Object Details
- General
- Landscape architect Fletcher Steele designed the gardens for this 12-acre property in Milton, Massachusetts which belonged to Philip and Katherine Spalding, beginning circa 1924. His abstract design included 9-foot high patterned brick walls (with built-in benches) and walkways that delineated garden rooms, and the lack of geometric scheme suggested secret gardens. The design was laid out with views across the bowling green to the Great Blue Hill. Distinct features included a bowling green planted with a double allee of English elms underplanted with broadleaf evergreen shrubs and perennial borders. An oval perennial garden on the other side of the Georgian Revival house was planted for continuous flowering in spring, summer and fall. There was a dogwood path, a bosquet planted with flowering trees and shrubs, a columbine walk, and framing rows of double boxwood. Landscape architect Ellen Biddle Shipman also worked on the Spalding Garden, circa 1927 to 1938. Flowering plants in the perennial garden included iris, bleeding heart, peonies, pinks, and forget-me-nots for spring into early summer; phlox, yellow daylilies, meadow rue and lobelia for summer; and asters, chrysanthemums and anemones for fall. Katherine Spalding was the third president of the Milton Garden Club. The Milton Garden Club acquired one-half acre of the property in 2004 in order to protect that part of Steele's design. Houses have been built on the rest of the property. The half-acre includes walls, walkways, boxwood borders, and a stone fountain, and is being restored, with Lucinda Brockway of Past Designs. The Milton Garden Club has historic photographs and will conduct tours by appointment. Persons associated with the garden include Philip and Katherine Spalding (former owners, 1917-1950; Fletcher Steele (landscape architect, circa 1924-1928); Ellen Biddle Shipman (landscape architect, circa 1927-1938; Milton Garden Club (current owner, 2004-present).
- Former owner
- Spalding, Philip
- Landscape architect
- Shipman, Ellen Biddle, 1869-1950
- Steele, Fletcher, 1885-1971
- Former owner
- Spalding, Katherine
- Owner
- Milton Garden Club
- Collection Landscape architect
- Shipman, Ellen Biddle, 1869-1950
- Place
- Spalding Garden (Milton, Massachusetts)
- United States of America -- Massachusetts -- Norfolk County -- Milton
- Topic
- Gardens -- Massachusetts -- Milton
- Former owner
- Spalding, Philip
- Landscape architect
- Shipman, Ellen Biddle, 1869-1950
- Steele, Fletcher, 1885-1971
- Former owner
- Spalding, Katherine
- Owner
- Milton Garden Club
- See more items in
- Ellen Shipman Garden Photography Collection
- Ellen Shipman Garden Photography Collection / Gardens / Massachusetts
- Sponsor
- Cataloging of the Ellen Shipman Garden Photography Collection was made possible with support from the Smithsonian American Women's History Initiative Pool, administered by the Smithsonian American Women's History Museum.
- Extent
- 1 Film negative
- Date
- circa 1924
- Container
- Box 1
- Archival Repository
- Archives of American Gardens
- Identifier
- AAG.SHP, File MA356
- Type
- Archival materials
- Negatives
- Film negative
- Collection Citation
- Smithsonian Institution, Archives of American Gardens, Ellen Shipman garden photography 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.
- Other Finding Aids
- The Garden Club of America collection, circa 1920-[on-going].
- 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.
- Record ID
- ebl-1633715325312-1633715325349-0
