United States of America -- Tennessee -- Knox County -- Knoxville
Date:
1987 Feb.
Local Call Number(s):
10296
General:
A copy of one of the ca. 1935 images. There is an additional 35 mm. duplicate.
Collection Restrictions:
Access to original archival materials by appointment only. Researcher must submit request for appointment in writing. Certain items may be restricted and not available to researchers. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.
Collection Rights:
Archives of American Gardens encourages the use of its archival materials for non-commercial, educational and personal use under the fair use provision of U.S. copyright law. Use or copyright restrictions may exist. It is incumbent upon the researcher to ascertain copyright status and assume responsibility for usage. All requests for duplication and use must be submitted in writing and approved by Archives of American Gardens. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.
Smithsonian Institution, Archives of American Gardens, The Garden Club of America collection.
Sponsor:
A project to describe images in this finding aid received Federal support from the Smithsonian Collections Care Initiative, administered by the National Collections Program.
United States of America -- Tennessee -- Shelby County -- Memphis
Date:
05/01/1985
General:
Facing north from park.
Collection Restrictions:
Access to original archival materials by appointment only. Researcher must submit request for appointment in writing. Certain items may be restricted and not available to researchers. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.
Collection Rights:
Archives of American Gardens encourages the use of its archival materials for non-commercial, educational and personal use under the fair use provision of U.S. copyright law. Use or copyright restrictions may exist. It is incumbent upon the researcher to ascertain copyright status and assume responsibility for usage. All requests for duplication and use must be submitted in writing and approved by Archives of American Gardens. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.
Smithsonian Institution, Archives of American Gardens, The Garden Club of America collection.
Sponsor:
A project to describe images in this finding aid received Federal support from the Smithsonian Collections Care Initiative, administered by the National Collections Program.
United States of America -- Tennessee -- Davidson County -- Nashville
Date:
1930
General:
Facing house from driveway.
Collection Restrictions:
Access to original archival materials by appointment only. Researcher must submit request for appointment in writing. Certain items may be restricted and not available to researchers. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.
Collection Rights:
Archives of American Gardens encourages the use of its archival materials for non-commercial, educational and personal use under the fair use provision of U.S. copyright law. Use or copyright restrictions may exist. It is incumbent upon the researcher to ascertain copyright status and assume responsibility for usage. All requests for duplication and use must be submitted in writing and approved by Archives of American Gardens. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.
Smithsonian Institution, Archives of American Gardens, The Garden Club of America collection.
Sponsor:
A project to describe images in this finding aid received Federal support from the Smithsonian Collections Care Initiative, administered by the National Collections Program.
United States of America -- Tennessee -- Davidson County -- Nashville
Date:
1983
General:
The house was purchased in 1969 and a swimming pool, bath house, library and extensive gardens have been added. Round garden from crabtree allee.
Collection Restrictions:
Access to original archival materials by appointment only. Researcher must submit request for appointment in writing. Certain items may be restricted and not available to researchers. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.
Collection Rights:
Archives of American Gardens encourages the use of its archival materials for non-commercial, educational and personal use under the fair use provision of U.S. copyright law. Use or copyright restrictions may exist. It is incumbent upon the researcher to ascertain copyright status and assume responsibility for usage. All requests for duplication and use must be submitted in writing and approved by Archives of American Gardens. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.
Smithsonian Institution, Archives of American Gardens, The Garden Club of America collection.
Sponsor:
A project to describe images in this finding aid received Federal support from the Smithsonian Collections Care Initiative, administered by the National Collections Program.
United States of America -- Tennessee -- Davidson County -- Nashville
Date:
1983
General:
The house was purchased in 1969 and a swimming pool, bath house, library and extensive gardens have been added. Round garden from crabtree allee from parterre.
Collection Restrictions:
Access to original archival materials by appointment only. Researcher must submit request for appointment in writing. Certain items may be restricted and not available to researchers. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.
Collection Rights:
Archives of American Gardens encourages the use of its archival materials for non-commercial, educational and personal use under the fair use provision of U.S. copyright law. Use or copyright restrictions may exist. It is incumbent upon the researcher to ascertain copyright status and assume responsibility for usage. All requests for duplication and use must be submitted in writing and approved by Archives of American Gardens. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.
Smithsonian Institution, Archives of American Gardens, The Garden Club of America collection.
Sponsor:
A project to describe images in this finding aid received Federal support from the Smithsonian Collections Care Initiative, administered by the National Collections Program.
United States of America -- Tennessee -- Davidson County -- Nashville
Date:
1987 Feb.
General:
Although February 1987 is the date shown on the slide mount, the image was probably taken in 1986.
There is a duplicate 35-mm slide.
Collection Restrictions:
Access to original archival materials by appointment only. Researcher must submit request for appointment in writing. Certain items may be restricted and not available to researchers. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.
Collection Rights:
Archives of American Gardens encourages the use of its archival materials for non-commercial, educational and personal use under the fair use provision of U.S. copyright law. Use or copyright restrictions may exist. It is incumbent upon the researcher to ascertain copyright status and assume responsibility for usage. All requests for duplication and use must be submitted in writing and approved by Archives of American Gardens. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.
Smithsonian Institution, Archives of American Gardens, The Garden Club of America collection.
Sponsor:
A project to describe images in this finding aid received Federal support from the Smithsonian Collections Care Initiative, administered by the National Collections Program.
United States of America -- Tennessee -- Davidson County -- Nashville
Date:
1987 Feb.
General:
Although February 1987 is the date shown on the slide mount, the image was probably taken in 1986.
There is one duplicate 35-mm slide.
Collection Restrictions:
Access to original archival materials by appointment only. Researcher must submit request for appointment in writing. Certain items may be restricted and not available to researchers. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.
Collection Rights:
Archives of American Gardens encourages the use of its archival materials for non-commercial, educational and personal use under the fair use provision of U.S. copyright law. Use or copyright restrictions may exist. It is incumbent upon the researcher to ascertain copyright status and assume responsibility for usage. All requests for duplication and use must be submitted in writing and approved by Archives of American Gardens. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.
Smithsonian Institution, Archives of American Gardens, The Garden Club of America collection.
Sponsor:
A project to describe images in this finding aid received Federal support from the Smithsonian Collections Care Initiative, administered by the National Collections Program.
United States of America -- Vermont -- Bennington County -- Manchester
Scope and Contents:
The folder includes a worksheet, narrative description of the garden, and a garden plan.
General:
The term "glebe land," from which this garden takes its name, means land owned by a church, and the owner of this property pays a yearly glebe rent to Zion Episcopal Church. Pockets of glebe land (many of which still exist) throughout the village of Manchester and on nearby Mt. Equinox, when rented out in the 18th and 19th centuries for grazing, provided revenue for the church. A focal point for the property today is a 100-yard long marble dam, which dates from the 1840s when the property was a marble mill. It now provides water for the lower swimming pond. The hillside across the upper pond is all marble chips and displays a host of daffodils in the spring. The shell fountain in the secret garden is fed by the waterfall from the dam. The formal garden was started in the 1930s and is entered through the orchard, which is underplanted with naturalized narcissus. Ornaments of diverse origin are encountered, including marble balls that were the tops of gateposts at "Avalon," the Princeton, New Jersey, home of the theologian and hymn-writer Henry Van Dyck, and which were liberated by the owner's mother when that property was torn down. An Italian marble table and wrought iron gates and grilles came from New Orleans, while a wrought iron arc, originally a fanlight, was salvaged from a demolished bank in New York City. The small pool of Portuguese tile at the end of the peony allee is known as "Polly's bathtub," and is where the owner's mother cooled herself after gardening. Flower beds are edged with bricks removed from a heart-shaped patio once found in front of a large rock. The succulents in the patio were put on the rock and compete with moss for survival. The marble walls which contain the formal beds were built in the 1950s. The caisson housing the bubble fountain is what remained after a marble column had been extracted. The caissons were used as culverts on local roads and here have been cut in half to make garden seats. Richard Olcott, F.A.I.A., designed the reflecting pool in 1995.
Persons associated with the garden include: Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Carver (former owners, 1892-1913); Mr. and Mrs. William Prettyman (former owners, 1913-1921); Joseph Leiter and Franklin Remington (Carver trustees, 1921-1923); Mr. and Mrs. William Powers (former owners, 1923-1929); Mr. and Mrs. George Hardy (former owners, 1929-1931); Mr. and Mrs. Anton G. Hardy (former owners, 1931-1985); and Richard M. Olcott (architect, 1995).
Related Materials:
Glebelands related holdings consist of 1 folder (19 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.
Smithsonian Institution, Archives of American Gardens, The Garden Club of America collection.
Sponsor:
A project to describe images in this finding aid received Federal support from the Smithsonian Collections Care Initiative, administered by the National Collections Program.
United States of America -- Vermont -- Bennington County -- Manchester
Date:
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.
Smithsonian Institution, Archives of American Gardens, The Garden Club of America collection.
Sponsor:
A project to describe images in this finding aid received Federal support from the Smithsonian Collections Care Initiative, administered by the National Collections Program.
United States of America -- Vermont -- Bennington County -- Manchester
Date:
1999.
Collection Restrictions:
Access to original archival materials by appointment only. Researcher must submit request for appointment in writing. Certain items may be restricted and not available to researchers. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.
Collection Rights:
Archives of American Gardens encourages the use of its archival materials for non-commercial, educational and personal use under the fair use provision of U.S. copyright law. Use or copyright restrictions may exist. It is incumbent upon the researcher to ascertain copyright status and assume responsibility for usage. All requests for duplication and use must be submitted in writing and approved by Archives of American Gardens. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.
Smithsonian Institution, Archives of American Gardens, The Garden Club of America collection.
Sponsor:
A project to describe images in this finding aid received Federal support from the Smithsonian Collections Care Initiative, administered by the National Collections Program.
United States of America -- Washington -- Pierce County -- Orting
Scope and Contents:
The folder includes worksheets, a garden plan, copies of articles and brochures about the garden, and other information.
General:
This 4.5 acre garden is on a seven-acre site developed and maintained over the years by the property's owners. The site was purchased in 1943, but moved there in 1959. The area immediately around the house was designed by A. Rex Zumwalt in 1962 and evokes the spirit of a Japanese garden, while the adjacent second-growth woodland of fir, western red cedar, and hemlock hosts a variety of native plants. Other features include a meadow, mixed shrub beds, an allée of Lewisia cotyledon, cultivated pines and firs, and a magnificent view of Mount Rainier. The property is affiliated with The Garden Conservancy.
Persons associated with the garden include: A. Rex Zumwalt (landscape architect, 1962).
Related Materials:
Chase Garden related holdings consist of 1 folder (7 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 -- Washington (State) -- Orting 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.
1 Photograph (lantern slide, hand-colored, 3.25 x 4 in.)
Type:
Archival materials
Photographs
Lantern slides
Place:
Washington (State) -- Tacoma
Thornewood (Tacoma, Washington)
United States of America -- Washington -- Pierce County -- Tacoma
Date:
1933 Aug.
General:
Mount reads: "Asahel Curtis; Commercial Photographer; 625 Colman Block, Seattle."
Historic plate number: "photographers ID label: negative no. "60062"."
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.
Gardens -- Washington (State) -- Tacoma Search this
Genre/Form:
Lantern slides
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.
United States of America -- Wisconsin -- Walworth County -- Lake Geneva
General:
Persons associated with property include: Frank Rehm (former owner from 1904-1945); Merrill Bengston (former owner from 1945-1949); John Carpenter Clarke (former owner from 1949-1955); Christian Lauritzen (former owner); Richard E. Schmidt (architect); Jens Jenson (landscape architect).
"Frank Rehm put in the mile long driveway lined with elms. When elm disease struck the allee ws replanted by maples. There are still several elms at the entrances."
"In 1945 when Merrill Bengston bought the house, he removed the two stories, the beautiful double staircase and a library."
"The landscaping by Jens Jenson never was changed, but it is a smaller version of Henry Ford's property in Grosse Point, MI."
Related Materials:
Allview related holdings consist of 1 folder (13 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.
Smithsonian Institution, Archives of American Gardens, The Garden Club of America collection.
Sponsor:
A project to describe images in this finding aid received Federal support from the Smithsonian Collections Care Initiative, administered by the National Collections Program.
United States of America -- Wisconsin -- Walworth County -- Lake Geneva
Date:
1997 Aug.
General:
One 35 mm slide with simular view. View of mile long maple allee.
Collection Restrictions:
Access to original archival materials by appointment only. Researcher must submit request for appointment in writing. Certain items may be restricted and not available to researchers. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.
Collection Rights:
Archives of American Gardens encourages the use of its archival materials for non-commercial, educational and personal use under the fair use provision of U.S. copyright law. Use or copyright restrictions may exist. It is incumbent upon the researcher to ascertain copyright status and assume responsibility for usage. All requests for duplication and use must be submitted in writing and approved by Archives of American Gardens. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.
Smithsonian Institution, Archives of American Gardens, The Garden Club of America collection.
Sponsor:
A project to describe images in this finding aid received Federal support from the Smithsonian Collections Care Initiative, administered by the National Collections Program.
United States of America -- Wisconsin -- Manitowoc County -- Manitowoc
Date:
08/02/1995
General:
Allee
Collection Restrictions:
Access to original archival materials by appointment only. Researcher must submit request for appointment in writing. Certain items may be restricted and not available to researchers. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.
Collection Rights:
Archives of American Gardens encourages the use of its archival materials for non-commercial, educational and personal use under the fair use provision of U.S. copyright law. Use or copyright restrictions may exist. It is incumbent upon the researcher to ascertain copyright status and assume responsibility for usage. All requests for duplication and use must be submitted in writing and approved by Archives of American Gardens. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.
Smithsonian Institution, Archives of American Gardens, The Garden Club of America collection.
Sponsor:
A project to describe images in this finding aid received Federal support from the Smithsonian Collections Care Initiative, administered by the National Collections Program.
United States of America -- Wisconsin -- Milwaukee County -- Milwaukee
Date:
1967 Jul.
General:
English house. Landscaped by Fitz Hugh Scott.
Collection Restrictions:
Access to original archival materials by appointment only. Researcher must submit request for appointment in writing. Certain items may be restricted and not available to researchers. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.
Collection Rights:
Archives of American Gardens encourages the use of its archival materials for non-commercial, educational and personal use under the fair use provision of U.S. copyright law. Use or copyright restrictions may exist. It is incumbent upon the researcher to ascertain copyright status and assume responsibility for usage. All requests for duplication and use must be submitted in writing and approved by Archives of American Gardens. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.
Smithsonian Institution, Archives of American Gardens, The Garden Club of America collection.
Sponsor:
A project to describe images in this finding aid received Federal support from the Smithsonian Collections Care Initiative, administered by the National Collections Program.
United States of America -- West Virginia -- Kanawha County -- Malden
General:
"The gardens at Kanawha Salines are particularly interesting as the product of female owners Nelle Coleman Alderson Dickinson and her daughter, Mary Price Dickinson Ratrie, as well as female designers and gardeners." The gardens include an immense American Elm, planted by Mrs. Ratrie as a child and a parterre with box hedges, rosebeds, and herbaceous perennial borders."
"Salt was produced here from 1817 until 1945, and shipped by the Kanawha River and later rail as far as New Orleans and Pittsburgh. The farm fields pasture a small herd of Belted Galloway cattle and a number of 'family' horses and ponies. Mrs. Ratrie's garden center and nursery, 'Terra Salis', is located on the edge of the farm."
"The property features a glorious vista of wooded hills, another of the Kanawha River, and an all-white pond garden reached by an allée of Prunus campanulata 'Okame'. There is a viburnum collection of 16 species/varieties; a 60-foot hemerocallis and narcissus border; several beds of species roses and syringa varieties; many specimen trees, both deciduous and evergreen; and a terrace, overlooking tennis courts, sheltered by a 40-foot pergola covered with wisteria, floribunda, and clematis. The house and outbuildings, including a 'garden' building, barns, storehouses, and cottages, are part of a historic property in continuous ownership by the Dickinson family since the early 1800's."
Persons associated with the property include: William Dickinson, Sr., (former owner, 1840-1863); William Dickinson, Jr. (former owner, 1863-1865); Mr. and Mrs. John Quincy Dickinson (former owners, 1865-1896); Mr. and Mrs. Charles C. Dickinson (former owners, 1896-1958); May S. Harman (landscape designer, 1927-1929); Frances Dillon (landscape designer,1958-1969); Alice Recknagel Ireys (landscape designer, 1980 to date); and Holly Hoffman (landscape designer, 1989-1995).
Related Materials:
Kanawha Salines related holdings consist of 1 folder (10 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.
Smithsonian Institution, Archives of American Gardens, The Garden Club of America collection.
Sponsor:
A project to describe images in this finding aid received Federal support from the Smithsonian Collections Care Initiative, administered by the National Collections Program.
United States of America -- West Virginia -- Kanawha County -- Malden
Date:
1995 Jun.
Collection Restrictions:
Access to original archival materials by appointment only. Researcher must submit request for appointment in writing. Certain items may be restricted and not available to researchers. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.
Collection Rights:
Archives of American Gardens encourages the use of its archival materials for non-commercial, educational and personal use under the fair use provision of U.S. copyright law. Use or copyright restrictions may exist. It is incumbent upon the researcher to ascertain copyright status and assume responsibility for usage. All requests for duplication and use must be submitted in writing and approved by Archives of American Gardens. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.
Smithsonian Institution, Archives of American Gardens, The Garden Club of America collection.
Sponsor:
A project to describe images in this finding aid received Federal support from the Smithsonian Collections Care Initiative, administered by the National Collections Program.
United States of America -- West Virginia -- Kanawha County -- Malden
Date:
1995 Jun.
Collection Restrictions:
Access to original archival materials by appointment only. Researcher must submit request for appointment in writing. Certain items may be restricted and not available to researchers. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.
Collection Rights:
Archives of American Gardens encourages the use of its archival materials for non-commercial, educational and personal use under the fair use provision of U.S. copyright law. Use or copyright restrictions may exist. It is incumbent upon the researcher to ascertain copyright status and assume responsibility for usage. All requests for duplication and use must be submitted in writing and approved by Archives of American Gardens. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.
Smithsonian Institution, Archives of American Gardens, The Garden Club of America collection.
Sponsor:
A project to describe images in this finding aid received Federal support from the Smithsonian Collections Care Initiative, administered by the National Collections Program.
United States of America – South Carolina – Aiken County – Aiken
Scope and Contents:
1 35mm slides (1942), 24 digital images (2023) and 2 file folders (one physical, one digital).
General:
Rose Hill was the estate of Sheffield and Claudia (nee Lea) Phelps. The 4.14 acre estate encompasses an entire city block at one of the highest points in Aiken, South Carolina. It was built as a winter retreat for the Phelps family of Teaneck, New Jersey on the site of an antebellum plantation that had burned. Aiken is situated in the western sand hills of South Carolina, a high sandy ridge situated across the midlands of the State. It is known for its sandy, rapidly draining soil and thus a lower annual humidity compared to other areas in South Carolina. The sandy soil also provides excellent footing for equestrian pursuits. Due to its favorable climate, Aiken became a health and sporting retreat in the late 1800s to early 1900s and thus a "Winter Colony" of wealthy Northerners was formed. Those that could afford a second home would build estates that were typical of the English Country aesthetic with pleasure grounds having both formal and woodland areas using native trees and shrubs as well as exotic ornamentals that looked as if they naturally belonged.
Mrs. Phelps designed her garden after the house was constructed in 1901. The front half of the property includes the home, the garden and a former tennis court; the back half was the working portion of the property with a large stable, dog kennel, carriage house and dependency cottages. Claudia Phelps was both a gardener and keen plant collector. She sourced plants from around the globe through familial connections, her travels abroad and through trade with fellow gardeners. Fruitlands Nursery in Augusta, Georgia, now the home of the Augusta National, was a local source for many of the plants at Rose Hill. Mrs. Phelps was a highly regarded Camellia japonica collector and Rose Hill has many old varieties that one does not typically see in the large retail garden centers. She produced a pamphlet on camellia cultivation and kept detailed lists of her collection. Her botanical book collection was donated to the Thomas Cooper Library of the University of South Carolina. Most notable in the collection were the rare books about camellias.
The garden demonstrates strong axes with hedges of cherry laurel and azaleas that line the garden paths. The pathways lead to water features and a summer tea cottage. Situated between the walkways are expanses of lawn that are dotted with ornamentals especially winter blooming plants like camellias and native azaleas. She made use of the iron cemented sandstone that is unique to the sand hills region. It is frequently found in old Aiken gardens. She used it to edge pathways and beds, to build seating areas, pediments, fountains, planters, and pond edging. The former tennis courts were converted by Mrs. Phelps first to a boxwood maze and then later to a lawn with a brick gazebo in the center. Legend recounts that the tennis court encouraged too much drinking and gambling so she converted the court into a garden area and placed a gazebo in the center.
In 1924, Mrs. Phelps invited 24 women to Rose Hill to form the Garden Club of Aiken, South Carolina's first garden club. In 1930, she would go on to help found the Garden Club of South Carolina and would be elected its first president and only lifetime president. She patterned many of the endeavors of the Garden Club of Aiken after those of the Garden Club of America.
The Rose Hill garden fell into considerable neglect in the late 1980s. Using garden notes from Mrs. Phelps' lead gardener, her great-granddaughter, Stephanie Wilds, was able to return the garden to much of its original layout. Today Rose Hill retains many relics that were described in the 1935 book, Carolina Gardens, by E.T.H. Shaffer. He remarks that Mrs. Phelps beautifully combines plants native to South Carolina, the Southeast and those from far off places. Mrs. Phelps died in 1955. Her daughter, Claudia Lea Phelps, also an active member of the Garden Club of Aiken and the Garden Club of South Carolina, lived at the property her entire life. She died in 1974. Rose Hill is a private property that has operated as an inn and events facility for the past twenty years.
Home movies of the garden are located in the Phelps sisters collection, The University of South Carolina University Libraries in Columbia, South Carolina.
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.