Portland -- Denman Garden

Object Details

sova.aag.gca_ref33237
GUID
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/kb6baef14da-d504-4ac3-8db4-b7419d49d5b0
General
Once part of a 40 acre apple orchard, this 1.3 acre garden was established in 2011 after being purchased by the current owners in 1986. The first owner of the property was Captain Henry Hewett, a traveling Lloyd's agent known for his infatuation with botany. Surrounding the late 1800's Victorian kit house is a diverse array of garden styles that juxtapose formal garden rooms and open spaces. The property was renovated in 1992, and in 2011 the garden was reimagined by landscape architect Steven Koch. Organically shaped terraces, gardens, meadows, lawns, hedges, and dining spaces are all connected by wood chip walkways that weave through the property.
A white, double-arch gate marks the entrance to what Koch considered the "vernacular" garden, followed by a bluestone walkway that leads to a vegetable garden neatly enclosed within a shallow stone wall. The vegetable garden features narrow beds that grow foods such as artichokes and zucchini. A fountain constructed of a large vat originally used for melting wax in a candle factory sits at the far edge of the vegetable garden. The walkway from the arched gate is flanked by two patterned knot gardens on either side. A narrow stone terrace faces the home on the ride side of the stone walkway with steps leading to the grassy south terrace. Across the grass lawn are multiple layers of camos stone walls with pockets of dianthus, sedum, and euphorbia protruding through. Stone steps lead to a curving walkway flanked by various shrubs. The upper terrace is partially shaded and lush with pulmonaria trillium and yellow Helleborus, and leads to a circular, pea-pebbled alfresco dining area.
The property features five enclosed grass lawns, including the front yard, the north lawn, the south and upper terraces, and a large meadow that encompasses almost a quarter of the entire property. The free-form meadow is bordered by wood chip pathways. Located near the meadow is a small patch referred to as "grass island," which houses plants that require less water, such as native salal, rosemary, and specialty grasses. Major plantings include a 20-foot Camperdown elm, a large saucer magnolia, paper and tri-colored birch, and yellow-twig dogwood. Conifers, Douglas firs and fully mature deciduous trees provide shade throughout the property. Among the most notable plants are tall blue camass and sprigs of butter cups, trillium erectum, with tall lavender becoming prominent in the summer.
Persons associated with the garden include: Captain Henry Hewett (former owner, late 1800s); Jerry Weekes, Dick and Sue Menafee (former owners, N/A); Guido and Laura Rahr (former owners, N/A); Ted and Molly Cronin (former owners, N/A); Mr. And Mrs. John Scott (former owners, N/A); Steven Koch (landscape architect, 2010 – 2012); Dan Lautenbach (landscape contractor, 2011); Ron Wagner (artist, 1997 and 2011); Craig Kiest (landscape architect, 1992).
Provenance
The Portland Garden Club
Former owner
Hewett, Henry , Captain
Landscape architect
Koch, Steven
Kiest, Craig
Landscape contractor
Lautenbach, Dan
Artist
Wagner, Ron
Photographer
Barragan, Alejandro IV
Moore, Angelique Gremillion
Denman, Susan T.
Jones, Molly
Bishop, Suzanne Rinehart
Collection Creator
Garden Club of America
Place
Denman Garden (Portland, Oregon)
United States of America -- Oregon -- Multnomah County -- Portland
Topic
Gardens -- Oregon -- Portland
Provenance
The Portland Garden Club
Former owner
Hewett, Henry , Captain
Landscape architect
Koch, Steven
Kiest, Craig
Landscape contractor
Lautenbach, Dan
Artist
Wagner, Ron
Photographer
Barragan, Alejandro IV
Moore, Angelique Gremillion
Denman, Susan T.
Jones, Molly
Bishop, Suzanne Rinehart
See more items in
The Garden Club of America collection
The Garden Club of America collection / Series 1: United States Gardens / Oregon
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 Portland Garden Club facilitated this garden documentation in 2020.
Archival Repository
Archives of American Gardens
Identifier
AAG.GCA, File OR064
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.
Scope and Contents
This file contains 37 digital images and 1 folder.
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_ref33237
Large EAD
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/kb6baef14da-d504-4ac3-8db4-b7419d49d5b0
AAG.GCA
AAG
Record ID
ebl-1643208220039-1643210185363-1
Portland -- Denman Garden
There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page .
1 result(s)
  • The Garden Club of America collection
    sova.aag.gca
    GUID
    https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/kb617385372-1028-4cb7-b07d-04fea2e51c47
    Creator
    Garden Club of America
    Names
    New York Flower Show
    Topic
    Gardens -- France
    Gardens -- Italy
    Gardens -- Japan
    Gardens -- Mexico
    Flower shows
    Gardening -- United States -- societies, etc
    Gardens -- England
    Landscape architecture
    Gardens -- United States
    Gardens -- Spain
    Gardens -- Scotland
    Creator
    Garden Club of America
    See more items in
    The Garden Club of America collection
    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.
    Summary
    The Garden Club of America Collection at the Smithsonian's Archives of American Gardens contains over 100,000 images (lantern slides, 35mm slides, photographs, and digital images) and garden files that document thousands of historic and contemporary gardens (public and private) across the United States. Each garden file includes a range of documentation such as descriptive information, photocopied articles from journals, newspapers, or books, planting lists, correspondence, and/or landscape plans and drawings. These files have been compiled by members of The Garden Club of America (GCA). Some of the gardens in the GCA Collection have been photographed over the course of several decades; others are documented at a single point in time. In addition to images of American gardens, there are glass lantern slides of the New York Flower Show (1941-1951) and trips that GCA members took to other countries, including Mexico (1937), Italy, Spain, Japan (1935), France (1936), England (1929), and Scotland. A number of the slides are copies of historic images from outside repositories including horticultural and historical societies or from horticultural books and publications. The GCA made a concerted effort in the mid-1980s to acquire these images in order to increase its documentation of American garden history. Because of copyright considerations, use of these particular images may be restricted.
    Accruals note
    The GCA continues to document American gardens and submit images and documentation to the Archives of American Gardens. Further accruals are expected.
    Biographical/Historical note
    The Garden Club of America was established in 1913 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, when the Garden Club of Philadelphia and eleven other garden clubs met to create a national garden club. Its purpose is to foster the knowledge and love of gardening and to restore and protect the quality of the environment through educational programs and gardening and conservation efforts. The GCA was incorporated in Delaware in 1923, with its headquarters established in New York City. Today, local clubs are organized under twelve regional zones. The GCA continues its tradition of hosting flower shows and publishing material related to gardening in the United States. The GCA's glass lantern slides were used by The GCA for presentations and lectures about notable gardens throughout the United States dating back to colonial times. An effort was made in the late 1980s, in preparation of the 75th anniversary of the Garden Club of America's founding, to collect the disbursed slides. These slides were to eventually form the Slide Library of Notable American Parks and Gardens. The informational value of this collection is extensive since a number of images of the more than 4,500 gardens represented show garden designs that have changed over time or no longer exist. While the majority of images document a range of designed upper and upper-middle class gardens throughout the U.S., the scope of the collection is expanding as volunteers photograph and document contemporary gardens including community and vernacular gardens. The gardens illustrate the design work of dozens of landscape architects including Marian Coffin, Beatrix Farrand, Lawrence Halprin, Hare & Hare, Umberto Innocenti, Gertrude Jekyll, Jens Jensen, Warren Manning, the Olmsted Brothers, Charles Platt, Ellen Biddle Shipman, and Fletcher Steele. Because of their proximity to the gardens, works of notable architects and sculptors may also be featured in the images.
    Extent
    37000 Slides (photographs) (35mm slides)
    33 Linear feet ((garden files))
    3,000 Lantern slides
    Date
    circa 1920-present
    Custodial History note
    The GCA's Slide Library of Notable American Parks and Gardens was donated to the Smithsonian Institution in 1992; this became the core collection of the Archives of American Gardens.
    Archival Repository
    Archives of American Gardens
    Identifier
    AAG.GCA
    Type
    Collection descriptions
    Archival materials
    Slides (photographs)
    Lantern slides
    Plans (drawings)
    Brochures
    Articles
    Correspondence
    Clippings
    Citation
    Smithsonian Institution, Archives of American Gardens, The Garden Club of America 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.
    Genre/Form
    Plans (drawings)
    Brochures
    Articles
    Correspondence
    Clippings
    Lantern slides
    Slides (photographs)
    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
    Large EAD
    https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/kb617385372-1028-4cb7-b07d-04fea2e51c47
    AAG.GCA
    AAG
    Record ID
    ebl-1562776092361-1562776095300-0
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