The Storyteller, His Gardens and His History

My love of old Cleveland History is no secret any more, but what may be of interest is my actual practice of a lovely component of this history. Most owners of mansions on "Millionaire's Row" and the great estates of Wickliffe, Gates Mills and Hunting Valley prided themselves on their absolutely beautiful landscaped gardens. Each person of wealth was always attempting to have the best - more was always better. Nationally renowned landscape architects were brought in annually to build and improve "the garden."

When in study of this history, one quickly realizes that all these gardens had certain features, be they the gardens on Euclid Avenue or on the great estates.

Common traits found in each garden or contained therein:

1. Water feature - lily ponds, lakes, waterfalls.
2. Paths to enable a walk through the garden - mostly grass paths.
3. Many, many hedges - boxwood the most popular.
4. The extensive use of arborvitae as a favored shrubbery.
5. Gardens provided a perfect environment for enjoyment. Just walk, sit and enjoy.
6. All gardens overdone to gain one-upmanship. More was always better.
7. Incorporating potted material within the garden.
8. Bloom of some sort for the entire season.

The following are pictures of my gardens. One can rate for themselves how well I detailed old garden criteria. I have also posted pictures of three of my favorite old gardens. These being, The Francis Drury Gardens, Euclid Avenue and his Cedar Hill Farm (now Gilmour Academy), Delhia White's Garden in Hunting Valley, wife of Windsor White a founder of White's Motors and The Virginia White Gardens of Gates Mills, wife of Walter White of White Motors.

The Drury Gardens hold a special reverence for me in that they were the best of the best on Euclid Avenue, known as The Oasis; they were located on some 6 acres that now make up the parking lot for the Cleveland Playhouse and The Drury Theater. Drury's Gardens were written up nationally as my reader will observe. When Francis moved to his Cedar Hill Farm in 1923, he took his Euclid Avenue Gardens with him and incorporated them into over 20 acres of another oasis. Today my gardens are available to groups and clubs who have interest in such things since I live on the Old Walter White Farm. Visitors will be treated to the marvelous history of one of the grandest estates in the country. Please call or email your interest, small fee involved.

Groups passing through thus far have indicated their extreme pleasure at having such an opportunity. This always makes me, the gardener, very pleased.

Lover of the Landscape

Dan Ruminski
Storyteller