Garden History and Design
“The GCA Garden History & Design Committee uses photography, research, the study of good design practices, educational and lecture programs, and internships to develop an appreciation of America’s gardens. The Committee works closely with the Smithsonian Institute’s Archives of American Gardens to document cultivated gardens throughout the country.”
In 2020 GCA became a founding partner of Olmsted 200, the national bicentennial celebration of the 200th birthday of Frederick Law Olmsted which is April 26 of this year. Member garden clubs were invited to celebrate Olmsted by participating in the GCA initiative PARKS: Where Nature Meets Community. Clubs have been encouraged to develop a community park project to benefit their local community as well as to study the life and design principles of Frederick Law Olmsted.
The Pasadena Garden Club joined the Olmsted Celebration by inviting Professor Christine O’Hara from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, an Olmsted scholar, to speak to our membership on the life and work of Olmsted. Monthly club newsletters discussed the Olmsted design principles. A biography of Olmsted by Witold Rybczynski was selected to be read and discussed by interested club members. The city of Pasadena was approached about a park project and several possible projects have been identified but the process has been very slow. We are confident, however, that the PGC will be able to partner with the city in the near future on a park project to benefit our community.
Members of GCA can access resources pertaining to Garden History & Design on the Committee webpage. Resources include information on the Olmsted celebration and recommended books; information on garden documentation for the Smithsonian Archives of American Gardens.
Image: Hand colored lantern glass slide circa 1930 of the Young garden, Pasadena Smithsonian Archives of American Gardens.
Our Mission
Members of the Garden History and Design committee seek to educate and champion historical gardens, and advocate for the documentation of exceptional modern gardens. One skill for members to develop is the art of online sleuthing. Research on the Smithsonian’s Online Virtual Archives (sova.SI.edu) can be fascinating, linking garden images to possible owners and designers, as well as investigating whether documented gardens still exist.
While most of our research is done on local gardens, there is also a wealth of design inspiration from across America and the world. This year our committee is planning a tour of several gardens previously documented in the Smithsonian Archives of American Gardens.
For members of the Pasadena Garden Club, it will be a chance to see gardens that are not often opened, as well as one property that is undergoing a significant and ambitious restoration.
Committee members for 2022-2023:
Elizabeth Besch
Marilyn Brumder
Ludie Driscoll
Brooke Garlock
Shelley Harter
Ann Murphy
Elena Shoch
Devin Starratt
Mary Smith
Char Vert
Margaret Williams
Leslie Zasa
Upcoming events
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April 5
Margaret Williams will give a talk on garden documentation for the Smithsonian Archives of American Gardens and the relationship between GCA And SAAG. 1:00 p.m. at La Casita.
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April 26
We will celebrate the 200 anniversary of the birth of Frederick Law Olmsted with birthday cake at our April general meeting.
Christine O’Hara’s talk at the Shakespeare Club
