The Garden Conservancy’s Open Day program will feature gardens in Westport, Dartmouth and South Dartmouth on Saturday, July 13, from 10 – 4, rain or shine. Gardens include the Penney Garden described below:
The potential for year-round river views drew Jack and Celeste Penney to this wooded, bramble-covered peninsula. Working with the old trees and natural contours of the land, they built to take advantage of the extraordinary river views. The driveway leads past a composition of natural plantings around a vernal pool, home in spring to a chorus of frogs. By mid-summer the area glows with iris, cardinal flowers, black-eyed Susans and Joe Pye weed. On the water side, not visible from the street, landscape designer, Nan Sinton has enhanced the garden, creating transitional plantings as foreground to the magnificent views of the Westport River. Upright junipers and clipped inkberry hollies echo the native vegetation and provide year-round structure. Unusual perennials and summer flowering shrubs take full advantage of this special microclimate. Blue gates lead to the point, past a grouping of stone ‘chairs’ to a secret seating area with its own unexpected views. Sculptures, summer bulbs and dramatic container plantings punctuate this four season garden.
Directions: At the request of the garden host, directions to this Westport garden are available through our Open Days Directory, or at additional gardens open on this date.
Anne Almy’s Garden is another treasure. To fully experience and appreciate this garden located on a historic (1700s) family farm, one must explore the expansive views and garden located behind the house. What you will see is a generous perennial border surrounding a patio, several hydrangea beds and a dahlia bed, an herb garden, vegetable garden, blueberry patch, and raspberry and asparagus beds. In addition to the long shrub border along the road in front of the house, there are specimen trees located throughout the property. Pinus parviflora ‘Glaeka’, Fagus sylvatica ‘Asplenifolia’ and Cercidiphyllum japonicum to name a few. Located adjacent to the property is Sylvan Nursery, a treasure trove of trees, shrubs, and perennials.
Directions: At the request of the garden host, directions to this garden are available through our Open Days Directory, or at additional gardens open on this date.
Next to see is The Meadows at 189 Smith Neck Road, in South Dartmouth. The Meadows was designed in 1910 for ambassador Alanson B. Houghton and his brother Arthur, as a summer retreat for their families. Warren Manning was responsible for the original property layout for twin houses with flower gardens, a “pleasure drive” for the pony trap, tennis courts, apple orchard, and bathing beach. Shortly after construction of the houses, an Episcopal Chapel, a golf hole, and a croquet court were added to the design. The North House garden was redesigned in the 1937 by prominent designer, Ellen Biddle Shipman. This wonderful design for an all white garden is being restored by the current owners. The plans for this garden and period photos will be on view on Open Day. We hope that the soon to be published book by James O’Day about the collaboration of Manning and architects Chapman and Frazier, who designed the houses, will also be available. The original grounds and extensive views of Buzzards Bay remain intact and “The Meadows” retains its beauty as a summer retreat for five generations.
Directions: From I-95 North take Faunces Corner Exit. Turn right onto Faunces Corner and go to second light at Route 6. Turn left onto Route 6 and immediately turn right at first light onto Tucker Road. Follow Tucker Road (aka Bakerville) through Gulf Hill Road intersection until dead end at Rock-O-Dundee Road. Turn left onto Rock-O-Dundee down hill to dead end at Smith Neck Road. Turn right onto Smith Neck Road. Follow to mailbox number 189 and sign for St. Aidans Chapel. Enter stone gates opposite the mailbox. Follow driveway past chapel tio intersection. Both gardens are open to view.
Just down the road is The Meadows at 191 Smith Neck Road. Warren Manning sited this wonderful estate in 1910. Ellen Biddle Shipman planned the gardens and much of the hardscape in 1937. Today, as “ad hoc” gardeners, we have simplified the gardens and highlighted the hardscape. We pay tribute to Ellen Shipman’s White Garden within the dinning room terrace and have her plans framed overlooking the original site. The frog pond has more natural growth and is an active ecosystem. Flowers for the house are grown in the cutting garden that overlooks the tennis court. The main terrace, although simple, is the heart of our family gatherings with views over Buzzard Bay. Fountains, stone structures, and an overgrown maze complete the many gardened nooks of this property.
Directions: After going over the Padanaram Bridge, turn left onto Smith Neck Road. We are 3+ miles up Smith Neck Road. Park in the lot for St. Aidan’s Chapel.
Finally, enjoy the Coolidge-Goldman Gardens, 340 Barneys Joy Road in Dartmouth. Two artists have designed and maintained these gardens bordered by gracefully undulating farmland and pastures. The gardens include two large rings of lilies, annuals, and privet. Indigenous wildflower fields feature paths winding their way through in a maze-like fashion. The gardens have been called “magical” and encourage people to wander and explore, discovering new environments.
Directions: From I-95 take Exit 10/Route 88 South/Horseneck Beach. At 7.4 miles turn right onto Hixbridge Road. Go 1.5 miles and turn right onto Horseneck Road. Go 3.3 miles and turn left onto East Horseneck Road. Go 1.1 miles, and turn right onto Allen’s Neck Road. Road merges with Barneys Joy Road. Number 340 is on right. Please park on marked area on grass or on street.
Complete information may be found at www.gardenconservancy.org. $5 admission per garden.
