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July 26, 2003 marked
the tenth anniversary of the Friends of Maplelawn Garden's formation -
and the start of our long journey, with the aid of the National Capital
Commission, to research, reconstruct and renew our beloved historic walled
garden. The following is a 10 year photo-documentary of the garden's progress
and the Volunteers' considerable efforts in its reclamation.
Early photographs
are from a collection compiled by Nancy Smith, one of the co-founders
of the project. They include her own photographs, as well as some bythe late Lloyd
Brown and Ann Falkner. Later photographs are provided by Lloyd Brown,
a professional photographer and long-time Maplelawn volunteer gardener.
For our web site
visitors, we hope to provide not only a concise record of the development
of the garden from its initial wild state to the current replication of
one of its more formal incarnations, but also to see and understand the
process of research and discovery, of contact with the garden's original
owners and personal histories, and some of the very physical and technical
aspects of this magnificent community effort to reclaim part of our history.
Click on the photos to enlarge.
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| 1993 |
Photo: N.E.M. Smith |
Photo: N.E.M. Smith |
Photo: N.E.M. Smith |
Photo: N.E.M. Smith |
| In mid-summer,
even in the beginning, the Garden had great beauty and charm. |
But a
closer examination, revealed the many original plants had dwindled to only
a hardy few. |
Paths
had all but disappeared, and in places, weeds out numbered
the flowering perennials. | Wild
beauty has its charm, but the heliopsis really had run rampant,
in places obliterating other plantings of the 1930s plan |
| 1994 |
Photo: N.E.M. Smith |
Photo: N.E.M. Smith |
Photo: N.E.M. Smith |
Photo: N.E.M. Smith |
| Spring
in the second season reveals the survival of original plants, such as the
many tulips planted by the Garden's last owner. |
The benefits
the Volunteers provide the Garden is quickly evident, as early spring progressed
into late. |
Many
of the structural surfaces and layout of the garden become more evident
as the summer progresses. |
The old
kitchen garden, outside the walls of the garden, however, remains untouched.
It awaits its new destiny - a parking lot. |
Photo: N.E.M. Smith |
Photo: N.E.M. Smith |
Photo: N.E.M. Smith |
Photo: N.E.M. Smith |
| The resurrection
of the Garden involved hours of physical research. Here an archeologist
examins the underpinings of the original path. |
Many
more hours of effort are required to return even the paths to a semblance
of their original order. |
And as
the summer progresses, the overgrown nature of the Garden reveals to the
Volunteers just how daunting a daunting task lie ahead of them. |
Major
physical tasks, such as the removal of dead and overgrown trees, are tackled
the first full summer the Gardeners are at work. |
Photo: N.E.M. Smith |
Photo: N.E.M. Smith |
Photo: N.E.M. Smith |
Photo: N.E.M. Smith |
| At every
turn, the garden revealed another of its secrets. Here, the original paved
seating area at the east center of the Garden is fully exposed. |
Research
into the Garden's place was not just a physical activity.
Members of the Cole and Rochester families (second and third
owners of the place) gave invaluable help by means of photographs,
documents, and anecdotes from their own memories. Here Ian,
Dick and Toby Rochester, pay a nostalgic visit to their
boyhood home. |
The rewards
and recognition for the Volunteers' activities came quickly, however. NCC's
Volunteer Week ceremonies were held for the first time in the Garden. |
And the
Friends of Maplelawn were given their first - but
as time would tell - not their last Award. In 1994, they
were named Volunteer Project of the Year by the NCC. |
| 1995 |
Photo: N.E.M. Smith |
Photo: N.E.M. Smith |
Photo: N.E.M. Smith |
Photo: N.E.M. Smith |
| Spring
arrives, and the Garden is methodically being replanted according the adaped
Oliver Plan. |
The East
Wall, the most damaged and most overgrown with trees and shrubs, begins
to get it new plantings after its reconstruction. |
The NCC's
wall recontruction team soon learns to work around the anxious volunteers.
Here foxgloves are re-introduced somewhat before the wall restoration is
complete! |
Major
reconstruction of the physical garden plan continues, as work on a new south
path is launched. |
| 1996 |
Photo: N.E.M. Smith |
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|
Moving
the Garden shed may sound innocent. But once the shed was relocated, an
additional 10 feet of
garden space opened up along the north wall. North I and North II sections
had to be reworked! |
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| 1997 |
Photo: N.E.M. Smith |
Photo: N.E.M. Smith |
Photo: N.E.M. Smith |
Photo: N.E.M. Smith |
| The Rochester
family - last private owners of the house, returned a charming lead putto
to the garden. |
The putto
again became an important decorative feature in the garden's central flower
bed.It proves to be a fine addition to the center of the Garden - and a
great visual return to the true historical past of Maplelawn. |
Six years
after the Friends launched their efforts, they are still digging out major
unwanted shrubs. |
Regular
meetings throughout the growing season, keep the volunteers in touch with
the work of others and larger issues facing the Garden. |
In 1997, the Friends of Maplelawn Garden, through
the efforts of a volunteer, launched their first website.
You can see the Garden online, from early spring to late
fall by clicking on the Through the Seasons
link. |
| 1998 |
Photo: N.E.M. Smith |
Photo: N.E.M. Smith |
Photo: N.E.M. Smith |
Photo: N.E.M. Smith |
| It was
labeled the 100 Year Ice storm, and Maplelawn certainly did not escape
the damaging effects. Maplelawn was established in 1831. |
Spring
was quite an eye opener, revealing some of the true challenges to restoring
a Garden to its historically accurate past. |
But a
few hundred hours of effort, and once again spring looks like spring in
Maplelawn Garden! |
One of
the final major planting reconstructions is completed. The West 2 section
gets it Oliver plan face-lift. |
Photo: N.E.M. Smith |
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| But sadness
strike the Maplelawn family of volunteers. Co-founder, Ann Faulkner, passes.
She is honoured by family and friends in the Garden she loved. |
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| 1999 |
Photo: N.E.M. Smith |
 |
 |
Photo: N.E.M. Smith |
| Fact
is stranger than fiction. The paths are dug up - and we finally have water!
Gone are the watering cans and miles of hoses - well mostly! |
Construction
activities of the volunteers move to the details, such as straightening
the path stones. |
While
the house is not part of the Volunteers' responsibilities, it is of major
interest to many Maplelawn Garden visitors .. and certainly part of the
site's beauty. |
The sense
of ownership on the part of the volunteers is strong. Fall always brings
both a sense of pride and of sadness in the parting of ways for another
winter season.. |
| 2000 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| The Center
Garden is repaired, stones relaid, in preparation for the putto's return. |
The pond
is re-sealed and water-proofed; the putto, returned |
The center
beds are replanted. |
A rare
view of the finished gardens is provided by a crane, there to aid in the
pruning of Maplelawn's mature trees. |
| 2001 |
 |
 |
 |
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| While
the most physical work in renewing the Garden has been done, even the upkeep
has its challenges. Planting tulip bulbs in late October 2000. |
However,
no pain, no gain! No matter how cold the planting time, the results are
always worth it. |
And as
the Garden matures, it gives more time to notice the smaller things. Our
Garden Rabbit is loved by some ... not so much by others! |
And
even smaller things! |
| The
Friends of Maplelawn Garden launched their second
major online photo feature. In celebration of the International
Year of the Volunteer, and more
acknowlegement of their efforts, this time it was
an exploration of the individual sections of the Garden
and a focus on the individual volunteers who make up the
team. The feature, The Garden by Section:
Volunteer Gardeners of Maplelawn, was updated in
2003, 2004, 2006 and 2007 |
| 2002 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Some
major work continues to be done, not by the Volunteers, but by specialists.
Here the Northeast wall is torn down and reconstructed. |
While
the visible portions remain historically accurate, modern foundations now
underpin them. |
By midsummer,
everything is back to normal. |
And by
Fall, it's as if nothing ever happened. Maplelawn endures. |
| 2003 |
 |
 |
 |
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| Time
for rest ... but not much. A great effort is made at having the Garden look
its best for the Tenth Anniversary Celebrations |
Many
different groups love the Garden. Painters and photographers are regular
visitors Occasionally during plant sales, their products are also available. |
Plants are frequently available for a modest donation to the garden. |
And there
is always time to pick up a prize! Uli Schmidt is shown here with Maplelawn's
prize-winning historic peony. |
