Weston -- Miles Garden

Object Details

General: This Japanese-style garden was designed by landscape architect Ethelbert E. Furlong for artist Walter Miles and his wife, Jessie, to complement their home, which in turn had been designed by noted architect and woodworker George Nakashima. Because Walter Miles wanted to install and maintain the garden himself, with as little help as possible, he modified Furlong's plan to some degree, while retaining the spirit of the design. Dry stream beds, a pavilion, a bamboo-roofed gatehouse, and irregularly shaped stones were some of the many features of the garden. Although Asian plant material was used extensively, non-Japanese plants such as as Blue Atlas cedar and a flowering dogwood (Cornus florida) were also selected. After leaving this house in 1971, Walter Miles built a second Japanese-style house and garden in Washington, Connecticut, where he lived until 1983.; Persons associated with the property include Ethelbert E. Furlong (landscape architect, ca. 1960); George Nakashima (architect, ca. 1950); and Walter and Jessie Miles (former owners, 1950-1971).

Place: Miles Garden (Weston, Connecticut); United States of America -- Connecticut -- Fairfield County -- Weston

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

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 Rhoda Specht Maxwell, "Mirror of the Orient," [Popular Gardening, November-December 1964?], pp. 28-31. Garden has been featured in "On Planting Neighborly Doorways," The New York Times, May 21, 1967. Garden has been featured in David Barrows, "37 Good Ideas for Your Garden," Home Garden (September 1967), p. 33.

Scope and Contents: The folder includes worksheets, a copy of an article about the garden with photographs by Molly Adams and a complete plant list, and other information.

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: Miles Garden related holdings consist of 1 folder (18 safety film negatives; 9 photographic prints)