THE GARDENS AT STONECROFT 



The Estate of William S. Walbridge near Toledo, Ohio, Designed by William Pitkin, Jr., Landscape Architect 



STONECROFT is located on the Maumee River about 

 five miles west of Toledo. The views from Stonecroft 

 are exceptionally fine as the river is more than a mile 

 wide at this point, and the opposite shore has been 

 developed as a city park bearing the name of the Walbridge 

 family, who donated the land to the city. 



The property itself is a long, narrow strip one thousand 

 by two hundred and thirty feet; and as it has been developed in 

 conjunction with the adjoining properties on either side, which 

 are owned by other members of the Walbridge family, the effect 

 of breadth and unity is far greater than commonly possible in an 

 area of these dimensions. 



in planning the gardens, first consideration was given to the 

 character of the topography and the existing tree growth, with 

 the result that they have an unusually charming natural 

 setting. 



The lower garden, which is planted entirely to old-fashioned 

 perennials, is supported and enclosed by stone walls about 

 three feet high on the inside and varying from three to sixteen 

 feet on the outside, depending upon their relation to the ravines. 

 In addition to being reached by the trails from the house it is 

 connected by a wooden foot-bridge with the paths through the 

 lawn bordering the drive. 



A feature of the lower garden is a bay at the west partially 

 separated from the rest of the garden by shrub planting, and 

 which connects with a trail through the ravine, as well as with 

 the little informal lawn between the two gardens. This bay 

 has a stone seat built in the wall, garden chairs, and an umbrella 

 table, and is a delightful place in which to serve afternoon tea. 

 For this purpose an electrical connection is provided, as well as a 

 water supply, and storage room for dishes is found under the 

 stone seat. 



Both the lower and upper gardens have a central grass panel 

 to increase their apparent size and to serve as an effective base 

 for the plantings of Roses and herbaceous borders. 



The upper garden is reached by steps and walks of flagstones 

 which tie into the flag walks of both gardens, and which are 

 heavily bordered with flowering shrubs backed up on the east 

 by Black Locusts so that very interesting vistas are secured 

 looking either way. The vista toward the river is especially 

 fine as it reveals the house framed by shapely trees. 



The upper garden is planted entirely to Roses, even including 

 in the enclosing borders, Rosa rugosa, Sweet Briar, and the 

 Japanese varieties, all interesting for their flower, fruit, and 

 foliage. 



The garden has a charming setting among old Apple trees 

 supplemented by the heavy ravine growth on the east. Quite 

 a number of large evergreens have been added to the enclosing 

 planting for contrast of foliage and as a background for the 

 seats which terminate the two main axes. 



One of these evergreen groups also screens the vegetable 

 garden and diverts the walks leading to it. This vegetable 

 garden is more than ordinarily attractive in that it is both 

 utilitarian and beautiful. The long west walk is bordered by 

 a mixture of flowers for cutting (perennials, annuals, and bulbs), 

 backed by flowering shrubs which form the garden enclosure. 

 A border of this kind makes an ideal place for trying out new 

 varieties and for storing plants which may have outgrown 

 their usefulness in the other gardens. 



The east walk is bordered by bush fruits and the permanent 

 crops such as Strawberries, Asparagus, and Rhubarb, while the 

 central panel is devoted entirely to vegetables, which are well 

 watered by an overhead sprinkling system. A grape arbor 

 which covers an old-fashioned pump at the south end terminates 

 the garden. 



The location of the residence is most unusual in that it is 

 situated on a promontory quite limited in size and entirely cut 

 off from the rest of the estate by a deep ravine. It stands so 

 close to the river bank that the terrace wall seems to drop 

 straight down to the water's edge, a distance of about forty-five 

 feet. In reality, as the plan shows, the bank has been graded 

 to form three terraces; the slopes of the upper two being very 

 steep and planted entirely to the Prairie Rose (Rosa seti- 

 gera) which blooms so profusely and has such a fine fall color. 

 The lower terrace slopes gently toward the river, affording a 

 pleasant place to walk in and a convenient way of reaching the 

 boats in summer, or the ice in winter. 



At the west end of the house and connecting with sun-room, 

 porch, and terrace is a small, intimate lawn snugly framed 

 by the heavy tree growth of the ravine, which is faced down by 

 shrub planting of a harmonious character. (See illustration 

 page 126.) 



Trails lead from this lawn through the ravines descending the 

 steep grades by a series of log steps and connecting with the 

 gardens and the adjoining estates. 



The banks along the trails are planted with Ferns and wild 

 flowers, and many interesting woodland plants and bulbs 

 have been naturalized in these ideal situations. 



The house plan provides a large billiard room on the basement 

 level reached from the main hall. The grades on the river side 

 of the house have been worked out so as to have a door opening 

 directly from this room to the intermediate platform on the 

 stairs leading from the terrace to the river. This room with its 

 large fireplace is one of the most attractive features of the house 

 and serves splendidly as a resting place afterswimmingorskating. 



The grass walk at the base of the terrace wall is framed on the 

 river side by a straight border of Peonies and Phlox and is 

 carried a little below the grade of the small lawn to the simple 

 summer house set against the heavy woods and overlooking the 

 river. 



r^^&sBSwsi^* 







Plan Showing the Gardens and their Setting 

 149 



