Mill Neck -- Merson Garden

Object Details

General: Although Alice Recknagel Ireys worked on the design of the Merson garden between 1955 and 1970, the images in this series were taken no later than 1967, since several of them are featured in her book of that year. The Merson's large Georgian house was built in the middle of a field, so Ireys' design included plenty of trees and shrubs to frame and soften its rather formal entrance. Azaleas provided springtime bloom at both the main entrance and elsewhere, while laurel, hollies, andromeda, and myrtle were used for year-round green affect. A terrace at the rear of the house was accented by a honey locust and a dogwood, while holly hedges separated a broad lawn area from surrounding woods and delineated a parking area from the rest of the property.; Additional documentation relating to the garden may be found in the Alice Recknagel Ireys papers in the Sophia Smith Collection at Smith College.; Persons associated with the garden include: Alice Recknagel Ireys (landscape architect, 1955-1970) and David and Hazel Merson (former owners, circa 1955-1970).

Place: Merson Garden (Mill Neck, New York); United States of America -- New York -- Nassau County -- Mill Neck

See more items in: Maida Babson Adams American garden collection.; Maida Babson Adams American garden collection. / Series 1: Garden Images / New York

Collection Citation: Smithsonian Institution, Archives of American Gardens, Maida Babson Adams American garden collection.

Collection Rights: Archives of American Gardens encourages the use of its archival materials for non-commercial, educational and personal use under the fair use provision of U.S. copyright law. Use or copyright restrictions may exist. It is incumbent upon the researcher to ascertain copyright status and assume responsibility for usage. All requests for duplication and use must be submitted in writing and approved by Archives of American Gardens. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.

Bibliography: Garden has been featured in Alice Recknagel Ireys, How to Plan and Plant Your Own Property (New York: M. Barrows, distributed by William Morrow, 1967), pp. 5, 23, 45, 137, 157, and 160.

Collection Restrictions: Access to original archival materials by appointment only. Researcher must submit request for appointment in writing. Certain items may be restricted and not available to researchers. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.

Related Materials: Merson Garden related holdings consist of 1 folder (12 contact prints; 3 photographic prints)