Object Details
Former owner
Hartley, Mr.
Hartley, Mrs.
Landscaper
Devine, Sandra
Contractor
Cline, Mark
Landscaper
Cline, Mark
Hernandez, Mario
Gardener
Hernandez, Mario
Garden designer
McKinley, Sue
Provenance
Garden Club of Santa Barbara
Collection Creator
Garden Club of America
Collection Citation
Smithsonian Institution, Archives of American Gardens, The Garden Club of America collection.
Scope and Contents
The folder includes worksheets, a planting list, and garden plans.
sova.aag.gca_ref24457
General
Located in Santa Barbara, California, with views of both the Montecito Hills and the Pacific Ocean, McKinley Garden covers 2.2 acres of land. The property was bought by the current owners in 1988, and the garden and home were subsequently altered. The garden was changed from a tropical garden with banana and palm trees to an English-style garden complete with large grassy areas and high maintenance plantings. Over time, the English-style garden became unsustainable to maintain. Trips to France and interest in the French Provencal style became the impetus for the owners to transform their home into a Mediterranean villa-inspired house and garden between 2007 and 2012. Little remains from the English-style garden, aside from a sundial bearing the date 1661.
On-going droughts in Southern California caused the owners to replace much of the lawn with gravel. Gravel is not only drought-efficient but is also consistent with Mediterranean-style landscaping. The property has a pool on an upper level of the garden, which overlooks a lath house, tennis court, and climbing rose arbors. The garden consists of pathways, bridges, a gazebo, chicken coop, and pond. The pond is the central focus of the back garden with a bridge that was inspired by the bridge on painter Claude Monet's property in Giverny, France.
McKinley Garden includes a vegetable garden, an olive tree allee, and a rose garden. There are many types of fruit trees including oval and round Kumquat, Bearss and Kaffir Lime, and other edible plants, such as rosemary and pepper. There are other types of trees and many shrubs on the property. Garden ornamentation include large ceramic vases and a French wishing well.
Persons associated with the garden include: Mr. and Mrs. Hartley (former owner, to 1988); Sandra Devine (landscaper, 1992-1998); Mark Cline (contractor and landscaper, 2011-2012); Mario Hernandez (landscaper and head gardener, 2011- ); Sue McKinley (garden designer, 1988- ).
Place
McKinley Garden (Santa Barbara, California)
United States of America -- California -- Santa Barbara -- Santa Barbara
Topic
Gardens -- California -- Santa Barbara
Former owner
Hartley, Mr.
Hartley, Mrs.
Landscaper
Devine, Sandra
Contractor
Cline, Mark
Landscaper
Cline, Mark
Hernandez, Mario
Gardener
Hernandez, Mario
Garden designer
McKinley, Sue
Provenance
Garden Club of Santa Barbara
See more items in
The Garden Club of America collection
The Garden Club of America collection / Series 1: United States Gardens / California
Sponsor
A project to describe images in this finding aid received Federal support from the Smithsonian Collections Care Initiative, administered by the National Collections Program.
Custodial History
Garden Club of Santa Barbara facilitated the submission of this garden's documentation.
Archival Repository
Archives of American Gardens
Identifier
AAG.GCA, File CA613
Type
Archival materials
Collection Rights
Archives of American Gardens encourages the use of its archival materials for non-commercial, educational and personal use under the fair use provision of U.S. copyright law. Use or copyright restrictions may exist. It is incumbent upon the researcher to ascertain copyright status and assume responsibility for usage. All requests for duplication and use must be submitted in writing and approved by Archives of American Gardens. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.
Collection Restrictions
Access to original archival materials by appointment only. Researcher must submit request for appointment in writing. Certain items may be restricted and not available to researchers. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.
AAG.GCA_ref24457
Large EAD
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/kb6504b0694-7f44-4674-9846-283664c31632
AAG.GCA
AAG
Record ID
ebl-1643208220039-1643210177045-0