Object Details
- General
- The two-acre property had a traditional Southern garden planted in the 1950's by the owner's grandparents that included mature poplars, azaleas, boxwood, flowering dogwoods, cleyera, hollies, junipers, magnolias, jasmine and a large patch of orange daylilies. After renovating the traditional house for two years the owners redesigned the garden, turning the original large vegetable garden into a formal parterre lined with 750 wintergreen boxwood. By 1999 the new trees and shrubs had been established in the garden rooms but in 2005 the indigenous Yazoo clay soil thwarted their first efforts to add perennials and annuals for more color. Cotton gin trash compost was used to amend the soil and since then the garden has flourished. A path of natural Arkansas fieldstone leads to the front entrance between beds with holly, oleaster, English ivy, elephant ear, ligularia, and white azaleas. Fieldstone steps lead to the boxwood room that has a large central "eye" shaped bed with four corner beds. These beds have colorful flowers including foxgloves, pansies, delphinium, snapdragons, larkspur, and salvia, with topiary hawthorns. The paths between beds are covered with crimson stone. An arbor leads to Charlotte's room, less formal with a pine bark mulch path, hydrangeas, viburnum, heuchera, columbine, irises, and Shasta daisies leading to a bust of Athena.
- The formal fountain room can be entered under an arbor with climbing hydrangeas or through another entrance between two white dogwoods. The room is rimmed by a hedge of cleyera, blue pansies encircle the fountain, and blue hydrangeas and yellow roses grow at the base of a mature pin oak.. Another arbor covered with Confederate jasmine leads to a large lawn and patio at the back of the house where a Japanese magnolia and massive bed of orange day lilies from the original garden remain. Another perennial garden known as the Valley of the Dead has roses, peonies, snapdragons, red hot poker, and coleus that can withstand the hot summer sun. A secluded seating area in one corner of the property has a fire pit, while vegetables and herbs planted in large containers in front of the house recall the original vegetable patch. Wooden benches are placed throughout the garden for year-round use and enjoyment.
- Persons associated with the garden include: Leigh Watkins Jr. and Henrietta Skinner Watkins (former owners, 1951-1994); Frank Fort (architect, 1951); Richard H. McNeel (architect, 1994- ); JBHM Architects (landscape architects, 1994); Geneva Oliver (gardener, 2008- ).
- Former owner
- Watkins, Leigh Jr
- Watkins, Henrietta Skinner, Mrs., 1902-1997
- Architect
- Fort, Frank
- McNeel, Richard H.
- Gardener
- Oliver, Geneva
- Provenance
- The Garden Club of Jackson
- Landscape architect
- JBHM Architects
- Collection Creator
- Garden Club of America
- Place
- McNeel Garden (Jackson, Mississippi).
- United States of America -- Mississippi -- Hinds County -- Jackson
- Topic
- Gardens -- Mississippi -- Jackson
- Former owner
- Watkins, Leigh Jr
- Watkins, Henrietta Skinner, Mrs., 1902-1997
- Architect
- Fort, Frank
- McNeel, Richard H.
- Gardener
- Oliver, Geneva
- Provenance
- The Garden Club of Jackson
- Landscape architect
- JBHM Architects
- See more items in
- The Garden Club of America collection
- The Garden Club of America collection / Series 1: United States Gardens / Mississippi
- 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 Jackson facilitated the submission of this garden's documentation.
- Archival Repository
- Archives of American Gardens
- Identifier
- AAG.GCA, File MS068
- Type
- Archival materials
- Digital images
- 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 property has been featured in "Northside Sun Magazine," March 2010. This garden was featured in "A Garden Gathering" by Laurel Donahoo, published in "Social South Magazine - Home & Garden issue," July/August 2015, pp. 25-27. This garden has been featured in "Yard of the Month" published in Eastover Living, August 2016, p. 29. This garden has been featured in "Swoon-worthy Gardens" published in "The Clarion Ledger," Magnolia section, May 22, 2016.
- Genre/Form
- Digital images
- Scope and Contents
- The folder includes worksheets and photocopies of articles with pictures of the garden.
- 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-1643208220039-1643210181382-1
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