Object Details
- General
- Located on one acre, this property with its enchanting garden of flower borders and majestic trees dates back to the 19th century when the Ide family owned it. Thomas Walsh, the subsequent owner, paid little attention to the upkeep of the grounds, so when the current owners bought it in 1978 they began creating a garden based on classic English gardens. This small, densely planted garden surrounds a charming old carriage barn turned into the central residence. Deep beds along the south, east and north perimeters contain mixed plantings of trees, shrubs, and flowers. Towering trees, borrowed views that look onto acres of neighboring lawns and glimpses of the distant mountains create an expansive sense of the Berkshire landscape.
- An urn in the front of the carriage house beckons the visitor to follow the bluestone path and steps that lead from the driveway to a narrow sunken garden. A circular water garden around a central waterfall is visible at the north end of the property. The flanking wide bluestone walkway and seating area are planted with creeping plants. This water area is surrounded by circular borders and a cedar pergola connecting the lily pool to the ornamental kitchen garden. Arches made of local cedar support a mix of vegetables and climbing flowers. Each border has a distinctive identity. An island bed is wrapped around towering old pines, contains a folly, with concrete columns and water dripping into a smaller pool. Foraged pieces of old marble suggest a ruin while the colorful pink and mauve hues and brightly colored flowers growing in clay pots and several broken columns create a sense of whimsy. The focal point of a second island bed is a clematis-covered weathered window frame bearing an inscription from Andrew Marvell's 17th century poem, "The Garden". Looking through this frame captures the landscape beyond and symbolizes the creative act of garden-making, of ordering and framing nature's wildness.
- Persons associated with the garden include: Ide Family (former owners, 19th century), Thomas Walsh (former owner, date unknown-1977), Elizabeth Bartels (landscape architect, 1989), Little and Lewis (artists, 2000), Niels Oleson (garden designer, builder, gardener, 2000-present) and Ilona Bell (garden designer and gardener).
- Provenance
- Lenox Garden Club
- Artist
- Little and Lewis
- Former owner
- Ide Family
- Bartels, Elizabeth
- Garden designer
- Bell, Ilona
- Oleson, Niels
- Gardener
- Oleson, Niels
- Builder
- Oleson, Niels
- Former owner
- Walsh, Thomas
- Collection Creator
- Garden Club of America
- Place
- Ilona's Garden (Williamstown, Massachusetts)
- United States of America -- Massachusetts -- Berkshire County -- Williamstown
- Topic
- Gardens -- Massachusetts -- Williamstown
- Provenance
- Lenox 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 Lenox Garden Club facilitated the submission of this garden's documentation.
- Archival Repository
- Archives of American Gardens
- Identifier
- AAG.GCA, File MA084
- 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: aag@si.edu.
- Bibliography
- This garden has been featured in "A Gardener's Folly", Berkshire Living Magazine (June 2007) Country Garden Magazine, Tovah Martin (author), article scheduled for 2010 publication, "From a Kitchen Garden", Ellen Ogden (author), to be published in 2010.
- Scope and Contents
- The folder includes worksheets, site plans, and additional information.
- 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-1643208220039-1643210181180-1
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