Dumbarton Oaks

Begun in 1920, the garden was designed by Beatrix Farrand. She admired the Arts and Crafts style of Gertrude Jekyll, but there is a fresh spirit to Dumbarton Oaks. Farrand was a well-travelled and professional designer, open to a wider range of cultural influences than Jekyll. The ellipse is an exercise in geometry. The pebble garden is an original idea, based on a wheatsheaf mofit, made with pebbles from Mexico and covered with a film of water to display their vibrancy. The pool in front ot the logia was designed for swimming. Farrand was expert in the handling of steps, walks and planting.