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Shakespeare
Garden, nestled between the Delacorte Theater, Belvedere Castle, and
the Swedish Cottage, is an informal four-acre cottage garden nestled
in a rocky hillside. The garden was dedicated to Shakespeare in 1916,
the 300th anniversary of his death. Following a Victorian tradition,
only flowers mentioned in Shakespeare's plays and poetry were planted
in the garden.
After
many years of neglect, the garden was completely reconstructed in
1987. Only the trees and a few existing shrubs were kept from the
original plan. One tree that now shades the lower part of the garden
is a graft of a white mulberry tree planted by Shakespeare's own
hands at New Place, Stratford-on-Avon, in the year 1602. The cutting
was sent to him by King James I in His Majesty's attempt to introduce
silk-culture into England. The lovely rustic wood seating deck under
the canopy of the mulberry tree is a perfect place to look closely at
the garden details.
Planted
on the steep slope of Vista Rock, the Garden's path twists and turns
to its summit. Rustic benches punctuate the path and climbing roses
intertwine the rustic wood fence that surrounds the entire Garden.
Every season offers its different pleasures, but spring is the most
tender. In March the hellebores, columbines, and Virginia bluebells
are in full blossom. April and May offer daffodils, violets, and
tulips with names such as Hearts Delight. The iris and the rose
appear in late spring.
Summer
greenery is more profuse, with herbs scenting the air and ferns,
mallows, poppies, and black-eyed Susans in abundance. Asters,
ornamental grasses, and broom sedges provide autumn color. Holly and
Eastern hemlocks dominate in winter.
Visitors
may see branches woven together to protect some of the more fragile
plants. The garden has taken inspiration for these tiny fences from
medieval times and is recycling pruning leftovers. Scattered
throughout the garden are bronze plaques that provide the
Shakespearean quotation that inspired the planting.
One
tree that now shades the lower part of the garden is a graft of a
white mulberry tree planted by Shakespeare's own hands at New Place,
Stratford-on-Avon, in the year 1602.
In
1987, the Conservancy redesigned and expanded Shakespeare Garden.
The Conservancy's restoration crew repaved pathways and stairs,
installed rustic wooden benches and rustic cedar railings. |
