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[Illustration: Book Cover]




BEAUTIFUL GARDENS
IN AMERICA




BOOKS BY LOUISE SHELTON
PUBLISHED BY CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS

       *       *       *       *       *

  BEAUTIFUL GARDENS IN AMERICA. Illustrated. 4to       _net_ $5.00
  CONTINUOUS BLOOM IN AMERICA. Illustrated. 4to        _net_ $2.00
  THE SEASONS IN A FLOWER GARDEN. Illustrated. 12mo    _net_ $1.00




[Illustration: PLATE I
"Mariemont," Newport, R. I. Mrs. Thomas J. Emory
_After an autochrome photograph by Miss Johnston--Mrs. Hewitt_]




BEAUTIFUL GARDENS
IN AMERICA


BY
LOUISE SHELTON


[Illustration]


SECOND EDITION


NEW YORK
CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS
1916




COPYRIGHT, 1915, BY
CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS




DEDICATED TO THE PRAISE OF THOSE AMERICAN
MEN AND WOMEN, OF WHATSOEVER
PERIOD, WHO HAVE PLANTED SO BEAUTIFULLY
THAT THEIR GARDENS ARE AN INSPIRATION
TO OTHERS IN ALL GENERATIONS




IN GREEN OLD GARDENS


  Here may I live what life I please,
  Married and buried out of sight,
  Married to pleasure, and buried to pain,
  Hidden away amongst scenes like these
  Under the fans of the chestnut trees:
  Living my child-life over again,
  With the further hope of a fuller delight,
  Blithe as the birds and wise as the bees.
  In green old gardens hidden away
  From sight of revel, and sound of strife,
  Here have I leisure to breathe and move,
  And do my work in a nobler way;
  To sing my songs, and to say my say;
  To dream my dreams, and to love my love,
  To hold my faith and to live my life,
  Making the most of its shadowy day.

  --VIOLET FANE.




CONTENTS

                                                                    PAGE
         FOREWORD                                                     xv
  CHAPTER
      I. THE GARDEN AND ITS MEANING                                    1
     II. CLIMATE IN AMERICA                                            8
    III. NEW ENGLAND                                                  13
           MAINE                                                      14
           NEW HAMPSHIRE AND VERMONT                                  27
           MASSACHUSETTS                                              37
           RHODE ISLAND                                               79
           CONNECTICUT                                                89
     IV. NEW YORK                                                     99
           LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK                                     127
      V. NEW JERSEY                                                  155
     VI. PENNSYLVANIA                                                187
    VII. MARYLAND                                                    205
   VIII. VIRGINIA                                                    219
     IX. SOUTH CAROLINA                                              235
      X. GEORGIA AND FLORIDA                                         247
     XI. TENNESSEE AND MISSOURI                                      255
    XII. ILLINOIS AND INDIANA                                        265
   XIII. OHIO                                                        277
    XIV. MICHIGAN AND WISCONSIN                                      287
     XV. NEW MEXICO                                                  299
    XVI. CALIFORNIA                                                  303
   XVII. OREGON AND WASHINGTON                                       323
  XVIII. ALASKA                                                      337
    XIX. VANCOUVER ISLAND                                            340
         A FEW GARDEN GATES                                          347




ILLUSTRATIONS


COLOR-PLATES

  PLATE

     I   "MARIEMONT," NEWPORT, R. I.                      _Frontispiece_

    II }
   III } "FAIRLAWN," LENOX, MASS.                     _Facing page_   42

    IV   THE AUTHOR'S CHILDHOOD GARDEN                               106

     V   SOUTHAMPTON, L. I.                                          130

    VI   "GLEN ALPINE," MORRISTOWN, N. J.                            160

   VII }
  VIII } ROLAND PARK, BALTIMORE, MD.                                 210

_Plates I, V, VII, and VIII were reproduced from photographs  by
Mrs. Herbert A. Raynes, the basis of which were autochrome photographs._


HALF-TONE PLATES

  PLATE

    1   "KENARDEN LODGE," BAR HARBOR, MAINE

    2   "BLAIR EYRIE," BAR HARBOR, MAINE

    3 }
    4 } "HAMILTON HOUSE," SOUTH BERWICK, MAINE
    5 }

    6 }
    7 }
    8 } CORNISH, N. H.
    9 }
   10 }

   11   OLD BENNINGTON, VT.

   12 }
   13 } "WELD," BROOKLINE, MASS.
   14 }

   15   WELLESLEY, MASS.

   16   "HOLM LEA," BROOKLINE, MASS.

   17 }
   18 } "FAIRLAWN," LENOX, MASS.
   19 }

   20 }
   21 } "BELLEFONTAINE," LENOX, MASS.
   22 }

   23   "OVERLOCH," WENHAM, MASS.

   24   "FERNBROOKE," LENOX, MASS.

   25   "CHESTERWOOD," GLENDALE, MASS.

   26 }
   27 } "RIVERSIDE FARM," TYRINGHAM, MASS.
   28 }

   29   "NAUM KEAG," STOCKBRIDGE, MASS.

   30   "BROOKSIDE," GREAT BARRINGTON, MASS.

   31   "ROCK MAPLE FARM," HAMILTON, MASS.

   32   BROOKLINE, MASS.

   33   LONGFELLOW'S GARDEN, CAMBRIDGE, MASS.

   34   OLD WITCH HOUSE, SALEM, MASS.

   35   "MARIEMONT," NEWPORT, R. I.

   36   "THE ELMS," NEWPORT, R. I.

   37   "VERNON COURT," NEWPORT, R. I.

   38   "VILLASERRA," WARREN, R. I.

   39   "WOODSIDE," HARTFORD, CONN.

   40   "ELMWOOD," POMFRET, CONN.

   41   POMFRET CENTRE, CONN.

   42   "BRANFORD HOUSE," GROTON, CONN.

   43   POMFRET CENTRE, CONN.

   44 } AUBURN, N. Y.
   45 }

   46   SECTION OF A WILD GARDEN AT TUXEDO PARK, N. Y.

   47   "WOODLAND," TUXEDO, N. Y.

   48   "CRAGSWERTHE," TUXEDO, N. Y.

   49   "BLITHEWOOD," BARRYTOWN-ON-HUDSON, N. Y.

   50 }
   51 } "WODENETHE," BEACON-ON-HUDSON, N. Y.

   52 }
   53 } THE AUTHOR'S CHILDHOOD GARDEN, NEWBURGH-ON-HUDSON, N. Y.

   54   "ECHO LAWN," NEWBURGH-ON-HUDSON, N. Y.

   55 }
   56 } "MEADOWBURN," WARWICK, N. Y.

   57   "RIDGELAND FARM," BEDFORD, N. Y.

   58   SOUTHAMPTON, L. I.

   59 }
   60 }
   61 } "THE ORCHARD," SOUTHAMPTON, L. I.
   62 }

   63 }
   64 } "THE APPLETREES," SOUTHAMPTON, L. I.

   65   SOUTHAMPTON, L. I.

   66 }
   67 }
   68 } EAST HAMPTON, L. I.
   69 }

   70   "MANOR HOUSE," GLEN COVE, L. I.

   71   CEDARHURST, L. I.

   72   WESTBURY, L. I.

   73   "MANOR HOUSE," GLEN COVE, L. I.

   74   "SYLVESTER MANOR," SHELTER ISLAND

   75   "CHERRYCROFT," MORRISTOWN, N. J.

   76   "RIDGEWOOD HILL," MORRISTOWN, N. J.

   77   MORRISTOWN, N. J.

   78 }
   79 } "BLAIRSDEN," PEAPACK, N. J.
   80 }

   81   "BROOKLAWN," SHORT HILLS, N. J.

   82 }
   83 } "DRUMTHWACKET," PRINCETON, N. J.
   84 }

   85   "ONUNDA," MADISON, N. J.

   86   "GLEN ALPINE," MORRISTOWN, N. J.

   87   "THORNTON," RUMSON, N. J.

   88   HIGHLAND, N. J.

   89   "ALLGATES," HAVERFORD, PA.

   90 } ANDALUSIA, PA.
   91 }

   92   "EDGECOMBE," CHESTNUT HILL, PHILADELPHIA, PA.

   93   "KRISHEIM," CHESTNUT HILL, PHILADELPHIA, PA.

   94 }
   95 } "WILLOW BANK," BRYN MAWR, PA.

   96   "FANCY FIELD," CHESTNUT HILL, PHILADELPHIA, PA.

   97   "TIMBERLINE," BRYN MAWR, PA.

   98   "BALLYGARTH," CHESTNUT HILL, PHILADELPHIA, PA.

   99   "HAMPTON," TOWSON, MD.

  100   "EVERGREEN-ON-AVENUE," BALTIMORE, MD.

  101   "CYLBURN HOUSE," CYLBURN, BALTIMORE CO., MD.

  102   "INGLESIDE," CATONSVILLE, MD.

  103   "THE BLIND," HAVRE DE GRACE, MD.

  104 }
  105 } MONTPELIER, VA.
  106 }
  107 }

  108 } "ROSE HILL," GREENWOOD, VA.
  109 }

  110   "MEADOWBROOK MANOR," DREWRY'S BLUFF, VA.

  111   RICHMOND, VA.

  112 } "MAGNOLIA GARDEN," CHARLESTON, S. C.
  113 }

  114 }
  115 } "PRESTON GARDEN," COLUMBIA, S. C.
  116 }

  117 }
  118 } "GREEN COURT," AUGUSTA, GA.
  119 }

  120   TROPICAL GROWTH, PALM BEACH, FLA.

  121   "ROSTREVOR," KNOXVILLE, TENN.

  122   LONGVIEW, TENN.

  123   "HAZELWOOD," KINLOCH, MO.

  124   LAKE FOREST, ILL.

  125   "HARDIN HALL," HUBBARD'S WOOD, ILL.

  126 } "THE FARMS," MONTICELLO, ILL.
  127 }

  128 } THE ROCK GARDEN, "ENGLISHTON PARK," LEXINGTON, IND.
  129 }

  130   "GWINN," CLEVELAND, OHIO

  131 }
  132 } CLIFTON, CINCINNATI, OHIO
  133 }

  134   "SHADYSIDE," PAINESVILLE, OHIO

  135 }
  136 } "INDIAN HILL," MENTOR, OHIO

  137   "ORCHARD HOUSE," ALMA, MICH.

  138   "GARRA-TIGH," BAY CITY, MICH.

  139   "FAIRLAWN," GROSSE POINTS SHORES, MICH.

  140 } "HOUSE-IN-THE-WOODS," LAKE GENEVA, WIS.
  141 }

  142   LAS CRUCES, N. M.

  143 } "KIMBERLY CREST," REDLANDS, CAL.
  144 }

  145   "GLENDESSARY," SANTA BARBARA, CAL.

  146 }
  147 } "PIRANHURST," SANTA BARBARA, CAL.
  148 }

  149   ROSS, CAL.

  150   PASADENA, CAL.

  151 }
  152 }
  153 } "CANON CREST PARK," REDLANDS, CAL.
  154 }

  155   TYPICAL GROWTH IN CALIFORNIA

  156 }
  157 } "THORNEWOOD," TACOMA, WASH.
  158 }

  159 }
  160 } SEATTLE, WASH.

  161   SECTION OF A ROSE HEDGE BORDERING AN AVENUE IN PORTLAND, ORE.

  162   "ROSECREST," PORTLAND HEIGHTS, PORTLAND, ORE.

  163   "CLIFF COTTAGE," ELK ROCK, PORTLAND, ORE.

  164   "HIGH HATCH," RIVERWOOD, PORTLAND, ORE.

  165 }
  166 } VICTORIA CITY, VANCOUVER ISLAND, B. C.

  167   LONGVIEW, TENN.

  168   "KNOCK-MAE-CREE," WESTPORT, CONN.

  169 }
  170 } "HAMILTON HOUSE," SOUTH BERWICK, MAINE

  171 }
  172 } "GLEN ALPINE," MORRISTOWN, N. J.

  173   EAST HAMPTON, L. I.

  174   "GLENDESSARY," SANTA BARBARA, CAL.

  175   CLIFTON, CINCINNATI, OHIO.

  176   "THORNEWOOD," TACOMA, WASH.

TITLE-PAGE: EAST HAMPTON, L. I., ALBERT HERTER, ESQ.
From a photograph by Jessie Tarbox Beals.




     "A garden was wonderful at night--a place of strange silences
     and yet stranger sound: trees darkly guarding mysterious
     paths that ran into caverns of darkness; the scents of
     flowers rising from damp earth heavy with dew; flowers that
     were weary with the dust and noise of the day and slept
     gently, gratefully, with their heads drooping to the soil,
     their petals closed by the tender hands of the spirits of
     the garden. The night sounds were strangely musical. Cries
     that were discordant in the day mingled now with the running
     of distant water, the last notes of some bird before it
     slept, the measured harmony of a far-away bell, the gentle
     rustle of some arrival in the thickets; the voice that could
     not be heard in the noisy chatter of the day rose softly now
     in a little song of the night and the dark trees and the
     silver firelight of the stars."

  --HUGH WALPOLE.




FOREWORD


Books and magazines written by and for American architects usually show
in their illustrations fine imitations of lovely French, English, and
Italian formalism and works of art in marble or other stone ornamenting
the gardens of great mansions in this country.

The object of this book is to present, more particularly, another type
of garden, demonstrating the cultured American's love of beauty
expressed through plant life rather than in stone; showing the
development of his ideal in more original directions, when planning for
himself the garden spot in which he is to live rather than when building
wholly in imitation of some accepted type of classic art.

With but few exceptions, these illustrations are of a class which might
be called personal gardens. The attractive features in nearly every view
speak so eloquently for themselves that there seems but little need of
detailed verbal description of each beautiful spot.

In covering all sections of the country, occasion is given for the
observation and study of widely varying climatic conditions, the
results of which the author has also sought to consider.

Some difficulty has been felt in properly ascribing the ownership of a
number of the gardens illustrated. As a rule, there is but one
recognized director of the garden's welfare--rarely are two members of a
household equally interested. While he is by custom acknowledged master
of the house, it is oftener she who rules supreme among the flowers.
Misnaming the real possessor might be a serious mistake; attributing the
ownership to two is superfluous; the benefit, where any doubt existed,
has been therefore given to the fair sex, with due apology for possible
errors.

  LOUISE SHELTON.
  MORRISTOWN, N. J.,
  October 28, 1915.




BEAUTIFUL GARDENS

IN AMERICA




A GARDEN

  Come not with careless feet
    To tread my garden's unfrequented ways.
  No highroad this, no busy clanging street,
    No place of petty shows and fond displays.
  Here there are blossoms sweet
    That shrink and pine from inconsiderate gaze;
  And here the birds repeat
    Only to loving ears their truest lays.
  Hither I can retreat
  And drink of peace where peace unravished stays.
  Herein are streams of sorrow no man knows--
  Herein a well of joy inviolate flows;
  Come not with careless feet
  To soil my garden's sanctuary ways.

  --ANONYMOUS.




I

THE GARD