Object Details
- General
- The five acre property, located on the western side of the top of the New Jersey Palisades, had a few old apple trees and pines when the current owners moved there in 1979 and began planting borders of trees around the perimeter for privacy. The major part of the property behind the house, originally built in 1872, is designed as an open space with a formal garden bordered by fastigiate Irish yews, species conifers planted in peninsula beds in the lawn and an orchard for heritage apple trees. Along one side there is a garden shed transformed into a folly with an arched door, two antique windows and a cupola. Nearby there is a large vegetable and pollinator plants garden that was used previously as a nursery for propagating trees and growing bonsai. Many of the mature trees and shrubs were acquired as cuttings or seeds from other gardens and were propagated here. Hundreds of rhododendrons acquired in trade were planted with conifers along the driveway and as a hedge in front of the house to shield parked cars from view.
- The tree collection in this garden is extensive, including five-needle pines from Japan, about 80 Colorado blue spruce selected from the 1,000 cuttings grown by the owner, a hedge of arbor vitae also grown from cuttings, and an assortment of trees including birch, quince, crepe myrtle and musclewood grown for their interesting bark. Two peninsula beds in the open lawn are planted with five-needle pines and other conifers. The apple trees in the orchard and a cut-leaf beech are kept pruned to shapes derived from bonsai. Large trees frame views within the garden and towards mountains in the distance. Hedges of yellow bardzilla peonies and gold leaf spirea add color to the predominantly green palette.
- An arch cut in the Irish yew hedge leads to the oval formal garden that has two crescent shaped beds of shrubs, roses and perennials. There is a circular bed in the center that has herbs planted in four quadrants bisected by brick walkways. A low stone wall to the side acts as a border and planting bed for a rock garden.
- Persons associated with the garden include Brewster family (former owners, circa 1872- ); Braga/Rionda (former owners, until 1972); Mary Braga (garden designer, 1980's).
- Former owner
- Brewster family
- Braga family
- Rionda family
- Garden designer
- Braga, Mary
- Provenance
- Garden Club of Englewood
- Collection Creator
- Garden Club of America
- Place
- Grey House (Alpine, New Jersey)
- United States of America -- New Jersey -- Bergen -- Alpine
- Topic
- Gardens -- New Jersey -- Alpine
- Former owner
- Brewster family
- Braga family
- Rionda family
- Garden designer
- Braga, Mary
- Provenance
- Garden Club of Englewood
- See more items in
- The Garden Club of America collection
- The Garden Club of America collection / Series 1: United States Gardens / New Jersey
- 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 Englewood facilitated the submission of this garden's documentation in 2023.
- Archival Repository
- Archives of American Gardens
- Identifier
- AAG.GCA, File NJ669
- 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.
- 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-1643208220039-1643210181799-1
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