Page 20 - Congress Street_3236
P. 20
PROPERTY HISTORY
3236 CONGRESS STREET
The Gardens:
As far as I can determine, the Garden was designed by Alice Orm Smith, the
noted landscape architect, sometime in the 1930‘s. At the time, it was a much
more formal design, with a rose garden (no longer in existence) to the immedi-
ate north of the existing flower garden. The garden is divided into parterres, a
classic bedding scheme consisting of eight rectangular panels, two over two, on
both its north and south sides, separated by lawn and topped on its eastern
edge by two additional regular panels. An old mill stone sits between these two
top panels. Actually, the entire garden is surrounded by fieldstone walls while the
western edge has a small reflecting pool with a gentle flow fountain/waterfall
backed by a white pebbled terrace. The panels maintain, for the most part, an
affect of multiplicity, symmetry, sameness and abundance. A single row of
aged, inlaid brick frames each of the panels. The heirloom plantings include pe-
onies, phlox, asters, delphiniums, oriental poppies, hosta, daylilies, astilbe and
dahlias. More recently introduced perennials include somniferum poppies, hon-
eywort, lupine and foxglove. The property includes a collection of historically sig-
nificant ―antique‖ specimen trees – Camperdown Elm, Dawn Redwood, Japa-
nese Cedar, Japanese White Pine (featuring a Witches Broom), Colorado Blue
Spruce, Weeping Cherry, Weeping White Pine, Chinese Arborvitae, Mugo Pines
and a proliferation of Apple Tree (both Crab and Standard) as well as Dog-
woods.
Myself, Phil Halligan:
I am a dual citizen, both Irish and American. I am Veteran of the US Air Force. I
received a BS I Agriculture from the University of Connecticut and worked for the
USDA Forest Service In Washington State and Vermont. In Vermont, I managed
the 5000 acre High Pond Mountain Preserve. I arrived at the Hill House in 1988
and for the last 22 years have worked this property, maintain the grounds and
gardens. I am a member of many organizations, the most prominent among
them being the Professional Gardeners guild. This is a society Head Gardeners,
Garden Managers and Single-Handed Gardens employed within private gar-
dens and various establishments. The Guild has over 800 members across the UK,
Ireland, Europe and North America. There are approximately 24 members in the
Us, of which I am a Full Member.
All the Best,
Phil Halligan
www.VANDERBLUE .com 203-259-8326
3236 CONGRESS STREET
The Gardens:
As far as I can determine, the Garden was designed by Alice Orm Smith, the
noted landscape architect, sometime in the 1930‘s. At the time, it was a much
more formal design, with a rose garden (no longer in existence) to the immedi-
ate north of the existing flower garden. The garden is divided into parterres, a
classic bedding scheme consisting of eight rectangular panels, two over two, on
both its north and south sides, separated by lawn and topped on its eastern
edge by two additional regular panels. An old mill stone sits between these two
top panels. Actually, the entire garden is surrounded by fieldstone walls while the
western edge has a small reflecting pool with a gentle flow fountain/waterfall
backed by a white pebbled terrace. The panels maintain, for the most part, an
affect of multiplicity, symmetry, sameness and abundance. A single row of
aged, inlaid brick frames each of the panels. The heirloom plantings include pe-
onies, phlox, asters, delphiniums, oriental poppies, hosta, daylilies, astilbe and
dahlias. More recently introduced perennials include somniferum poppies, hon-
eywort, lupine and foxglove. The property includes a collection of historically sig-
nificant ―antique‖ specimen trees – Camperdown Elm, Dawn Redwood, Japa-
nese Cedar, Japanese White Pine (featuring a Witches Broom), Colorado Blue
Spruce, Weeping Cherry, Weeping White Pine, Chinese Arborvitae, Mugo Pines
and a proliferation of Apple Tree (both Crab and Standard) as well as Dog-
woods.
Myself, Phil Halligan:
I am a dual citizen, both Irish and American. I am Veteran of the US Air Force. I
received a BS I Agriculture from the University of Connecticut and worked for the
USDA Forest Service In Washington State and Vermont. In Vermont, I managed
the 5000 acre High Pond Mountain Preserve. I arrived at the Hill House in 1988
and for the last 22 years have worked this property, maintain the grounds and
gardens. I am a member of many organizations, the most prominent among
them being the Professional Gardeners guild. This is a society Head Gardeners,
Garden Managers and Single-Handed Gardens employed within private gar-
dens and various establishments. The Guild has over 800 members across the UK,
Ireland, Europe and North America. There are approximately 24 members in the
Us, of which I am a Full Member.
All the Best,
Phil Halligan
www.VANDERBLUE .com 203-259-8326
