Stamford -- The Passionate Gardener Cotswold Garden
- General
- The owners of the garden began planting trees and shrubs around the perimeter of their half-acre property in 1984, and today have many lavishly planted garden rooms. Distinct areas of the garden include the formal English perennial garden, shade garden, rose garden, water garden, Quadrangle garden, vertical garden on a separate studio building, vegetable garden, and herb garden. The garden was devised for year-round interest, with plant materials collected and used to decorate the house.
- The stone and slate cottage-style house was designed in 1917 as the personal residence of the prominent ecclesiastical architect Francis L.S. Mayers (b. 1886) of the New York firm Mayers, Murray & Phillip. The current owners designed a perennial cottage garden to complement the house, adding stone walls and winding paths. Additional garden rooms are embellished with garden structures and ornaments, statues and architectural salvage. Roses are prominent on rose arbors and in a garden bed, while other arbors support wisteria and hydrangea. Annuals, herbs and vegetables are planted in containers as well as in garden beds.
- The current owner wrote "The Passionate Gardener: Month-by Month Ideas for Using Your Garden to Enrich Your Life," based on her own experience. She also has written the "Dirt" feature for "Living in Stamford" magazine, about gardening and crafting projects, and has appeared on the CBS television network as a garden and natural crafts expert.
- Persons associated with the garden include Francis L.S. Mayers (architect, Mayers, Murray & Phillip, 1917); Rosalie Nichols (previous owner until 1983).
- Architect
- Mayers, Francis L.S., b.1886
- Former owner
- Nichols, Rosalie
- Provenance
- Stamford Garden Club (Connecticut)
- Collection Creator
- Garden Club of America
- Place
- The Passionate Gardener Cotswold Garden (Stamford, Connecticut)
- United States of America -- Connecticut -- Fairfield County -- Stamford
- Topic
- Gardens -- Connecticut -- Stamford
- Architect
- Mayers, Francis L.S., b.1886
- Former owner
- Nichols, Rosalie
- Provenance
- Stamford Garden Club (Connecticut)
- See more items in
- The Garden Club of America collection
- The Garden Club of America collection / Series 1: United States Gardens / Connecticut
- 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 Stamford Garden Club facilitated the submission of this garden's documentation.
- Archival Repository
- Archives of American Gardens
- Identifier
- AAG.GCA, File CT351
- 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 "At Home with the Passionate Gardener" by Todd Lyon published in "CT Life"; "Flying Flowers: Butterflies Prepare for Migration" by Louis Porter published in "The Advocate" October 5, 2002; and in "Cottage by the Sea" by Beth Cooney published in "The Advocate/Greenwich time" March 5, 2000.
- Scope and Contents
- The folder includes worksheets, photocopies of articles, and write-ups of the house, the garden, and the current owner's career.
- 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.
