Preservation in Action at the Garden Conservancy: Our Partners

Following is a list of many—but by no means all—of the gardens with whom we have partnered and to whose preservation efforts we have contributed. It is as accurate as possible, to the best of our knowledge and our records. The gardens are listed in alphabetical order by garden name.

Abkhazi Garden Victoria, British Columbia

Prince Nicholas Abkhazi, of Russian nobility in Georgia, and his wife, Peggy Pemberton-Carter, began creating a garden in Victoria in 1946, working together on it for more than 40 years. In February 2000, the Garden Conservancy assisted the Land Conservancy of British Columbia (TLCBC) in purchasing the property to save it and its heritage from development. The Garden Conservancy continued to advise TLCBC as the garden was developed for public usage.

Anderson Japanese Gardens Rockford, IL

This twelve-acre Japanese garden was established in 1978 by John R. Anderson and landscape architect Hoichi Kurisu on the site of Anderson’s home in Rockford, IL. The garden was inspired by Anderson’s trips to Japan and his visit to the Portland Japanese Garden in Washington Park in Portland, OR, which was also designed by Kurisu. In 1996, the Garden Conservancy advised Anderson on establishing an endowment for the garden and in developing plans for future management of the garden.

Anne Spencer House & Garden Museum Lynchburg, VA

The Anne Spencer House was, from 1903 – 1975, the home of Harlem Renaissance poet Anne Spencer. In 2008, the Garden Conservancy advised the Hillside Garden Club on the rehabilitation of the garden, including restoration of the pergola and pool, and conducted a garden assessment in 2012. The Conservancy also raised funds for the garden through a “Giving Tuesday” campaign in 2019 and awarded it a Gardens for Good grant in 2021. In 2020, Shaun Spencer-Hester, Anne Spencer’s granddaughter and the executive director of the museum, participated in a Garden Conservancy panel discussion on inclusive interpretation of gardens for the American Public Gardens Association. See also Spencer-Hester’s essay on page 16.

Arthur Erickson Garden Vancouver, British Columbia

This garden was created by Canadian architect and urban planner Arthur Erickson (1924 – 2009) at his home for more than fifty years. In the early 2000s, the Garden Conservancy assisted the Arthur Erickson Foundation on fundraising strategies, as well as with development of an archival program and a conservation plan for the house and garden.

Ashintully Gardens Tyringham, MA

Ashintully Gardens is a 120-acre estate maintained by the Trustees of Reservations, a land trust in Massachusetts. The gardens and adjoining 594 acres were the gift of John McLennan, Jr. and his wife, Katharine. Following McLennan’s death in 1996, the Garden Conservancy supported the Trustees of Reservations in preserving the property, providing recommendations for design improvements and management. Shortly thereafter, the Conservancy advocated for the garden’s efforts to establish an endowment to support future maintenance.

Aullwood Garden Metro Park Dayton, OH

Now listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Aullwood House and Garden once served as home for Dayton-area industrialist John Aull and his wife, Marie. Today, the garden is one of 25 properties cared for by Five Rivers MetroParks. From 1996 to 1998, the Garden Conservancy assisted Aullwood Garden in developing programs and building local support, and advised on maintenance and preservation practices. In the 2000s, the Conservancy reviewed and made recommendations on the garden’s maintenance and preservation plans and conducted a garden assessment.

Bamboo Brook Outdoor Education Center Far Hills, NJ

A botanical garden and public park in Chester Township, NJ, the site was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989 under its historic name, Merchiston Farm. It is significant as the home of the American landscape architect Martha Brookes Hutcheson (1871 – 1959) and for her landscaping of the property.

In 1994, with the garden’s condition deteriorating, the Garden Conservancy urged the Morris County Park Commission to create a master plan, which resulted in a renewed commitment to the garden’s care and interpretation. The Conservancy endorsed the proposed restoration of the garden, which took place shortly thereafter.

Bannerman Castle Trust Beacon, NY

The principal feature on Pollepel Island, a 6.5-acre island in the Hudson River in New York State, is Bannerman’s Castle, an abandoned military surplus warehouse that is now owned and managed by the Bannerman Castle Trust. In 2001, the Garden Conservancy enlisted local members to clear the derelict garden and help make it ready for public visitation.

The Barnes Arboretum at Saint Joseph’s University Merion Station, PA

In the early 2000s, the Garden Conservancy assisted with efforts to link the arboretum more closely to the university, providing fundraising advice and reviewing and making recommendations on the arboretum’s strategic plan, landscape policies, and grant applications.

Bellamy-Ferriday House & Garden Bethlehem, CT

A historic house museum, Bellamy-Ferriday was built by the Reverend Joseph Bellamy (1719 – 1790), a prominent Congregationalist minister who played an influential role in the First Great Awakening. Together with Connecticut Landmarks, the Garden Conservancy orchestrated reconstruction of the formal garden to recreate the spirit of the 1920s garden, a project that ultimately took ten years. Beginning in 1993, the Garden Conservancy assisted in documenting existing plants on the property and, a few years later, restoration of the property began.

Bellefield at Historic Hyde Park Hyde Park, NY

The earliest example of an existing private garden designed by landscape architect Beatrix Farrand (1872 – 1959), Bellefield is part of the Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site. In 1997, with the advice of the Garden Conservancy, a horticulturist was hired to lead volunteers in planting and maintaining the perennial borders. The following year, the Conservancy assisted with preservation planning and efforts to restore the garden. While Farrand’s original planting plans for Bellefield have been lost to the ages, the Garden Conservancy collaborated with a team of landscape designers to research the design of her nearby gardens created in the same timeframe, forming a basis for stewardship of the garden.

Blithewold Mansion, Gardens & Arboretum Bristol, RI

A 33-acre summer estate with grand views of Narragansett Bay, Blithewold is one of the most fully developed and authentic examples of Country Place Era (1890 – 1930) landscape design. In 1998, the Garden Conservancy took action to save Blithewold from private development and keep it open to the public by assisting in the formation of Save Blithewold, Inc., to raise necessary funding and help create a business plan to manage the property. These efforts were successful, and the Garden Conservancy then assisted in the creation of an operations plan and funding of a horticulturist position. In 2003, the Garden Conservancy also guided the restoration and interpretation of the grounds, as well as development of educational programming.

Blithewood Garden Annandale-on-Hudson, NY

A formal Italianate walled garden on the main campus of Bard College, Blithewood Garden was designed in the Beaux Arts style by Francis Hoppin in the early twentieth century. The site has significant connections to the heritage of the Hudson Valley and the evolution of American landscape design; it is a contributing property to the Hudson River National Historic Landmark. In 2016, the Garden Conservancy and Bard College entered into a multi-year partnership. For more information, see the Blithewood profile, page 45.

The Blue Garden Newport, RI

Among the many notable gardens created by Frederick Law Olmsted Jr., and the Olmsted firm, the Blue Garden, which opened at a gala in 1913, remains a unique expression of landscape art. In 2014, Garden Conservancy staff attended the formal unveiling of the restored garden and led a discussion on options for ownership structure. In 2018, Blue Garden Executive Director Sarah Vance presented at the Garden Conservancy’s landscape panel discussion “The Architectural Garden: Challenges of Preserving Formal Structures in the Landscape,” held at Bard College. A permanent conservation easement was placed on the property and is held by the Aquidneck Land Trust.

Boyce Thompson Arboretum / Wallace Desert Garden Superior, AZ

The philanthropist Henry Browne (H.B.) Wallace (1915 – 2003) filled his garden in North Scottsdale, AZ, with arid land plants from six continents. In 2008, the Garden Conservancy and public garden professionals from around the country gathered at Wallace’s garden to evaluate its potential to become a public garden. Between December 2015 and November 2017, approximately 5,848 plants were transported more than 75 miles to their new home and planted in a new thirteen-acre Wallace Desert Garden at the arboretum.

Brookwood Point Cooperstown, NY

An estate on the shores of Otsego Lake, in western New York State, Brookwood Point was established in the early 1820s and is home to a 100-year-old Italianate Renaissance garden. In the early 2000s, the Garden Conservancy advised Brookwood Point on management, programs, public use, long-range planning, organizational development, and fundraising.

Casa del Herrero Montecito, CA

Also known as the Steedman Estate, Casa del Herrero was built in the Spanish Colonial Revival style in 1922 – 1925. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a National Historic Landmark. In 1994, the Garden Conservancy provided technical assistance on garden preservation and phased restoration.