Westport -- Stony-Brook Cottage

Object Details

General: Stony-Brook Cottage was the garden of noted garden writer Helen Van Pelt Wilson and involved the work of no fewer than four landscape architects and designers--Margaret Baillie, Alice Recknagel Ireys, Eloise A. Ray, and Rhoda Tarantino. It was the subject of Wilson's book "Helen Van Pelt Wilson's Own Garden and Landscape Book." It featured a variety of plant materials and garden areas including a beech copse, a fern garden, flowering trees and shrubs, and ferns, and was extensively wooded throughout. Stepping stones and a small bridge crossed the brook that ran through the property, while lawns and grass paths connected the various features.; Persons associated with the garden include: Helen Van Pelt Wilson (former owner, ca. 1953-1980); Margaret Baillie (landscape designer); Alice Recknagel Ireys (landscape architect); Eloise A. Ray (landscape architect); and Rhoda Specht Tarantino (landscape designer).

Place: Stony-Brook Cottage (Westport, Connecticut); United States of America -- Connecticut -- Fairfield -- Westport

See more items in: Maida Babson Adams American garden collection.; Maida Babson Adams American garden collection. / Series 1: Garden Images / Connecticut

Collection Citation: Smithsonian Institution, Archives of American Gardens, Maida Babson Adams American garden collection.

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.

Bibliography: Garden has been featured in Helen Van Pelt Wilson, Helen Van Pelt Wilson's Own Garden and Landscape Book (Garden City, NY: Doubleday & Company, Inc., 1973). Garden has been featured in Alice Recknagel Ireys, How to Plan and Plant Your Own Property (New York: M. Barrows, distributed by William Morrow, 1967), pp. 20-21, 49, 137, and 147.

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.

Related Materials: Stony-Brook Cottage related holdings consist of 1 folder (8 contact prints)