club of America collection

The Garden Club of America collection / Series 1: United States Garden Images / Pennsylvania

Archival Repository:

Archives of American Gardens

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/kb6b65b013d-6ba9-4176-8211-e44830308dda

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-aag-gca-ref16538

Former owner:

Cohen, Stewart  Search this

Litman, Brenda  Search this

Mullens, Jack  Search this

Litman, Murray  Search this

Landscape designer:

Kotcho, Ron  Search this

Architect:

Smith, Brandon  Search this

Collection Creator:

Garden Club of America  Search this

Type:

Archival materials

Place:

La Petite Maison (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)

United States of America -- Pennsylvania -- Allegheny -- Pittsburgh

Scope and Contents:

The folder includes worksheets, photocopies of articles and other information.

General:

La Petite Maison is a formal garden established in 2001 on a half-acre property with the colors of the flowers and decorative elements limited to blue and white. Both the house and garden reflect French style, with lacy cast iron trim reminiscent of New Orleans. Nikko blue hydrangeas, liriope, hosta and nepeta provide the blue tones in the garden, which also features phlox, clematis, lilacs, boxwood and arborvitae. There are two terraces for entertaining, one at ground level with a fountain and one for dining off the upper story. A round mirror set in a wall at one end of the garden adds depth. A large stone urn is planted with euonymus and English ivy is another feature.

Persons associated with the garden include Jack Mullens (former owner, 1947); Stewart Cohen (former owner, 1958-1960); Brenda Litman (former owner, 1960-1978); Murray Litman (former owner, 1978-2000); Brandon Smith (architect, 1947); Ron Kotcho (landscape designer, beginning in 2001).

Related Materials:

La Petite Maison related holdings consist of 1 folder (6 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.

Topic:

Gardens -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh  Search this

Collection Citation:

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.

Identifier:

AAG.GCA, File PA689

See more items in:

The Garden Club of America collection

The Garden Club of America collection / Series 1: United States Garden Images / Pennsylvania

Archival Repository:

Archives of American Gardens

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/kb6d0b7ff26-8f80-431c-97b7-300420b4abfd

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-aag-gca-ref16550

Former owner:

Scaife, Jenny Boyle  Search this

Scaife, Marvin F.  Search this

Krieger, Karl F.  Search this

Krieger, Janet F.  Search this

Gray, Edna  Search this

Landscape architect:

Sturgeon, Everett  Search this

Owner:

Macpherson, Trevor  Search this

Macpherson, Antonia  Search this

Horticulturist:

Burgess, Joseph O.  Search this

Landscape designer:

Morton, Burt  Search this

Provenance:

Garden Club of Allegheny County  Search this

Collection Creator:

Garden Club of America  Search this

Type:

Archival materials

Place:

Reverie (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)

United States of America -- Pennsylvania -- Allegheny -- Pittsburgh

Scope and Contents:

The folder includes worksheets, photocopy of an article, and other information.

General:

From the street one can tell that Reverie was the work of a creative gardener: the yew hedges have been sculpted in a crenellated pattern. A flagstone walkway leads to the house with garden beds on either side containing ferns, ivy, toadflax and pachysandra ground covers, boxwoods and other evergreen shrubs. To one side the driveway is studded with cobblestone patches, and on the other side there is a moss garden with shade-loving perennials and shrubs including hosta and bleeding heart, hydrangeas, hollies and mountain laurel. Creeping thyme with a pink flower was used extensively as a ground cover in the entry garden, and boulders were placed around the perimeter. The gardens behind the two-story stucco house are entered through a wrought iron gate. A patio was laid with three large sandstones and randomly placed cobbles. Stone and cobble walkways lead to different parts of the garden and ground covers grow over and around the walkways. Further down in the garden there is a large rectangular koi pond flanked by two pergolas with espaliered fruit trees. A small cobblestone patio was installed next to the garage. Additional straight line hedges marking off garden beds are clipped in button and cloud patterns. In all the garden areas perennials, ground covers and evergreen and deciduous shrubs are featured.

The previous owners created this garden beginning in the 1970s with the help of landscape architect Burt Morten. In 2009, the owners worked with Joseph Burgess, a horticulturist to make changes and as employed help managing the pond for koi, gold fish, frogs and plants. The owners have made every effort to maintain the symmetry of the garden.

Persons associated with the garden include Marvin F. and Jenny Boyle Scaife (former owners, 1916-1923); John F. and Rachel Mellon Walton (former owners, 1924-1929); Gladys D. Ober (former owner, 1929-1960); James and Edna Gray (former owners, 1960-1970); Karl F. and Janet F. Krieger (former owners, 1970-2007); Burt Morton (landscape designer, 1970s); Trevor and Antonia Macpherson (2007- ); Everett Sturgeon (designer of lily pond and pergola, 1987); Joseph O. Burgess (horticulturalist, 2002- ).

Everett Sturgeon designed the lily pond and pergola.

Related Materials:

Reverie related holdings consist of 1 folder (16 digital images)

See others in:

Garden Club of American collection, ca. 1920- [ongoing].

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.

Topic:

Gardens -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh  Search this

Collection Citation:

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.

Identifier:

AAG.GCA, File PA690

See more items in:

The Garden Club of America collection

The Garden Club of America collection / Series 1: United States Garden Images / Pennsylvania

Archival Repository:

Archives of American Gardens

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/kb68efdccd4-6100-487a-8946-90c120e11d9f

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-aag-gca-ref16551

Architect:

Drake, Sarah  Search this

Button, Lamont Hartung  Search this

Landscape architect:

LeGall, Jöel C.  Search this

Blacksmith:

Weaver, Rob  Search this

Former owner:

Button, Lamont Hartung  Search this

Button, Blanche  Search this

Wiggins, Albert  Search this

Criss, Nicholas  Search this

Criss, Louise  Search this

Provenance:

Garden Club of Allegheny County  Search this

Collection Creator:

Garden Club of America  Search this

Type:

Archival materials

Place:

Cherrytree House (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)

United States of America -- Pennsylvania -- Allegheny -- Pittsburgh

Scope and Contents:

The folder includes worksheets, copy of a Lamont Button Christmas card, and other photocopies.

General:

Architect Lamont H. Button built this house for his family in the late 1920s, on a 60 by 175 foot lot that had belonged to a farm with a cherry orchard on the edge of town. Re-using discarded Belgian blocks from a street project in Pittsburgh he built a tall house with European arts and crafts features such as the deeply inset arched front door with a ceramic tile attributed to Pewabic Pottery set in a millstone as the stoop. The house is adjacent to Frick Park and landscaping of the sloped site blurs the transition between its grounds and the park. The garden in front of the house is densely planted with Japanese maples, a weeping weigela, magnolia, holly, lace-cap hydrangea and Japanese snowbell. There are stone paths and a stone bridge across a dry river rock stream that leads to a stone bench set among white azaleas. Under plantings in the front yard include pachysandra, Lenten rose, geranium, epimedium, strawberry, spring bulbs, Japanese anemones, and daisies. The doorway is wreathed by ivy and a climbing rose arches over a bay window.

There is a narrow walkway to the rear garden between the house and a grape arbor. The bluestone patio is shady and has a wall fountain with a rill cut into the patio and down the steps to the park. Plants include hosta, fern, cyclamen, lilies, astilbe, and white climbing hydrangeas, with pots on the steps and a window box filled with colorful annuals. Wisteria and fall clematis grow on an iron trellis. Steps lead down to a lower green garden paved with river gravel with a bench between two green Asian rice pots. There is an ancient oak tree thought to be at least 125 years old anchoring this garden with an understory of Solomon's seal, jack in the pulpit, and ferns. Wind chimes in the trees and a hammock for reading are in another secret garden further down the hill.

Persons associated with the garden include: Lamont Hartung and Blanche Button (former owners, 1927); Albert and Wiggins (former owners, dates unknown); Nicholas and Louise Criss (former owners, 1958-1995); Lamont Hartung Button, AIA (architect, 1920s?); Sarah Drake, AIA (architect, 1995); Joel C. LeGall, ASLA (landscape architect); Rob Weaver (metal work)

Related Materials:

Cherrytree House related holdings consist of 1 folder (22 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.

Topic:

Gardens -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh  Search this

Collection Citation:

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.

Identifier:

AAG.GCA, File PA753

See more items in:

The Garden Club of America collection

The Garden Club of America collection / Series 1: United States Garden Images / Pennsylvania

Archival Repository:

Archives of American Gardens

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/kb69ea593a0-5af1-4371-b3b5-1f40c2fd3f2e

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-aag-gca-ref16555

Former owner:

Spahr, Albert H.  Search this

Arrott, James  Search this

Oliver, Henry  Search this

LLoyd, Finley  Search this

Adams, Isabel  Search this

Architect:

Spahr, Albert H.  Search this

Provenance:

Garden Club of Allegheny County  Search this

Collection Creator:

Garden Club of America  Search this

Type:

Archival materials

Place:

The Spahr House Garden (Sewickley, Pennsylvania)

United States of America -- Pennsylvania -- Allegheny County -- Sewickley

Scope and Contents:

The folder includes worksheets, photocopies of articles and other information including garden tour brochures.

General:

Architect Albert H. Spahr designed this Tudor-inspired home for himself in 1904 but by 1970 the remnants of the original garden, including lilacs, spirea and mock oranges were overgrown. The current owners started over, respecting the leafy shade provided by mature trees but creating a formal garden that includes clipped dwarf yews as a foundation planting, clipped boxwood borders, curbside tree lilacs, white fringe trees that remind the owner of her Virginia roots, and a Japanese maple at the garden gate. The flowering shrubs, perennials, annuals and bulbs in this garden all produce white flowers in keeping with the formal structure. The fencing and outdoor furniture are wrought iron and one graceful statuary fountain is sited in the brick terrace at the foot of the garden.

The Spahr House Garden features an atmosphere of cool formality rather than cottage-style variety. The owners have participated in many charitable garden tours.

Persons associated with the garden include Albert H. Spahr (architect and former owner, 1904); James Arrott (former owner, 1918); Henry Oliver (former owner, 1930); Finley Lloyd (former owner, 1947); Isabel Adams (former owner, 1958); Melissa Marshall, ASLA (landscape architect/advisor, 1980); Mollie Amsler (horticulturalist/advisor, 1980); James P. Edson (arborist, 1980-present).

Related Materials:

The Spahr House Garden related holdings consist of 1 folder (6 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.

Topic:

Gardens -- Pennsylvania -- Sewickley  Search this

Collection Citation:

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.

Identifier:

AAG.GCA, File PA669

See more items in:

The Garden Club of America collection

The Garden Club of America collection / Series 1: United States Garden Images / Pennsylvania

Archival Repository:

Archives of American Gardens

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/kb6fbc6d5c9-ab32-43a1-ada5-507289b8e295

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-aag-gca-ref16573

Former owner:

Robinson, Stewart, Mrs.  Search this

Devins, Harry  Search this

Devins, Harry, Mrs.  Search this

Landscape architect:

Smith, Elise Keely  Search this

Gardener:

Vaccaro, Michele  Search this

Provenance:

Garden Club of Allegheny County  Search this

Collection Creator:

Garden Club of America  Search this

Type:

Archival materials

Place:

Topiary Folly (Sewickley, Pennsylvania)

United States of America -- Pennsylvania -- Allegheny -- Sewickley

Scope and Contents:

The folder includes worksheets and a photocopy of an article.

General:

The fenced one-acre property had a sloping terraced garden on three levels with a woodlands in back and a circa 1955 house with French-influenced styling. The holly foundation hedge was diseased, an arbor vitae hedge had grown out of bounds, the perennials and flowering shrubs on the terraces had become unsightly, and the woodlands, which were populated by deer, needed clearing and shaping. The first project was the woodlands: a meandering path and brick seating area were installed and the cleared understory was replanted with azaleas, rhododendrons and oak leaf hydrangeas. Below the woodlands a 30 by 60 feet open space was a trial area for roses and hydrangeas but now is planted with a circle of clipped boxwood surrounding yellow roses and an antique iron urn, with an outer circle of clipped white azaleas surrounding topiary balls.

The three terraces are marked off by low dry stone walls and feature alternating shapes of topiary boxwood and arbor vitae in beds approximately 100 feet long, separated by gravel paths. Occasional statues and planted containers enhance the formality of the terrace garden. At the end of these rows there is a rose arbor that marks the beginning of another garden, perpendicular to the terraces, that has more topiary shapes, roses, perennials and occasionally annuals planted in rows. In front of the house the foundation beds are planted with various shaped topiary, too.

Persons associated with the garden include: Mrs. Stewart Robinson (former owner, 1955-1974); Mr. and Mrs. Harry Devins (former owners, 1974-2006); Elise Keely Smith (woodland designer, 2006); Michele Vaccaro (gardening services, 2006).

Related Materials:

Topiary Folly 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.

Topic:

Gardens -- Pennsylvania -- Sewickley  Search this

Collection Citation:

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.

Identifier:

AAG.GCA, File PA739

See more items in:

The Garden Club of America collection

The Garden Club of America collection / Series 1: United States Garden Images / Pennsylvania

Archival Repository:

Archives of American Gardens

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/kb6efcbe440-0c16-4a8b-80c7-12914d569ee8

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-aag-gca-ref16577

Former owner:

Hannaway, Peter J.  Search this

Hannaway, Gertrude T. Mrs  Search this

Architect:

Smith, Brandon, 1931-1935  Search this

Landscape designer:

Keely, Elise E., 2008  Search this

Provenance:

Village Garden Club of Sewickley  Search this

Collection Creator:

Garden Club of America  Search this

Type:

Archival materials

Digital images

Photographic prints

Place:

Beeches (Sewickley, Pennsylvania)

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.

Topic:

Gardens -- Pennsylvania -- Sewickley  Search this

Genre/Form:

Digital images

Photographic prints

Collection Citation:

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.

Identifier:

AAG.GCA, File PA831

See more items in:

The Garden Club of America collection

The Garden Club of America collection / Series 1: United States Garden Images / Pennsylvania

Archival Repository:

Archives of American Gardens

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/kb6a2b86f96-ea96-4ed7-b05b-b925df2b72c2

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-aag-gca-ref16578

Former owner:

Mitchell, J. Kearsley  Search this

Mitchell, J. Kearsley Mrs.  Search this

Perkins, Chiswell  Search this

Perkins, Chiswell Mrs.  Search this

Wheeler, Arthur Mrs.  Search this

Wheeler, Arthur  Search this

Architect:

Durham, Walter K. (Walter Kremer), 1896-1978  Search this

Lederach, Philip  Search this

Shehab, Tara Kolff  Search this

Landscape designer:

Hallmark, Andrea  Search this

Provenance:

The Garden Workers  Search this

Creator:

Holly Days Nursery  Search this

Collection Creator:

Garden Club of America  Search this

Type:

Archival materials

Place:

Gardens of Red Rose (Villanova, Pennsylvania)

United States of America -- Pennsylvania -- Montgomery -- Villanova

Scope and Contents:

The folder includes worksheets, plant lists, list of pieces and sculptures with names of sculptors and historical information.

General:

Native stone walls and sandstone steps from circa 1900 can be seen in some of the twelve distinct garden areas on this three and one-third acre property. The plant selections, sculptures and ornaments in each garden room provide four seasons of interest. Contoured paths and views connect the different rooms. At the entrance to the property there is a custom made hand-forged iron gate and hollies intended to keep deer away from the gardens. A substantial gravel court with a Vermont granite millstone in its center at the front of the house opens to a four-season garden with tulips, phlox and dianthus in the spring, blooming rock garden plants and pink azaleas in summer, asters and chrysanthemums in fall, and winter interest from yellow and red twig dogwoods and witch hazels. Across the courtyard the sandstone steps lead to the woodland garden that has a stepping stone path, rhododendrons, redbud, hosta, forget-me-nots, columbine and other shade perennials. The woodlands overlook the kidney-shaped swimming pool and its plantings including shrub roses, peonies, crepe myrtles, perennials and annuals along the surrounding rail fence. A red painted concrete giant pomegranate gives the name to the pomegranate garden which has Japanese maples, willow and gold spirea.

A sunken brick patio that was original to the property has child-sized wrought iron furniture, shaped cherry trees and a bronze fox sculpture. A fish pond has been added to another sunken area with an original fieldstone wall, with plantings that include hydrangea, skimmia and witch hazel. Nearby there is a fountain garden with a painted concrete mushroom tree with skimmia, mountain laurel and daffodils planted around this water source for birds. Next to the house there is the colorful inner view garden planted with hundreds of tulips and summer annuals in colors that complement the furnishings inside. A blue atlas cedar is espaliered on the house next to the rear patio; the bed across the patio includes smoke bush, viburnum, southern magnolia, hosta and ferns. A steeply sloping bank, known as the Red Rose Inn overlook garden, has a switchback path, native trees, daffodils and other native plants to encourage wildlife and birds. The garage and greenhouse outbuilding is used for orchids and over-wintering plants, with a perennial and annuals cutting garden that includes tree peonies, calla lilies and day lilies, shasta daisies, freesia and plumbago. A butterfly garden with a custom butterfly-shaped bench includes hosta, milkweed, allium, asters and catmint.

The Gardens of Red Rose has been designated a bird habitat by Audubon at Home, with many bird feeders, the watering fountain, native plants in the hillside overlook garden, and deer fencing that encourage visiting birds and small wildlife. The Garden Conservancy, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society and the centennial celebration of the Garden Club of America have toured this garden.

Persons associated with the garden include Mr. and Mrs. J. Kearsley Mitchell (former owners, 1911-1959); Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Wheeler (former owners, 1955-1966); Mr. and Mrs. Chiswell Perkins (former owners, 1966-1978); Walter K. Durham (1886-1978)(architect, 1955); Philip Lederach (architect, 1988-1999); Tara Kolff Shehab (architect, 2006); Andrea Hallmark (landscape designer); Holly Days Nursery.

Related Materials:

Gardens of Red Rose related holdings consist of 1 folder (32 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.

Topic:

Gardens -- Pennsylvania -- Villanova  Search this

Collection Citation:

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.

Identifier:

AAG.GCA, File PA754

See more items in:

The Garden Club of America collection

The Garden Club of America collection / Series 1: United States Garden Images / Pennsylvania

Archival Repository:

Archives of American Gardens

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/kb6ff6715e8-6eef-4c23-ac6c-e02b721212b1

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-aag-gca-ref16584

Provenance:

Wissahickon Garden Club  Search this

Collection Creator:

Garden Club of America  Search this

Type:

Archival materials

Place:

Nuages (Glenside, Pennsylvania)

United States of America -- Pennsylvania -- Montgomery County -- Glenside

Scope and Contents:

The folder includes a worksheet and site plan.

General:

The land in 1991 was a terraced hillside. The gardens were designed formally, with white and gold iron fences, pools and fountains, column trees and hedges. When the present owners puchased the property, much of the grounds were overgrown. The current garden space is on five levels, adding to its interest looking down from the terrace, or through French doors from the house. Each level is planned for its own character, but intended to work together. The lowest level has a small swimming pool (40'x15'). The intermediate levels contain lawn, flowerbeds, fountains and paths. Two spaces are set apart by column trees. A side garden includes an eight-foot dove-cote. Beyond the lowest wall is a meadow extending down to a small stream.

Persons associated with the garden include: Mr. and Mrs. Gill (former owners, ? - 1980s); Mr. and Mrs. D. Heck (former owners, 1980s-1991); and Martin Smith (gardener).

Related Materials:

Nuages related holdings consist of 1 folder (15 35 mm. slides)

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.

Topic:

Gardens -- Pennsylvania -- Glenside  Search this

Formal gardens  Search this

Collection Citation:

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.

Identifier:

AAG.GCA, File PA639

See more items in:

The Garden Club of America collection

The Garden Club of America collection / Series 1: United States Garden Images / Pennsylvania

Archival Repository:

Archives of American Gardens

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/kb695f45627-5703-42cd-a008-2728e68f58d5

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-aag-gca-ref16615

Photographer:

Sutton, Violette W.  Search this

Collection Creator:

Garden Club of America  Search this

Extent:

1 Slides (photographs) (col., 35 mm.)

Type:

Archival materials

Slides (photographs)

Place:

Glenderro Farm (Coatesville, Pennsylvania)

United States of America -- Pennsylvania -- Chester County -- Coatesville

Date:

2003 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.

Topic:

Gardens -- Pennsylvania -- Coatesville  Search this

Fences  Search this

Evergreens  Search this

Trees  Search this

Perennials  Search this

Lawns  Search this

Shrubs  Search this

Collection Citation:

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.

Identifier:

AAG.GCA, Item PA643004

See more items in:

The Garden Club of America collection

The Garden Club of America collection / Series 1: United States Garden Images / Pennsylvania / PA643: Coatesville -- Glenderro Farm

Archival Repository:

Archives of American Gardens

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/kb6cd3e992c-dcba-4ead-84ae-98f1abb629d5

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-aag-gca-ref16720

Collection Creator:

Garden Club of America  Search this

Extent:

1 Slides (photographs) (col.)

Type:

Archival materials

Slides (photographs)

Place:

Pennsylvania -- Devon

Laywell Farm (Devon, Pennsylvania)

United States of America -- Pennsylvania -- Chester County -- Devon

Date:

1940.

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.

Topic:

Summer  Search this

Walls (building)  Search this

Fountains  Search this

Patios, brick  Search this

Tables  Search this

Outdoor furniture  Search this

Benches, iron  Search this

Aquatic plants  Search this

Evergreens  Search this

Gardens -- Pennsylvania -- Devon  Search this

Collection Citation:

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.

Identifier:

AAG.GCA, Item PA051002

See more items in:

The Garden Club of America collection

The Garden Club of America collection / Series 1: United States Garden Images / Pennsylvania / PA051: Devon -- Laywell Farm

Archival Repository:

Archives of American Gardens

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/kb6c43f4de4-434d-44fc-82bd-9946d3b2f88a

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-aag-gca-ref16730