Informal Gardens
The Kitchen Gardens
In 1927 Farrand designed the Kitchen Gardens as three outdoor rooms: an arboretum where the Cutting Garden is today, a vegetable garden in the present Growing Garden, and a frame yard in the present Peony Garden. All three rooms were enclosed by a combination of walls, hedges and, in the case of the vegetable garden, a grape arbor running along its eastern edge. Farrand also designed the three tool sheds, whose terracotta-tile ogee roofs have recently been restored.
The uses of these gardens have evolved over time. During World War II, the arboretum became a Victory Garden with demonstrations given by Dumbarton Oaks gardeners to the leaders of the American Women's Voluntary Services. Eventually it evolved into a Cutting Garden to provide fresh flowers for the Main House and for official functions. At some point the other, larger vegetable garden changed to a chrysanthemum Growing Garden, and vegetables and herbs are now grown in a smaller area between the Prunus Walk and Growing Garden.
Further Information
The South Front
- South Side of the House
- South Lawn
- The Garden Library and Ribbon Walk
- East Lawn
- R Street Walk
- The Terrior Column and Enclosure
Enclosed Gardens
- The Orangery
- The Green Garden
- The Star Garden
- The North Vista
- The Swimming Pool and Loggia
- The Pebble Garden
- The Beech Terrace
- The Urn Terrace
- The Rose Garden
- The Fountain Terrace
- The Arbor Terrace
- The Box Walk
- The Ellipse