Canandaigua in Ontario County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Pansey Garden
Photographed By Anton Schwarzmueller, June 22, 2019
1. Pansey Garden Marker
The 60-foot by 60-foot Pansy Garden was designed in 1913 by landscape architect John Handrahan. It was the second of three garden rooms he created near the mansion between 1911 and 1916 for Mark Clark Thompson. Visitors entered the garden from the west terrace through a pair of wrought-iron and gilded gates. A marble walk led from the gates the garden’s centerpiece, a six-foot high marble fountain that stood in a pansy-shaped basin. It is believed that pansies were Mary Clark Thompson’s favorite flower, and in this garden, she filled 13 different beds exclusively with masses of mixed-color and solid-color pansies. Devoting an entire garden to a single flower at that time was a novelty.
In the language of flowers, pansies suggest “remember me.” This garden allows Sonnenberg’s visitors the opportunity to remember Mary Clark Thompson’s gifts to the community.
The entrance to this garden are copies of gates at the Villa Pamphili Doria in Italy.
Almost all of the pansies for Sonnenberg’s gardens were grown in the greenhouses. The site’s archives contain a number of vouchers, similar to this one, for the purchase of pansy
this page online
After Mark Clark Thompson’s death, the Pansy Garden remained intact until 1931, when the estate was sold to the United States government. The fountain was found in one of the estate’s storage sheds and restored in 1973. In 2009, the fountain’s plumbing was restored, and an irrigation system was installed.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Architecture. A significant historical year for this entry is 1913.
Location. 42° 53.981′ N, 77° 16.292′ W. Marker is in Canandaigua, New York, in Ontario County. Marker can be reached from Charlotte Street near Howell Street. Marker is on the grounds of Sonnenberg Gardens & Mansion State Historic Site. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 151 Charlotte Street, Canandaigua NY 14424, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Blue & White Garden (a few steps from this marker); Moonlight Garden (a few steps from this marker); Sonnenberg Gardens (within shouting distance of this marker); Old-Fashioned Garden (within shouting distance of this marker); The Peacock House/Aviary (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Rock Garden (about 500 feet away); Japanese Garden (about 500 feet away); Japanese Garden & Tea House (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Canandaigua.
Also see . . . Sonnenberg Gardens and Mansion State Historic Park
Photographed By Anton Schwarzmueller, June 22, 2019
2. Pansey Garden & Marker
A non-profit organization, Sonnenberg operates in cooperation with the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and relies solely on visitor admissions, memberships, donations, wine and gift center sales, and special events to preserve public access to the site. – Quoted from a printed self-guided tour provided upon admission. (Submitted on June 23, 2019, by Anton Schwarzmueller of Wilson, New York.)
Photographed By Anton Schwarzmueller, June 22, 2019
3. Pansey Garden & Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on July 13, 2022. It was originally submitted on June 23, 2019, by Anton Schwarzmueller of Wilson, New York. This page has been viewed 141 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 23, 2019, by Anton Schwarzmueller of Wilson, New York.
