Stonington -- Stone Acres

Although this garden site was established ca. 1900, ownership of the property dates to at least the mid-18th century. The current site includes ca. 60 acres, once part of a larger dairy farm that was active until the 1980s. Among the historical features of the property are a greenhouse that may have been built in the late-18th century and a ca. 100-year-old boxwood hedge 1,237 feet long. Many of the plantings, such as waterlilies, tree peonies, and other foundation plantings were put in after the hurricane of 1938, while many trees and shrubs are specimens from the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Flower beds and borders are underplanted with bulbs, and there are 19 rose arbors on the property. Other features include a vegetable garden, cutting garden, and apple orchard (formerly there were pear and peach orchards as well). Old lilacs, a grapery, and walkways round out this rural garden site.

Persons associated with the garden include: Charles Phelps, M.D. (former owner, ca. 1755); Charles Phelps, Jr. (former owner, ca. 1830); Erskine Phelps (former owner); Eugene Phelps Edwards (former owner); Dr. Frederic Paffard (former owner); Charles Anderson (gardener/farmer, 1950-1985); Edward Piver (farmer, 1960-1999); and Christian Careb (gardener/historian, to date).