Object Details
- General
- Designed by Child Associates, this garden complements the late 18th century French "Bois de Boulogne" style house on the five-acre site. What began as an idea for a garden with swimming pool developed into a comprehensive plan that transformed the site to meet the needs of a large family and to connect the formal house to its rural landscape. The site, which adjoined family farmland, had areas of woodland, open lawns, and remnants of an old apple orchard. Low maintenance, opportunities to introduce bulbs, wildflowers and other native plants to the woodland areas, and a pool that would complement the garden, rather than detract from it, were all priorities for the owners. The formal tradition of the slate-roofed dwelling has been respected by using bluestone walkways and terraces. The terrace paving continues around the edge of the symmetrical pool, which is painted black to double as a reflecting pool and is surrounded at each end by sinuous mixed borders. Behind the borders and lawn to the east are a meadow garden and more woodland, which serve as a screen from neighboring houses. Zumi crabapples serve as a reminder of the apple orchard that once covered the site, while two small garden buildings and other structures were designed to reinforce the French style of the house. A transition to the wilder landscape begins across the graveled upper drive. The land dips down into a shallow ravine and this natural rocky swale provides "movement" to the front garden and is lined with wet-loving plants. It descends to a lily pond that attracts a wide variety of wildlife. Over the nearly 20 years since its design, adjustments have been made to the original plan. Overgrown Bradford pears hiding the front of the house were replaced with more compact columnar oaks, while clipped boxwood hedges edging the front walk gave way to looser, more diverse compositions of box and perennials. A collection of David Austin shrub roses has been added to the perennial beds near the back terrace. The garden continues to evolve.
- Persons and firms associated with the garden include: Susan F. Child (landscape architect, 1985-1987); Douglas Reed (landscape architect, 1987 to date); and Child Associates, Inc. (landscape architects, 1985-1987).
- Landscape architect
- Child, Susan F.
- Reed, Douglas
- Child Associates, Inc.
- Provenance
- The Garden Club of Dayton
- Collection Creator
- Garden Club of America
- Place
- Julia & William Hobart Garden (Troy, Ohio)
- United States of America -- Ohio -- Miami County -- Troy
- Topic
- Gardens -- Ohio -- Troy
- Landscape architect
- Child, Susan F.
- Reed, Douglas
- Child Associates, Inc.
- Provenance
- The Garden Club of Dayton
- See more items in
- The Garden Club of America collection
- The Garden Club of America collection / Series 1: United States Gardens / Ohio
- 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.
- Custodial History
- The Garden Club of Dayton facilitated the submission of this garden's documentation.
- Archival Repository
- Archives of American Gardens
- Identifier
- AAG.GCA, File OH182
- Type
- Archival materials
- Collection Citation
- Smithsonian Institution, Archives of American Gardens, The Garden Club of America 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: [email protected].
- Scope and Contents
- The folders include worksheets, site plans, a narrative description of the garden with plant names, and plant lists.
- 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: [email protected].
- Record ID
- ebl-1643208220039-1643210185207-0
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