Oak Hill Garden Tour 2006

The first ever garden tour of Oak Hill, held on Sunday, 04 June was a great success!  We had over 20 people tour 6 different, historic locations in the neighborhood.  The weather even cooperated with sunny skies following a week of rain.

Below is a copy of the tour guide:

 A self-guided tour through some of Oak Hills finest examples of Rhode Island beauty 

 Since I moved to Pawtucket over 6 years ago, I have been impressed by the architectural diversity in all the surrounding neighborhoods.  Then one day I went for a bicycle ride through Oak hill and felt I had found a hidden treasure.  From lovely single family homes, majestic multi family dwellings, great store fronts to a beautiful historic cemetery.  This was a true community were people seemed to care for their surroundings and each other. My partner and I make our home in the Woodlawn neighborhood but we both feel we have a second home in Oak hill.

 We hope you enjoy your tour,

 Alexandra Knott

Christopher Burke

East Side Eden 

Meet at East Side Eden 

  East Side Eden is a historic building that boasts one of the last remaining wooden greenhouses in Rhode Island.    

  Built around 1890, the property was built for the wife of Fred Davis, son of Governor John W. Davis.  Davis florist was an engagement gift to a “Georgia Peach” named Carrie Mae from the love-smitten Fred Davis.  After the finishing touches to the shop and greenhouse, Carrie Mae ran Davis florist until shortly before her death at the age of 97.  During that time the Florist was the place to buy a special corsage, floral arrangements and was responsible for the propagation of the formidable “River Side” great blue Spruces you now see in the cemetery.

  Since the original cypress wood and glass structure, Lexan has replaced glass in the main greenhouse.  The secondary greenhouse was damaged beyond repair and now houses the perennial yard complete with a 10 foot high pergola.  A small perennial garden was planted last year and greets shoppers as they enter the perennial yard.  This small garden runs the gambit of plantings.  From deep shade ostrich ferns and wild plants to sun loving grasses and herbs.  The recent installation of a pond and a stone fountain head has been a grand addition to the already enchanting garden.

First Stop: Riverside Cemetery

 Established in 1874 as a non-profit, non-sectarian Victorian Garden Park in a 100 acre area along the high banks of the Blackstone River, Riverside Cemetery is separated from Swan Point Cemetery by only a stone wall, but worlds apart in ambiance and charm all to its own. 

  Founded by Governor John W. Davis before Pawtucket was established as a town, he and his brother Darius, Great Grandfather to Polly Davis Stiles, originally set out to learn to be a Mason.  By 1950, he opened a grain and provision store on Dwyer Street, where he became a successful merchant.  He bought the land containing the Kenyon burial grounds, his wife’s family, he then had the land incorporated as a rural Victorian garden park cemetery much in the same style of those found in the mid 1800’s throughout England. 

  Cataloguing has just begun on the over 250 species of trees, shrubs and plant life, over 100 species of birds, hundreds of species of mosses, lichens, ferns, grasses, and wildflowers, animals insects, and other creatures.  Many of these are rare.

  Some points of interest are the Kenyon Family burial ground, Governor John W. Davis burial ground.  Some interesting trees are Tulip Poplar, Blue Atlas Cedar, Kwanza Double Cherry, Japanese Red Maple, Lebanon Cedar, Ginkgo Biloba, Japanese Cork, and Cryptomeria.  See how many unusual plants you can find.

 Second Stop: 5 Lowden St, Home of Paul Mowrey

The charcoal gray house is a foursquare style dwelling, common in the early days of the Oak Hill Plat.  With four bedrooms, large families have always lived in the house for a decade or more.  Paul Mowrey and Annette Lust have lived in the house since 1975.  The front and side landscaping is unchanged since 1975.   The west side of the yard behind the fence has been recently transformed under the direction of Annette and her son-in-law David Robinson who did all of the work.  To view enter through the driveway gates

  There was for many years a lattice fence enclosing the ground area with the flat stones, and the rest of the yard was a series of 8’x 8’ planting boxes, which were increasingly difficult to maintain.   Annette wanted a more usable space, easier maintenance, and privacy, and the lattice fence was deteriorating. In 2004 all of the above features were removed, a new fence installed, the area was leveled, tilled, and grass seed planted.

  The plants and trees are a combination of. Ornamental trees that will, hopefully, grow slowly and stay reasonable small, a large magnolia bush, a butterfly bush some small evergreens (damaged in s sword fight with a 6 year old); a variety of perennials – bee balm, clematis, irises, phlox, peonies, chives, lilies, roses, sage, and an admixture of annuals- mainly dahlias and impatiens- for continuous color all summer.  There is also a variety of tulip, daffodil, and crocus bulbs for early spring pleasure.

Lack of direct sunlight (only 4 hours a day) and sporadic attention mean that plants take longer to establish, tend to grow long and leggy, and are less hardy, but there is usually something blooming.

Stop #3:  56 Glenwood, Home of Bonney Sevellon

Peter W. Ferguson House, Built 1926 

  History played an important hand in the charming and unusual style of this home.  Rather than scrapping the  original two-family design, the builders chose to build a one story version but adding an arched front porch and “false” dormers, creating an atypical bungalow of pleasing proportions.

  The huge mop-top hydrangea along the side of the porch and the mature shrubs in the front yard are classic plantings for Oak Hill homes of this era.   A few perennials have been added to the front of the shrub border to soften the lines and add touches of color against the dark green of the shrubs.

  The Raleigh Avenue side of the house showcases deep burgundy foliage and flowers in pale yellows, pinks, and lavender.  Small shrubs including a Miss Kim Lilac and shrub rose anchor the flower border, while clematis climbs a decorative arbor, adding drama by flowering profusely in late May.

  The wooden gate between the house and the garage leads to a small garden. A brick patio and flowerbeds, create a hidden space which feels more like a tiny courtyard than a backyard.

  Under the River Birch she has scattered woodland flowers. The pear tree on the right shelters unusual Hostas, including a ring of miniatures. In front of the Hosta bed miniature perennials reflect the tiny scale of the collection.  The verdigris copper mirror is made from a window salvaged from the old prison hospital in Cranston.  The bronze above the window was salvaged from a building demolished in downtown Providence.

Stop #4, 19 Lafayette St.  Home of Bill & Liz Rusling

Alvin and Ida Mowry House Built 1925 

Originally owned by the Kramer Family, Liz and Bill are only the 3^rd owners.   

  Oak was used for most of the construction and many of the original details still remain.  There are several decorative accents to the gables and trim of this quaint Colonial Revival style home.

  Liz comments: “Being an artist, my concept of gardening is one of 'painting with plants', using the infinite shades and textures of foliage and flowers in every season.
  The South - facing Front garden is planted to resemble a wild meadow in the city.  Many varieties of perennials scattered in a fairly loose arrangement. I favor blue, lavender, violet, and yellow/white colors and such plants as Baptisias, Salvias, Veronicas, Balloon flowers, and Irises in the front garden.
  The West Garden (side) is composed largely of yellow/silver flowering and foliage plants.  I call this my 'Silver and Gold garden'. Plants include: Artemisia, herbs, Lavender, Day Lilies and Golden Thread Juniper. Autumn Clematis/ Morning Glory vines climb the center obelisque.
  One enters the North-facing semi-enclosed back garden by walking under a Wisteria-covered arch.  As this garden is quite shady, I have planted a large variety of variegated foliage plants that tolerate shade:  A collection of Hostas, Variegated Solomon's Seal, Perilla, spreading Labium and Perennial Geraniums.  The main color-scheme here is green/white, chartreuse/yellow and violet. In the center of the Back Garden you'll find a stone-bordered wishing pool and water fountain.”