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Catalog Data

Former owner:
Olmsted, Albert H.  Search this
Greeley, Howard  Search this
Bennett, Thomas  Search this
Newlin, Lilian  Search this
Fissell, Ethel  Search this
Claggett, C. Thomas  Search this
Bove, Maria  Search this
Bove, Michael III  Search this
de Savary, Peter  Search this
Hamilton, Dorrance H.  Search this
Garden designer:
Hamilton, Dorrance H.  Search this
Architect:
Gill, Irving, 1870-1936  Search this
Spencer, Madison  Search this
Landscape architect:
Olmsted Brothers  Search this
Olmsted, John Charles, 1852-1920  Search this
Gardener:
Quarry, Dave  Search this
Landscape designer:
Flanagan, Mary Ellen  Search this
Provenance:
Newport Garden Club  Search this
Collection Creator:
Garden Club of America  Search this
Type:
Archival materials
Place:
Wildacre (Newport, Rhode Island)
United States of America -- Rhode Island -- Newport -- Newport
Scope and Contents:
The folder includes worksheets, oversize photocopies of original plans, images, and articles.
General:
The Olmsted Brothers' 1901 design for the one-acre gardens within a seven-acre seaside property exemplified the great interest in Japonism at that time, featuring a koi pond, tea shelter, and thatch roofed parasols. The landscape design complemented California architect Irving John Gill's 1902 house, described as an Arts & Crafts variation on the New England shingle style with oriental features. The site is a rocky outcropping above a saltwater cove and the gardens highlighted natural features such as rocky outcroppings while preserving the wild character of the location. Wildacre, also known as the Japanese garden, was designed as a strolling garden with both open views of the ocean and composed garden rooms. Nearly 100 years later the garden was rejuvenated with reference to the original Olmsted plans and drawings.
The restoration included planting replacement specimen trees and adding a mixed layer of deciduous and evergreen trees as a privacy barrier along the road since the property had been reduced to 2.5 acres. A dense privet hedge clipped to resemble waves that acts as a buffer against the ocean was restored, and a gravel bocce court was installed nearby. Mostly white flowering trees, shrubs, bulbs and perennials were included in the predominantly green planting scheme. Gardens include the Japanese-themed entrance garden with a momi fir planted by Olmsted, a new Zen garden, a wisteria-covered tea shelter and surrounding garden, a pond garden, iris garden, peony garden, mountain garden and mountain top built from local rock. Many varieties of hosta, ferns, ornamental grasses, succulents, mosses, azaleas and conifers were planted throughout the property.
Persons associated with the garden include Albert H. Olmsted (1842-1929) (former owner, 1901- ); Howard Greeley (former owner, 1924- ); Thomas Bennett (former owner, 1929- ); Lilian Newlin (former owner, 1932- ); Ethel Fissell (former owner, 1935- ); C. Thomas Claggett (former owner, 1945- ); Maria Bove (former owner, 1953- ); Michael Bove III (former owner, 1982- ); Peter de Savary (former owner, 1997- ); Dorrance H. Hamilton (former owner, 1998- ); Irving John Gill (1870-1936) (architect, 1902); Madison Spencer (restoration architect, 1998); Olmsted Brothers (landscape architects, 1899-1902); Dave Quarry (head gardener, 1998-2013); Mary Ellen Flanagan (landscape designer, 1998- ); Dorrance H. Hamilton (garden designer, 1998-2013).
See also 35mm copy of 1919 postcard in the Richard Marchand Historical Postcard Collection. Image number RI091_MAR001.
Related Materials:
Wildacre related holdings consist of 3 folders (4 35mm slides; 20 digital images)
Records related to this site can be found at the Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site, Olmsted Job Number 02261, A. H. Olmsted, 'Wildacre.'
See others in:
Richard Marchand historical postcard collection, circa 1900s-1970s, bulk 1920-1940s.
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 -- Rhode Island -- Newport  Search this
Collection Citation:
Smithsonian Institution, Archives of American Gardens, The Garden Club of America collection.
Identifier:
AAG.GCA, File RI091
See more items in:
The Garden Club of America collection
The Garden Club of America collection / Series 1: United States Garden Images / Rhode Island
Archival Repository:
Archives of American Gardens
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/kb6e74218e3-7e43-4fb4-9e55-3c50ab2048ba
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-aag-gca-ref10570