Nineteenth Century New England Nurseryman Sold the English Garden

Over the weekend I spoke about my book America’s Romance with the English Garden at the Durant-Kenrick House in Newton, just outside of Boston. The historic 1734 farmhouse stands today as a museum, restored and renovated in 2013 with the addition of a large, modern educational center where I spoke.

When the  nineteenth century nurseryman William Kenrick (1789-1872) owned the property, orchards covered its many acres.  He introduced important varieties of peaches and pears, some still available today.

Kenrick, who owned what was then New England’s largest nursery,  also recommended the English style of landscape which included the lawn.

In 1833 he wrote in his popular book The New American Orchardist, “The modern style of gardening, in the place of the regular geometric forms, and the right angles, and right lines, has substituted all that is more consistent with nature, and with beauty. Celebrated English writers have ascribed this important change in the style of gardening in England.”

Thus this important early New England nurseryman recommended the  modern English garden where the homeowner could display both a lawn and the trees that Kenrick sold.

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