Westwood -- Perkins Garden

Object Details

General: This site, which totals 16 acres, has been the home of the Perkins family since 1930. The house, however, was built in 1815, and the stone-walled path through the meadow is the last cow lane or cow path in Westwood. Set behind the house are perennial gardens designed by Elizabeth Greenleaf Pattee and Constance E. Peters in 1931 and bordered with boxwood taken from the Adams House in Quincy. An espaliered yew covers a wall on the back of the house, while lilacs separate the perennial garden from the less formal vegetable, herb, and cutting gardens near the kitchen. A compost area is conveniently located nearby. The dominant color of the garden changes throughout the seasons owing to the careful choice of perennials and the addition of annuals. Fences separate and define the maintained areas near the house from the old apple and pear orchard and fields beyond. The garden received a Massachusetts Horticultural Society Gold Medal in 1967.; Persons associated with the garden include: Major and Mrs. Eaton Whiting (former owners, before 1881); J. E. Whiting (former owner); Anna M. Colburn (former owner); Marcus L. Haye (former owner, 1881-1930); James H. Perkins, II (former owner, 1930-1980); Elizabeth Greenleaf Pattee (landscape architect, 1931); and Constance E. Peters (landscape architect, 1931).

Former owner: Whiting, Eaton Major Mrs.; Whiting, J. E.; Colburn, Anna M.; Perkins, James H., II
Landscape architect: Pattee, Elizabeth Greenleaf; Peters, Constance E.
Provenance: Fox Hill Garden Club
Collection Creator: Garden Club of America

Place: Perkins Garden (Westwood, Massachusetts); United States of America -- Massachusetts -- Norfolk County -- Westwood

Former owner: Whiting, Eaton Major Mrs.; Whiting, J. E.; Colburn, Anna M.; Perkins, James H., II
Landscape architect: Pattee, Elizabeth Greenleaf; Peters, Constance E.
Provenance: Fox Hill Garden Club

See more items in: The Garden Club of America collection; The Garden Club of America collection / Series 1: United States Gardens / Massachusetts

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 Fox Hill Garden Club facilitated the submission of this garden's documentation.

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: aag@si.edu.

Scope and Contents: The folder includes a worksheet, a photocopy of the 1931 Pattee-Peters landscape design, and photocopies of descriptions of the garden from garden tour programs.

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: Perkins Garden related holdings consist of 1 folder (22 35 mm. slides)