Bon Air -- Eden Woods

Object Details

General: The owner has taken cues from nature in this 3.6 acre property to transform it from a neglected garden into a work of art. The uniqueness lies in the use of the native mosses instead of using grass as lawn. The design of the gardens began with the prior owners' structure of rock and slate paths from 1954 and borders and a spring pool in a woodland oasis with many shade loving plants. The entrance to the garden leads into the wall garden or sunken garden filled with plants that tolerate wet feet such as hosta, blueberry, clethra, azalea, ferns... A large moss lawn is next to this area. The Island Garden was created to give the eye a close focal point. Another focus is the Circle Garden in spring, full of color from 200 "Toronto" gregeii tulips. The owner keeps leaves and weeds off the moss and may water the mosses in a very dry period if she is expecting a crowd. At least five moss genera were native to the owner's garden.; Persons associated with the property include: Dr. and Mrs. Clifford and Janet Nelson (former owners, 1954-1977); Alan McCullough (architect, 1954); and Leonora Riddering Burnet (Norie) (landscape designer, gardener, 1977-present).

Place: Eden Woods (Bon Air, Virginia); United States of America -- Virginia -- Chesterfield County -- Bon Air

Topic: Gardens -- Virginia -- Bon Air; Gardening in the shade; Moss gardens; Woodland gardens

See more items in: The Garden Club of America collection; The Garden Club of America collection / Series 1: United States Gardens / Virginia

Sponsor: A project to describe images in this finding aid received Federal support from the Smithsonian Collections Care Initiative, administered by the National Collections Program.

Custodial History: The Tuckahoe Garden Club of Westhampton facilitated the submission of this garden's documentation.

Collection Citation: Smithsonian Institution, Archives of American Gardens, The Garden Club of America 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 featured in Martha Carr, "Paradise Mossed," in The Washington Post At Home, Fall 2004, pp. 64-68. Garden featured in "Good-bye Grass," in The Woodland Garden, Summer 2003, pp. 6-7. Garden featured in Sarah Kinbar, "It's Easy Being Green," in Garden Design, May/June 2003, pp. 12-13. Garden featured in Martha Randolph Carr, "Moss Gathers in this Bon Air Backyard," in Virginia Living, August 2003, pp. 46-47. Garden featured in Joanne Wolf, "Mystical, Magical Moss Gardening," in Perennials, Summer 2001, pp. 106-112 Garden featured in Gardening and Outdoor Living, Vol. IX, No. 4, p. 70. Garden featured in "Mad for Moss," in Country Living, April 1999. Garden featured in "Mad for Moss," in Gardener, March/April 1999.

Scope and Contents: The folder includes a worksheet, a garden plan, plant list, articles, and a narrative description of the garden keyed to the individual slides.

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: Eden Woods related holdings consist of 1 folder (8 35 mm. slides)