Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-08
GARDENS
OPEN TO PUBLIC.
Twenty Georgetown Estates
May Be Visited by Pilgrims
Next Wednesday.
BY GRETCHEN s. SMITH.

Adjoining the old Georgetown reser-
voir on r street, high above the city, is
the dignified old home Of Admiral and
Mrs H. H. Rousseau, whose spacious
grounds will extend the hospitality of
shady trees and cooling breeZes to the
garden pilgrims" next Wednesday, the
day set aside for the opening of 20
Georgetown gardens to the public.
An inspiration will be received from
a visit to the Rousseau gardens, for
Mrs. Rousseau. an accomplished land
scape gardener, has clevely terraced
the grounds in the rear of her home,
converting approximately an acre of
ground into a series of gardens. On the
livel with the house is luxuriant lawn,
In the center of which remains an an
cient fountain, probably built at the
time the house was erected, more than
hundred years ago. No place in Wash
ington can boast more magnificent
trees than the Rousseau grounds. A
Towering horse chestnut rears itself
proudly, as though conscious 1t were
one of fast disappearing race, while
an ivy grown oak and tremendous
holly tree bear evidence of many gen.
erations OF existence. Crossing the
lawn, past the servants quarters, once
occupied by the slaves of the original
owners of the place, one deScends to
lower terrace, through the center of
which runs an old brick walk bordered
by iris. Mrs. Rousseau proudly shows
you some Japanese roof iris, both pur-
pie and white, flowers rarely seen in
the gardens of this country. One of
several goldfish pools is to be seen at
the end of the brick walk on this ter
race.
Fascinating Rock Garden.
Beyond the iris garden, on grade
still lower, Is one of the most fascinating
rock gardens in Greater Washington.
Rocks have been piled in the center and
crossing and running about the place
are the qaintest little zig-zag paths, all
Towering fax, phlox, sedums, sasa-
fraga plants, wild trandescantia, prim-
rose, polyanthus and many bulbs,
brought from California, have been
planted in this rock garden by Mrs.
Rousseau. Bags of soil were also brought
by Mrs. Rousseau from her home at
Blue Hill, Me. THE Maine soil is so
rich in leaf mold, that brought some
of it here" she explained.
Mrs Rousseau is such an expert
gardener that she makes her own Leaf
mould. The beauty of her plants
proves her methods are successful. An
other gold fish pool has been built of
rock in this section of the grounds and
the water which fills the pool from an
upper source, trickleS into the ground
feeding the roots of the rock plants
surrounding the pool.
Mrs. Rousseau became so fascinated
with the work accomplished in her
gardens both in Washington and Blue
Hill. Me-, that three years ago she took
up the occupation seriously, and has
already done the landscaping for sew
eral Summer homes of friends in Maine
This Spring she received her first order
to design the garden for an estate at
Bar Harbor.
West Grounds Delightful.
About two blocks beyond Mrs. Rous-
seau's home, on r street, is another
lovely place, that of Mrs. Frank West,
whose beautiful grounds testify to the
duigent and Skillful care of years. A
large veranda is built at the rear of
Mrs. Vests home, and standing from
this point, one can see in q sweeping
glance, grassy lawns, tremendous old
trees, in the branches OF which have
been placed numerous little bird houses,
and far down In a lower terrace a
Sunken garden, which at present is a
mass of colorful flowers. Mrs. Vests
garden possesses some very fine peony
beds, also rose bushes just beginning to
bud. Fear was expressed, however,
that neither roses or peonies would be
In flower for the opening of the gar
dens next week
After leaving Mrs. Vests If you will
drive a short distance past Western
High School down Reservoir road. you
will feel compensated for your drive, by
a visit to the magnificent estate of Mrs
Anne Archbold. who has also thrown
open her estate to the public. One
drives up a winding road to Mrs. Arch
holds beautiful home, surrounded by
trees, shrubs and foliage of natural and
primitive beauty. Mrs. Archbold's es-
tate is a very fine example Of how a
natural woods or wilderness may be
converted into a perfect setting for
handsome modern home. The dog
woods surrounding the house form a
snowy background, against which the
ivy covered house stands forth In all its
beauty. Numerous beds of lilies of the
valley have been artistically scattered
about the wide lawns facing the house
and rose bsRhes and plants of every
variety ivefpromise of fragrance and
beauty for tfs early part Of June. Those