Edith Wharton walked these grounds

<a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3649/3692379056_f11c1575d6.jpg?v=1246847460" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3649/3692379056_f11c1575d6.jpg?v=1246847460" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 536px; height: 402px;" /></a>As I've previously written, I spent the holiday weekend in Lenox, MA. The highlight of the trip was clearly the day spent at The Mount, Edith Wharton's summer home. It's hard to know where to focus and I took nearly 90 photos! As a matter of fact, I kept filling up my storage card (huge photos!) and had to keep deleting as I went. I think what I ended up with were the best images of this glorious property. The current owners, <a href="http://www.edithwharton.org/">The Edith Wharton Restoration</a>, purchased the estate in 1980, but it wasn't until 1997 that they were able to start the extensive work necessary to return the buildings and grounds back to their original glory. The work is ongoing.<br /><br />I am starting with the grounds, and will then move onto the exterior of the building, followed by the remarkable interiors. The grounds of the estate have been restored to their former glory - including the drive in (which was originally designed by her niece, noted landscape architect Beatrix Farrand), walking trails and natural wooded areas, and most notably, the formal gardens and terraces behind the home. These formal gardens were designed by Edith Wharton herself. She based her designs on the European influences of her youth, most notably the Italian style, which suggested that the gardens should be laid out as rooms and in concert with the home and the natural landscape.<br /><br />Here is the view from the veranda in the rear of the house. The steps down from the terrace transition to a series of terraced lawns leading down the hill towards the wooded areas and looking out towards the mountains.<br /><br /><a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2504/3691572423_dfa272eabd.jpg?v=1246846279" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2504/3691572423_dfa272eabd.jpg?v=1246846279" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 512px; height: 572px;" /></a><br />Looking left down the limestone "hallway", one takes in the French inspired flower garden.<br /><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3642/3691575053_585d993ccc.jpg?v=0" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3642/3691575053_585d993ccc.jpg?v=0" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 513px; height: 683px;" /></a>A series of planting beds surrounds a small pool with Edith Wharton's dolphin fountain.<br /><a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2625/3691575599_11c98bc83a.jpg?v=1246847351" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2625/3691575599_11c98bc83a.jpg?v=1246847351" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 541px; height: 405px;" /></a><br /><a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2446/3691578841_94ccb0a913.jpg?v=1246848851" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2446/3691578841_94ccb0a913.jpg?v=1246848851" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 561px; height: 420px;" /></a><br /><a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2636/3692382558_8401241ee6.jpg?v=1246848971" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2636/3692382558_8401241ee6.jpg?v=1246848971" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 563px; height: 421px;" /></a><br />And looking back towards the house.<a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2615/3692380856_88d7925d21.jpg?v=1246848733" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2615/3692380856_88d7925d21.jpg?v=1246848733" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 569px; height: 426px;" /></a>While this garden was quite lovely, I was completely entranced by the Italiante garden to the left of the house. The image below is looking towards this classic walled "private" garden from the back steps.<br /><br /><a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2502/3691572811_06e6dfe842.jpg?v=1246846802" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2502/3691572811_06e6dfe842.jpg?v=1246846802" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 565px; height: 423px;" /></a>And a zoom-in photo (love the telephoto setting!!):<a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3644/3692376450_1d5c58c3dc.jpg?v=1246847028" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3644/3692376450_1d5c58c3dc.jpg?v=1246847028" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 566px; height: 424px;" /></a>Looking towards the secret garden - which is on a lower elevation in order to emphasize the private nature of the space.<br /><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3630/3691574777_fd4dd5ae26.jpg?v=1246847223" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3630/3691574777_fd4dd5ae26.jpg?v=1246847223" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 516px; height: 687px;" /></a><br /><a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2429/3692383166_edb395cd3f.jpg?v=1246849089" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2429/3692383166_edb395cd3f.jpg?v=1246849089" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 517px; height: 688px;" /></a>The ivy covered stone walls included a series of niches with darling little wooden benches. The color palette is entirely white (astilbe) and green. So simple, lush and classic! Edith installed this garden with the proceeds from her novel "The House of Mirth". Much of this garden had to be restored or replaced in the renovation - worth every penny! I didn't want to leave.<br /><a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2547/3692390694_510ebc01b9.jpg?v=1246845748" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2547/3692390694_510ebc01b9.jpg?v=1246845748" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 532px; height: 399px;" /></a><br /><a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2596/3692387028_6bee62fd5c.jpg?v=1246849389" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2596/3692387028_6bee62fd5c.jpg?v=1246849389" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 536px; height: 604px;" /></a><br /><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3621/3691591493_cfac865841.jpg?v=1246849644" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3621/3691591493_cfac865841.jpg?v=1246849644" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 548px; height: 411px;" /></a><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3597/3692391590_dcff46f798.jpg?v=1246849518" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3597/3692391590_dcff46f798.jpg?v=1246849518" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 549px; height: 411px;" /></a>The rock-pile fountain (this is a reconstructed version of the original) is as charming as the formal dolphin fountain in the French garden.<br /><a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2645/3691587315_806427c40e.jpg?v=1246846078" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2645/3691587315_806427c40e.jpg?v=1246846078" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 540px; height: 405px;" /></a>If you're a lover of symmetry (as I am), this is just so satisfying.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2447/3691595855_5e9fd015a3.jpg?v=1246850146" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2447/3691595855_5e9fd015a3.jpg?v=1246850146" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 547px; height: 410px;" /></a><br />The stone arches and pergola on the far side of the garden offer a lovely respite from the sun's heat.<a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2476/3691583365_d60155d8bd.jpg?v=1246849255" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2476/3691583365_d60155d8bd.jpg?v=1246849255" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 550px; height: 412px;" /></a>On the outside looking in (note the view of the house through the arch).<br /><a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2576/3691592875_9ede19de94.jpg?v=1246849886" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2576/3691592875_9ede19de94.jpg?v=1246849886" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 555px; height: 416px;" /></a>A view from above.<br /><a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2570/3691593909_dc05dd0bf8.jpg?v=1246850021" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2570/3691593909_dc05dd0bf8.jpg?v=1246850021" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 554px; height: 415px;" /></a>And back towards the house.<br /><a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2465/3691592375_2f42092b51.jpg?v=1246849755" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2465/3691592375_2f42092b51.jpg?v=1246849755" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 510px; height: 678px;" /></a>The garden restoration projects began in the early 2000's. The landscape architect is Childs Associates in Boston; garden restoration by <a href="http://www.websteringersoll.com/">Webster-Ingersoll</a> in Sheffield, MA.<br /><br />A year ago, <a href="http://www.edithwharton.org/">The Mount</a> was facing foreclosure, which I wrote about <a href="http://chameleon-interiors.blogspot.com/2008/07/save-mount-edith-whartons-home-risks.html">here</a>, exactly one year ago. While things are looking up - they are still in need of financial help in order keep going with the large scale restorations and maintenance required to keep up the property. Please consider<a href="http://www.edithwharton.org/index.php?catId=3"> making a donation</a>.<br /><br />Stay tuned for my upcoming posts on the building and interiors!<br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/40/61AD69B5456EE9E48D48218DA34439B1.png" style="border: 0pt none ! important; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" /></a><br /><br /><p><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/EQjz" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img alt="" src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" style="border: 0pt none ; vertical-align: middle;" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/EQjz" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">Subscribe to ::Surroundings::</a></p>

Edith Wharton walked these grounds

As I've previously written, I spent the holiday weekend in Lenox, MA. The highlight of the trip was clearly the day spent at The Mount, ...

Read more »

Happy Birthday, America!

<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Happy July 4th, America!</span></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">As I've previously written, and tweeted, I'm spending the long July 4th weekend in the Berkshires in Western Massachusetts. I spent a lovely few hours yesterday afternoon at <a href="http://chameleon-interiors.blogspot.com/2009/07/dining-with-edith-wharton.html">Edith Wharton's house</a>, and am very excited to do some in depth posts about this amazing estate, that just one year ago was facing foreclosure! What a comeback story!<br /><br /><a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2530/3687192168_7fed08a467.jpg?v=0" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2530/3687192168_7fed08a467.jpg?v=0" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 532px; height: 399px;" /></a>I spent last evening at Tanglewood for the opening of the Boston Symphony Orchestra's summer season. James Levine conducted Tchaikovksy. In between raindrops, we had a lovely candlelit picnic on the lawn. A great wine - Clos du Val merlot - along with baguette and cheese, chicken salad and chocolate chip cookies. Delish!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Today, we're off for a visit to the <a href="http://www.nrm.org/">Norman Rockwell museum</a>, whose work I've always loved! Here are four of his most famous works, which seem appropriate for today: The Four Freedoms.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5dqQBiI1Aeo6U2DKIRcvis6_h80E2ZoP0BUVPnEtT95Daab763-fN-S0J6IcU_-VwEjoV-l5Fq6ADQiprhVkzELpJXeSyBA6o0yvV21Mp0EkPLvHbsBByvDEW6IRooXOZjzlfpOI05vn5/s1600-h/rockwell_speech.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354584202947806210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5dqQBiI1Aeo6U2DKIRcvis6_h80E2ZoP0BUVPnEtT95Daab763-fN-S0J6IcU_-VwEjoV-l5Fq6ADQiprhVkzELpJXeSyBA6o0yvV21Mp0EkPLvHbsBByvDEW6IRooXOZjzlfpOI05vn5/s400/rockwell_speech.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 441px; height: 582px;" /></a>Freedom of Speech<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYqt-KS2y5bYFZslzX3T6-wB5WGTlH12CSmK0M8fglWQeacTYkUjBEg3rFk4moroY7R4f2b8-j9n-ueT5EY0DnZvz67tO-BiCoquNWQ7PUDhoeoFRn2u1wpKIzzqxXQ5925UCDTAwa63as/s1600-h/rockwell_worship.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354584211285556930" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYqt-KS2y5bYFZslzX3T6-wB5WGTlH12CSmK0M8fglWQeacTYkUjBEg3rFk4moroY7R4f2b8-j9n-ueT5EY0DnZvz67tO-BiCoquNWQ7PUDhoeoFRn2u1wpKIzzqxXQ5925UCDTAwa63as/s400/rockwell_worship.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 445px; height: 559px;" /></a>Freedom of Worship<br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFMxght7Fb0uzm6ep4vdUSalYrTYWnToGouUSaq0hzRfmahwkcmEoM5AD4BBw9bAwgX0RPdzID1L6GDRgH8WNQSLhF9Ctg8mKzRqGXUD5jcXgIvQluuji1RjuRKJ_VoKc9WKFYB9PIGG7e/s1600-h/rockwell_want.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354584209367982642" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFMxght7Fb0uzm6ep4vdUSalYrTYWnToGouUSaq0hzRfmahwkcmEoM5AD4BBw9bAwgX0RPdzID1L6GDRgH8WNQSLhF9Ctg8mKzRqGXUD5jcXgIvQluuji1RjuRKJ_VoKc9WKFYB9PIGG7e/s400/rockwell_want.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 451px; height: 582px;" /></a>Freedom from Want<br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj4T8NMc7Q60bJT20om0WJhb2Nfm2FGXZFLKcW_z33ySUlttb2IaUAo52NZhEPjaJrZuFykAYfIPvoFKRxtqdhD_4aBxiNWvgWS0Cl8ze1wx82hS7lGHhAOAiI3Gcq_Ige3Qy8zA23AQil/s1600-h/rockwell_fear.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354584200546929330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj4T8NMc7Q60bJT20om0WJhb2Nfm2FGXZFLKcW_z33ySUlttb2IaUAo52NZhEPjaJrZuFykAYfIPvoFKRxtqdhD_4aBxiNWvgWS0Cl8ze1wx82hS7lGHhAOAiI3Gcq_Ige3Qy8zA23AQil/s400/rockwell_fear.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 449px; height: 586px;" /></a>Freedom from Fear<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;">While we're clearly still a work in progress, I do believe we keep trying.<br /></div><br />And tonight, I'll be back at Tanglewood to hear Diana Krall! I hope you're spending the holiday with friends and family and having a great time!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/it1NaXrIN9I&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/it1NaXrIN9I&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /></div></div><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/40/61AD69B5456EE9E48D48218DA34439B1.png" style="border: 0pt none ! important; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" /></a><br /><br /><p><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/EQjz" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img alt="" src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" style="border: 0pt none ; vertical-align: middle;" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/EQjz" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">Subscribe to ::Surroundings::</a></p>

Happy Birthday, America!

Happy July 4th, America! As I've previously written, and tweeted, I'm spending the long July 4th weekend in the Berkshires in Wester...

Read more »

Dining with Edith Wharton

<a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2619/3685569989_b70ffa5e52.jpg?v=0" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2619/3685569989_b70ffa5e52.jpg?v=0" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 375px;" /></a><br />Edith Wharton did her writing in bed. Finished pages scattered to the floor for a maid to pick up and keep organized. I'm totally convinced that Edith would be a blogger were she around today. Laptop at the ready, posts flying into the wind. Here is a photo I took today while I toured Edith's home in Lenox, Massachusetts, known as The Mount. Gorgeous and inspiring! More photos to come of the grounds and interiors. I leave you with these. Am off to Tanglewood for a BSO concert tonight! Hopefully, weather permitting, I'll be able to show photos of a picnic on the lawn tht I have planned, so stay tuned!<br /><a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2519/3686380106_1524a870c8.jpg?v=0" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2519/3686380106_1524a870c8.jpg?v=0" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 375px;" /></a><br />Eating on the veranda, overlooking the stepped terraces and the Berkshire mountains.<br /><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3646/3686378214_bdb1b981d1.jpg?v=0" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3646/3686378214_bdb1b981d1.jpg?v=0" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 447px; height: 500px;" /></a><br />photos by Linda Merrill for<a href="http://www.chameleon-interiors.blogspot.com/"> ::Surroundings::</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/40/61AD69B5456EE9E48D48218DA34439B1.png" style="border: 0pt none ! important; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" /></a><br /><br /><p><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/EQjz" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img alt="" src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" style="border: 0pt none ; vertical-align: middle;" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/EQjz" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">Subscribe to ::Surroundings::</a></p>

Dining with Edith Wharton

Edith Wharton did her writing in bed. Finished pages scattered to the floor for a maid to pick up and keep organized. I'm totally convin...

Read more »