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Walk to the North Star House and enter the courtyard. This was originally the back entrance although frequently used as the front just like we do today. The pergola you see today was recreated, based on pictures. The original spanned the entire courtyard left to right and touched the house on both sides. It was completely covered with Banksiae lutea rose vine.
Although the Foote’s did not indulge in too much ornamentation there was a reflecting pool here which has been recreated in the Heritage Garden. There was no concrete. Rather it was lawn and gravel.
Lawn, a reflecting pool, a yew tree, and a couple of plants.
Young granddaughter Evelyn next to the pool, with the yew tree
Closing thoughts from those of us who have grown to love the North Star House and its history:
A woodland garden is designed to be comfortable and welcoming. It is meant to be “lived in” and enjoyed. The Foote’s brought indoor chairs out into the courtyard or onto the lawns.
Younger Footes and friends on NW lawn
The North Star House was an elegant home for entertaining guests, but it was also a family home to three generations of the Foote Family.
A woodland garden takes you through a natural transition from the home out to the woods; it also brings you from the woods back to the home — opening up as you approach — welcoming you home.
Thank you for taking our tour and please come back with your friends. Seasonal tours reveal the loveliness of the landscape colors and natural lighting.
This Self-Guided North Star Landscape Tour is the culmination of work by several volunteers over a period of years. Primary contributors are the following.
- Carole Miller: Spent many years and brought in outside experts to identify plants and trees on the property. She rigorously documented the information.
- Lisa Robinson: Studied all of Carole’s material, worked with Carole, and then created the flow of the tour and descriptive text, illustrated with both vintage and newer photographs.
- Joan Clappier: Put Lisa’s tour and pictures online, formatted to be viewed on a smart phone while walking the tour, or viewed at home on a computer or tablet.
SOURCES/REFERENCES:
- Carole Miller: North Star House Conservancy founder
- https://gertrudejekyll.co.uk/
- http://www.lutherburbank.org/
- https://felixgillet.org/
- http://florgeous.com
- Evelyn Foote Gardiner’s historical landscape diagram
- Vintage photo credits: Arthur D. Foote & his son, Arthur B. Foote
