DIVERSIFIED GARDENS OF CLEVELAND, OHIO 



KATE B. BURTON 



|N AND about Cleveland, gardens of many sorts may be 

 found and the little group here presented contains some 

 happy examples of widely varying types, from the 

 "farmhouse" garden among the hills to its more 

 sophisticated fellow along the shore of Lake Erie. Such diver- 

 gent treatments may hold illuminating suggestion for gardeners 

 elsewhere. 



Cleveland was originally laid out by one Moses Cleveland, 

 an engineer for the Connecticut Land Company, which had 

 purchased a large portion of the Western Reserve from the 

 State of Connecticut. The spirit and possibilities of this un- 

 trammelled region must have been immediately sensed by the 

 engineer, who evidently had remarkably enlightened ideas as 

 to the width of streets and other matters of city planning. 



The discovery of iron ore in the neighborhood of Lake Supe- 

 rior and the construction of the railroads gave the city a tremen- 

 dous industrial impetus, and after its master minds had achieved 

 wealth, they turned naturally to the creation of beauty in and 

 about their homes. 



Originally Euclid Avenue was the Ultima Thule when it came 

 to the choice of a dwelling place, but smoke followed on the heels 

 of prosperity and in order to escape from its evils, suburbs were 

 developed in every direction. 



At present the only garden of any importance left in the city 

 proper is that of Mr. F. E. Drury which lies on the opposite side 



of Euclid Avenue from the residence. Charmingly laid out 

 by Vitale, it will soon be only a memory, for Mr. Drury intends 

 moving to the country. 



Much may be said in favor of a water view, as Mr. W. G. 

 Mather's place on the Lake Shore Boulevard testifies. The 

 side away from the water has its pergola, formal beds, and 

 pleached walk. Across the road is the wild garden, unforgetta- 

 ble if seen when the Mertensia is abloom in May. 



South of the city is a hilly district once owned by the Shakers. 

 This has been divided and subdivided, laid out with boulevards, 

 and built up extensively. In this neighborhood is Mr. Warren 

 Bicknell's home, which has been cleverly landscaped by featuring 

 the different levels and by the introduction of an exceptionally 

 attractive pool. 



Turning east again on Mayfield Road, we come to the Prentiss 

 and Severance (see below) estates, too large to be counted in 

 "suburbia" as they cover many acres. Both possess the nat- 

 ural advantages of rolling ground, water, and fine trees. 



On the edge of a high bluff at Willoughby Mr. Sherwin chose 

 a site for his farmhouse with a marvellous view across the Cha- 

 grin Valley, strongly reminiscent of the Berkshires. 



When the Cleveland and Shaker Lakes Garden Clubs en- 

 tertain the Garden Club of America, these representative 

 gardens and others equally attractive become a Mecca for the 

 visitors. 



GARDEN OF MRS. JOHN R. SEVERANCE, MAYFIELD ROAD 



Where shaded walks and the cool tinkle of falling water 

 offer refreshing suggestion on the hottest of midsummer days 



Clifford Norton, Photo. 



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