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The Elms Garden


2001


Elms Garden Restoration Wins Awards
The restoration of The Elms garden was honored by the Newport Historical Society with its 2001 Historic Preservation Award in the Not-for-Profit and Historic Landscapes categories.  Newport Historical Society Executive Director Daniel Snydacker, Jr. noted that "As usual, the Preservation Society sets the highest standard for preservation and restoration.  The Preservation Society is to be congratulated on a superb job with the garden, starting with your careful, detailed research.  The project was brought to completion with the highest level of skill in a variety of areas, from horticulture to sculpture restoration and reproduction."

The Elms Garden restoration was also honored with an Historic Preservation Award from the Rhode Island Historic Preservation and Heritage Commission, and a Preservation Merit Award from Preserve Rhode Island.


1999


Restoration to Begin on The Elms Sunken Garden
The sunken garden at The Elms is an historic treasure that needs great attention.  The restoration of this garden is a significant and important horticultural project for many reasons.  The property is a National Historic Landmark with one of the great classical revival gardens in America, containing almost 40 species of trees.  It is also one of a few remaining examples in America of an estate with a Classical French Revival style carriage house set in a period garden accented by elaborate Italian bronze and marble fountains.

Included in the estimated $2.1 million project are the following elements: restoration of trees, boxwood, sod and arborvitae; repair of walkways, steps and balustrades; restoration of the centerpiece of the garden area Tortoise Fountain; cleaning and repair of bronze statuary; rehabilitation of garden
pavilions, stables and carriage house.