In 1921 professionally-designed gardens were uncommon, and female landscape architects even more so.  Amy Cogswell graduated from the first American institution for women studying this field, Lowthorpe School of Landscape Architecture and Horticulture, in 1916, and served as as headmistress from 1916-1923.  Very little else is known about her.

In contrast with true colonial-era gardens, "old fashioned" (now called Colonial Revival) gardens of the 1920s were purely decorative.  Amy Cogswell designed for the Webb House a prototypical example of the genre, containing classical elements, quaint arbors, and a host of ìold fashionedî flowers, mainly hardy perennials, roses, and a few brightly-colored annuals.  Her plan called for ninety-nine different plants, including hollyhocks, larkspur, pinks, foxglove, peonies, and phlox.  Some actually dated to the colonial era, while others simply seemed old-fashioned.

From 1921 to about 1940, the Webb House garden was carefully maintained, but World War II brought fewer visitors and the Colonial Dames began making adjustments for more continuous bloom and easier care.  As early as 1945 their records note that the original plans had disappeared, and during the 1950s and 1960s the garden was largely altered by renovation.  By the 1970s, very little was left of Amy Cogswellís design, although it was not forgotten.

To the delight of the Colonial Dames and the Webb-Deane-Stevens Museum staff, Amy Cogswellís original plans were found in the archives in 1996.  With a new interest in the early 20th century history of the Webb House, the decision was made to rejuvenate the Colonial Revival garden.  The new Webb House Colonial Revival Garden came into being in April 1999, and work continues on the restoration.

While not an exact replica, the garden maintains an authentic appearance, displaying many of the same flowers that visitors enjoyed in the 1920s.  In cases where the antique variety is no longer available, contemporary cultivars with equivalent color and bloom time have been substituted, and modern techniques such as irrigation and mulch aid in the maintenance of such a large garden.  The Webb House Colonial Revival Garden is open during regular museum hours year-round, and enhances enjoyment of our unique historic setting, much as it did in 1921.

Today a group of volunteers called the Webb House Garden Angels helps to maintain this lovely garden.  Click on the link above for more information about joining the Garden Angels!
 
 

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