Greenwich -- Chelmsford

Designed as a 15-acre country estate and gentleman's farm in the early 20th century, Chelmsford retains some of the original outbuildings, the house, gardens and landscape design on about 9.5 acres. The original fieldstone and clapboard Colonial Revival house built in 1898 was enlarged with wings built from 1907 through 1912. The 80-foot swimming pool, carriage house, superintendent's house, and tennis court remain; the two-acre vegetable garden has been converted to a croquet court. There are boulders, bedrock, and glacial deposits throughout the property and paths of grass, stone and packed earth that crisscross and encircle the property. A stone folly that resembles an aqueduct stands between the croquet court and a meadow planted with run-off absorbing grasses that aid drainage down the slope from the house. A grand staircase comprised of stone risers and steps with grass landings leads down to the frog pond and the site of original formal gardens. There are two stone pillars at the entrance to the broad winding driveway that is lined with rhododendron, mountain laurel, lily-of-the -valley, and rock formations. The front lawn, formerly an apple orchard with one ancient tree still standing, is planted with dogwood and Japanese lilac trees. Nearer to the house there is an intricate boxwood knot garden that was planted in 1998. There is a giant climbing hydrangea on the house with yew, rhododendron and boxwood foundation shrubs. A large trellis planted with New Dawn roses can be seen from the back porch. An herb garden has wattle edging and is flanked by panicle hydrangea and winter gem boxwood. There are several seating areas throughout the property for enjoying different aspects of the gardens and views, some with antique stone benches The folly is draped with cryptomeria with roses in perennial beds below. There are perennial beds around the croquet court. The swimming pool, across the meadow from the folly, has a pool house with a rock loggia. Planted among rock pilings are aster, baptisia, delphinium, helenium, lily, peony, phlox and roses following an original garden plan, with additional summer annuals. A cutting garden has sweet peas, named after previous owner Blanche Ferry Hooker, peonies, dahlias, and cosmos. At the lowest elevation of the property there is a brook with various colorful plantings, as well as more than 5,000 ferns planted by the owners. The woodland garden has another seating area with a table, chairs, and a sofa. There is a stone footbridge that connects this property to another, a remnant of bygone days. Persons associated with the garden's design: Warren Henry Manning (landscape master plan, 1910); Charles Freeman Gillette (landscape architect, 1910-1942); Bryant Fleming (landscape architect, 1920-1925); and Phillip Watson (garden designer, 1998).