Two women playing badminton or lawn tennis while others look on, “The Oaks,” Galveston,Texas, ca. 1900, via Texas State Archives Commons on flickr.
Category: North American gardens
The Sunday porch: Strawberry Hill
My first “Sunday porch,” from August 2013. . .
Strawberry Hill plantation, Greene County, Alabama, in 1939, by Frances Benjamin Johnston, via Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.
The front porch is often a box seat for the theater of the garden or the street. This one seems to have half drawn its curtains against the buzzing, chirping action of the cottage garden below.
The mid-19th century house still exists, although without the vines and flowers. Its surrounding land is now a cattle ranch.
Life in gardens: summer class
“Life class, summer school, National Academy of Design,” probably New York City area, ca. 1910 to ca. 1915, by Bain News Service, via Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division on flickr.
The students are drawing or painting a boy left of center in the photo.
Vintage landscape: shady spot
Garden of “As You Like It,” the James Harper Poor House, East Hampton, New York, ca. 1915, by Frances Benjamin Johnston, via Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Commons on flickr.
Poor was a New York City businessman (dry goods) and Shakespeare devotee, who, in 1899, bought a shingled American Colonial country house, part of which was built in the 17th century. He then changed its style to English or Tudor Revival — all half-timber and stucco, as was so fashionable at that time. Today, the property is The Baker House 1650 bed and breakfast.
The Sunday porch: Austin, Texas
A repeat porch from June 2014. . .
“Remains of log dogtrot house near Webberville Road. . . Austin Texas,” 1935, probably by Fannie Ratchford, via Texas State Archives.
Unfortunately, it’s a little out of focus, but still beautiful.
. . . I woo the wind
That still delays his coming. Why so slow,
Gentle and voluble spirit of the air?
Oh, come and breathe upon the fainting earth
Coolness and life!— William Cullen Bryant, from “Summer Wind“
enclos*ure 