January, 1910 



AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 



wood, brick paved, and vine laden. Some steps lead 

 to a lower level, for the descent now begins. They 

 lead into a grassed and open space, stone-walled on 

 either side, decked with climbing roses and clematis. 

 On the left is the shelter at the opening of the Roque 

 Court. It is built of oak, shingled and paved with 

 brick, with stone steps and stone vases within, a simple but 

 stately structure. The Roque Court is below and is com- 

 pletely embedded in the woods. Beyond, quite under the 

 trees, is a group of marble statuary, representing "Septem- 

 ber," once owned by Napoleon Bonaparte and brought here 

 from the villa of his mother, the Princess Letitia, at 

 Ancona, Italv. Narrow paths through the trees lead on 

 down to the lower levels where the kitchen gardens of the 

 estate are maintained. 



Returning to the open space from which the Roque Court 



garden in a very literal sense of the Avord. Down below 

 the land slopes to the centre, where it has the form of a hol- 

 low; the woods have been cleared away here, so that they 

 overlook a gentle sweep of grass. At the farthest end is a 

 copy in Peperino stone of one of the pillars on the bridge of 

 the Quatro Capi which crosses the Tiber in Rome, stood 

 against a background of evergreens. 



One may return to the house by means of a monumental 

 flight of steps that ascend from the hollow to the lower ter- 

 race; but there is still much to be seen, many walks to enjoy, 

 and woods in which one may lose oneself completely. For 

 the housetop disappears behind the leafy barrier that com- 

 pletely surrounds it on this side, and the walks, although 

 narrow, have an enticement to on-going that is quite irre- 

 sistible. The paths have been made with easy inclines and 

 gentle grades, and brushing past trees, young and old, one 



The dining-room is paneled in oak, very dark in tone 



was entered, one may keep on into other gardens, arranged 

 in the same direction, which is parallel to the house. At a 

 somewhat lower level is the Rose Garden. The centre is 

 paved with brick, and at the end, which rises sharply above 

 the mountain side, is a lofty Japanese lantern as a garden 

 ornament. There are rose beds on either side, and beyond 

 and around is the deep stillness of the woods, and their 

 beautiful green foliage encasing this jewel-spot that seems 

 £0 remote from everywhere and yet which is so near. 



Just below one enters the Hanging Gardens, which are 

 dev"eloped on the mountain side just below the level we 

 have been traversing. It consists, indeed, of but a single 

 path, but so enriched and embedded within brilliant flower 

 borders on either side, so skillfully developed along the 

 mountain side, with the retaining walls of the terraces above 

 one, and the slope of the declivity below, as to be a hanging 



emerges into wonderful outlooks, or comes across some spe- 

 cial embellishment or points of interest set up and arranged 

 in an independent manner, yet adding greatly in charm to 

 the whole. 



Suddenly you come upon the Dutch garden. The hillside 

 is walled, with brick and stone seat, surmounted by a Silenus 

 standing against a background of laurel and rhododendrons. 

 The flower beds are designed in formal style and are 

 planted with hyacinths, followed later by tuberous begonias. 

 Again you come to the spot where the Italian garden is to 

 be, for Dr. Douglas has not developed his place all in one 

 season, but each year aims to add some new and special 

 point of interest to it. So the Italian garden is not yet be- 

 yond the selection of site, a truly Italian one, with cypress 

 and great overhanging rocks on one side and the wilderness 

 on the other. Pine trees, mimic specimens as yet, raised 



