Southport -- Heyn Hidden Pond Garden, The

In 1924 architect Cameron Clark designed the gable roofed Federal Revival house and landscape architect Agnes Selkirk Clark designed a shade pond garden with a waterfall and plantings. Although the current owners acquired their four-acre property in 1996 they did not discover that pond until late 2003. The pond had been filled with native rocks and cut logs in the 1950's and this entire garden feature had disappeared under old wire fencing, fallen trees and weeds. Restoration began in 2004, retaining mature trees while uncovering a kidney-shaped pond that still held water and a stone waterfall. The new shade garden has variegated weigela, viburnum, boxwood, and rhododendron with barberry lining the path to the pond garden. Narrow perennial beds around the pond have hosta, moss, fern, Solomon's seal, and heuchera. Five golden colored fish were put in the pond to represent family members, and a new fish is added for every grandchild. The pond is protected from debris in winter and early spring with medium gage wire netting. Additional work on the property included restoring the apple orchard, restacking 300-year-old fieldstone walls, removing dead plant material, and rejuvenating overgrown perennial beds. Overgrown boxwood, ilex, and mountain laurel were trimmed. There is a significant peony collection that was not included in this documentation. In 1988 the house and property were given historic designation by the Fairfield Historical Commission and added to the Architectural Survey of Fairfield, Connecticut. Persons associated with the garden's design: Agnes Selkirk Clark (landscape architect, 1924); Kenneth Twombly (arborist, 1993-1996); Wendy Linquist (horticulturist, garden designer 1998-2023); John Lloyd and Selim Yolac (garden designers, horticulturists, 2004-2008); Rob Wilbur (garden and sculpture designer, 2010-2017); Ernie Aquino (gardener, 2009- ).