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Catalog Data

Landscape architect:
Maguire, Diana  Search this
Watson, Barbara  Search this
Landscape designer:
Haskell, Allen C.  Search this
Horticulturist:
Haskell, Allen C.  Search this
Gardener:
Kiser, Chuck  Search this
Former owner:
Webb, St. John Mr. Mrs.  Search this
Provenance:
Garden Club of Buzzards Bay  Search this
Collection Creator:
Garden Club of America  Search this
Type:
Archival materials
Place:
Ferry House Garden, The (South Dartmouth, Massachusetts)
United States of America -- Massachusetts -- Bristol County -- South Dartmouth
Scope and Contents:
The folder includes worksheets, site plans, garden designs with plant names, and additional information.
General:
The Ferry House and its gardens are situated on an isthmus facing Buzzards Bay on the south, the Slocum's River on the west, and the Little River on the east. The house was built in the 1760s, served as a tavern for (among others) mariners awaiting a favorable tide in the nearby cove, and as a station on the Underground Railroad. As a working farm, the property provided enrichment to the soil in the current garden from the numbers of animals both living there and passing through over time. The first formal Ferry House garden was designed by former owners Mr. and Mrs. St. John Webb, who filled the space with specimen boxwood as well as boxwood parterres. New owners in the 1970s commissioned landscape designers Barbara Watson and Diane Maguire, who redesigned the garden interior, retaining the existing yew hedges, grape arbor, columns and millstone. Two small stone terraces were constructed in the lower garden while the boxwood parterres were replaced with lawn and perennial borders of mixed colors and plant material, while a small bed was dedicated to blue. In 2000 Allen C. Haskell renewed the garden with large drifts of nepeta, gaura, and a border of miniature boxwood, which continues into the upper garden. The palette of the upper garden is lavender, blue, and white, with two espaliered apple trees and ornamental grasses in the corners. A grape arbor features David Austin 'Eden Climber' roses as well as Clematis paniculata. In 1996 a Greek folly was created on a wooded point overlooking Buzzards Bay. The five freestanding columns in a temple-like setting provide a "theater" for plays, picnics, and other festive occasions.
Persons associated with the garden include Diana Maguire (landscape architect, 1977-1978); Barbara Watson (landscape architect, 1977-1978); Allen C. Haskell (landscape designer and horticulturist (2000); Chuck Kiser (gardener, 1990 to date); and Mr. and Mrs. St. John Webb (former owners, 1945-1976).
Related Materials:
The Ferry House Garden related holdings consist of 1 folder (20 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 -- Massachusetts -- South Dartmouth  Search this
Collection Citation:
Smithsonian Institution, Archives of American Gardens, The Garden Club of America collection.
Identifier:
AAG.GCA, File MA354
See more items in:
The Garden Club of America collection
The Garden Club of America collection / Series 1: United States Garden Images / Massachusetts
Archival Repository:
Archives of American Gardens
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/kb685beca5c-6827-48c8-bfae-905eb7623ca1
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-aag-gca-ref17665