Paradise Valley -- Bentley Garden

Object Details

General: Evolving since 1983, this garden currently features eight whimiscal animal topiaries carved out of enormous hedges of mock orange, jojoba and oleander. A collection of large cacti is located at the entrance of the house as well as containers of cactus and succulents on iron etageries. Yellow oleander bushes, violet-flowering jacaranda trees and and eighteen year-old Bombax tree provide shade for the potted plants in the summer season. Totem Pole cactus, Golden Barrel cactus and Blue Myrtillus Montrosa cactus are some of the plants featured in the rear garden. In one corner of the rear garden is a bronze sculpture of a young girl playing two flutes under old olive trees with wedelia, and blue plumbago planted all around her. A wall mural and fountains decorate the patio area. Plant specimens have been carefully identifed by their Latin and common names on labels.; Persons associated with this property include: Henry Wicks (former owner, 1939-1946); John Adams (former owner, 1946-1950); Ronald Byers and Sylvia Burns Byers (former owner, 1950-1956); Bruce Irwin (former owner, 1956-1969); Pheonix Symphony Association (gift of Bruce Irwin, c. 1969); Arthur Bernhardt (former owner, 1969-1971); Donald Scott (former owner, 1971-1983); Robert Evans (builder, 1937); Elizabeth Kidwell (interior designer and garden designer) and Ignacio Rivero (gardener).

Place: Bentley Garden (Paradise Valley, Arizona); United States of America -- Arizona -- Maricopa County -- Paradise Valley

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

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 Columbine 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.

Bibliography: This garden was featured in: "The Bernhards: new life in an old house," Arizona Republic Sun Living, February 21, 1971. The Very Best of Phoenix Magazine, December, 2005. "A New Look for an Old Adobe," Phoenix Magazine, January 1971. "Rooted in Time," Phoenix Home & Garden, February, 2003. "The Secret Gardens," The Arizona Republic, April 5, 1998.

Scope and Contents: The folder includes worksheets, site plans, photocopies of articles about the project, and other 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.

Related Materials: Bentley Garden related holdings consist of 1 folder (24 35 mm. slides (photographs))
See others in: Bentley Garden, 1987-2008.