SMITHSONIAN GARDENS: Archives of American Gardens

ABSTRACT: “The Archives of American Gardens, housed in the Smithsonian Gardens, includes a collection of approximately 60,000 photographic images and records that document historic and contemporary gardens throughout the United States. The images, which show views from colonial times to the present, include a considerable range of garden features such as furniture and ornamentation, as well as all manner of design styles.”  And “The mission of the Archives of American Gardens: To collect and make available for research use unique, high quality images of and documentation relating to a wide variety of cultivated gardens throughout the United States that are not documented elsewhere since historic, designed and cultural landscapes are subject to change, loss and destruction. In this way, AAG strives to preserve and highlight a meaningful compendium of significant aspects of gardening in the United States for the benefit of researchers and the public today and in the future.”  According to the Archives, Manuscripts, Photographs Catalog, Smithsonian Institution Research Information System (SIRIS), along with City Hall, Carmel-by-the-Sea, Constance Meach Ridder Memorial Garden, 2012, 2014, the Mitchell Garden 1997 (Carmel-by-the-Sea), Little House, 2012 (Carmel-by-the-Sea), Shangri-La ca 1960 (Carmel), Micro Casa 2000 (Carmel), Elliot Garden (Carmel), Tor House (Carmel), Whisler Garden (Carmel), Dougherty Garden, 1995-1996 (Carmel Valley), Finale, 2009 (Carmel Valley), Hedges, 2009 (Pebble Beach) and von Hasseln Garden, 2011 (Pebble Beach) are currently represented in the Archives of American Gardens.  The City Hall, Carmel-by-the-Sea, Constance Meach Ridder Memorial Garden entry is reproduced. 

City Hall, Carmel-by-the-Sea, Constance Meach Ridder Memorial Garden, 2012, 2014.

Title:  City Hall, Carmel-by-the-Sea, Constance Meach Ridder Memorial Garden, 2012, 2014. Forms part of:  Garden Club of America Collection, Phy. Description:  1 folder+ 9 digital images. Summary:  The folder includes worksheets and local newspaper articles. Provenance:  The Carmel-by-the-Sea Garden Club facilitated the submission of this garden’s documentation. General Note:  Private donations and public funds and manpower enabled the creation of a public memorial garden outside the arts and crafts city hall building in the village of Carmel-by-the-Sea. Before this project was approved there were inappropriate plantings that had to compete with tree roots and canopy, walkways and front steps that were uneven, deteriorating wooden handrails, run-off from the roof falling directly on the garden; and the retaining wall separating the garden area from the parking lot was crumbling. The sloping site was cleared and re-graded so all the new walkways would be ADA-compliant. The cement steps were repaired, sand-blasted and repainted and the retaining wall was replaced. Drainage problems were corrected and California natives better suited to drought conditions were planted. Large rustic pots are planted with annuals, and changed each season. Hand-crafted iron railings made by Robert Signorella and a recirculating fountain made from a redwood stump add design features. The old wooden hand-rails were repurposed as backs for the cement benches on the patio. The public garden is in memory of Connie Ridder, a long-time member of the Carmel-by-the-Sea Garden Club. In one of the flower beds there is a granite stone with a bronze plaque dedication to her. Persons associated with the garden include: All Saints’ Episcopal Church (former owners, 1913-1951); City of Carmel-by-the-Sea (owners, 1951- ); Michelle Comeau (landscape designer (2012); Robert Signorella (sculptor of railings). Restrictions:  Access to original images by appointment only. Researcher must submit request for appointment in writing. Certain items may be restricted and not available to researchers. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu Archives of American Gardens encourages the use of its archival materials for non-commercial, educational and personal use under the fair use provision of U.S. copyright law. Use or copyright restrictions may exist. It is incumbent upon the researcher to ascertain copyright status and assume responsibility for usage. All requests for duplication and use must be submitted in writing and approved by Archives of American Gardens. Subject-Topical:  Gardens -- California -- Carmel-by-the-Sea Subject - Geographical:  City Hall, Carmel-by-the-Sea, Constance Meach Ridder Memorial Garden (Carmel-by-the-Sea, California) United States of America California Monterey Carmel-by-the-Sea Repository Loc:  Smithsonian Gardens, Smithsonian Institution, PO Box 37012, Capital Gallery, Suite 3300, MRC 506, Washington, DC 20013-7012 Local Number:  CA605000 Co-Creator:  Comeau, Michelle, landscape designer. Signorella, Robert, sculptor of railings. All Saints' Episcopal Church, former owner. City of Carmel-by-the-Sea, owner. Carmel-by-the-Sea Garden Club, provenance.

Digital Images:

The repurposed wood railings were used as backs for cement benches (March 2014)

The patio can be used for informal meetings (September 2014)

The plaque dedicating the garden to Connie River is set into granite (September 2014)

The pots are planted with white flowers in winter (September 2014)

The repaired steps, native plants, and custom hand-railing outside city hall. The stones used in the wall are indigenous. (October 2015)