Lexington -- Clare House Garden

Object Details

sova.aag.gca_ref32886
GUID
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/kb6bbb55834-1608-4629-a95f-38a40fcf349f
General
The brick Colonial revival was the first house built in 1929 by the developer of this subdivision, and there are many legacy trees on the one-and-one-half acre property including an historic gingko biloba that grew on Henry Clay's Ashland Estate. Native trees on the property include sycamore, honeysuckle, black cherry, black walnut and hackberry; specimen trees planted by the current owners include copper beech, lacebark elm and burr oak. Additional trees include maple varieties, redbud, dogwood, hawthorn, hornbeam, holly, several magnolia, oak varieties, hemlock and pine. The owners prefer flowering trees and shrubs that bloom white and lighten the shady recesses of their garden, and picket fences, an arbor and some outdoor furniture including Adirondack chairs are painted white. Rooms include a sunken garden with a glass-top dining table and fountain that is nearly hidden by hydrangea and yew hedges and is accessed by stone steps or a stone walkway. A curvilinear bluestone patio behind the house has a wall fountain with dogwood and clipped boxwood outside the low brick wall. An English cottage-style cutting garden is tucked alongside the house. The brick garage/office outbuilding is bordered along one side with a bank of white-blooming hydrangeas. In 2013 the owners purchased an adjoining grassy lot and installed a white picket fence and gate like others on the property. The borders have been planted with a mix of deciduous and evergreen trees, shrubs, perennials and bulbs, with a millstone water feature. At the other side of the property there is a fort that was used as a playhouse and now as an occasional shelter for two dogs. A white wooden arbor frames an exit from the back garden amidst foliage from a magnolia, rhododendron and fringe tree with a cedar and bank of white-flowering azaleas within view. Persons associated with the garden include: Eleanor Manning Isaac (former owner, 1929- ); Wallace (former owner, dates unknown); William Ezzell (former owner, dates unknown); Bill Henkel (landscape architect, dates unknown); Tay Breene Reid (landscape architect, dates unknown); Richard Weber (landscape architect, dates unknown); Neal Watts (landscaping).
Provenance
Garden Club of Lexington
Former owner
Isaac, Eleanor Manning
Wallace
Ezzell, William
Landscape architect
Henkel, Bill
Reid, Tay Breene
Weber, Richard
Landscaper
Watts, Neal
Collection Creator
Garden Club of America
Place
United States of America -- Kentucky -- Fayette County -- Lexington
Clare House Garden (Lexington, Kentucky)
Topic
Gardens -- Kentucky -- Lexington
Provenance
Garden Club of Lexington
Former owner
Isaac, Eleanor Manning
Wallace
Ezzell, William
Landscape architect
Henkel, Bill
Reid, Tay Breene
Weber, Richard
Landscaper
Watts, Neal
See more items in
The Garden Club of America collection
The Garden Club of America collection / Series 1: United States Gardens / Kentucky
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 Lexington facilitated the 2019 submission of this garden's documentation.
Archival Repository
Archives of American Gardens
Identifier
AAG.GCA, File KY062
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 property is featured in Southern Living magazine, February 2000, p. 40; Kentucky Homes and Gardens, 2008.
Scope and Contents
1 folder and 27 digital images.
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.
AAG.GCA_ref32886
Large EAD
AAG.GCA
AAG
Record ID
ebl-1643208220039-1643210179725-0
Lexington -- Clare House Garden
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