The South Spring Garden

The South Spring Garden. . , Begun by Alice Delafield Clarkson Livingston (1872-1964) in 1908 and perfected over ten years, the South Spring Garden was always her favorite. Its protected southern exposure between the mansion and the root cellar was ideal for tender, early blooming plants; it was the first of Clermont's gardens to bloom in the spring. The stone retaining walls, steps, and benches are all part of Alice's design., Sheltered for many years beneath an ancient black walnut tree, the garden could be seen here from the library, where Alice often sat thinking about future garden plans. The garden was reclaimed by ground cover by 1940 after Alice turned her attention to gardens north of the house., [Captions:] , As soon as the spring flowers were up, they were cut and brought into the house. Hellebores were first, and Alice commented that "…it is a great event with us when they arrive, and usually I place the flowers with some sprigs of boxwood, floating in a turquoise bowl.", Honoria Livingston McVitty in 1930, looking south down the "Long View." The South Spring Garden is at the right., About 1910, Alice cleared the trees at the south end of what Chancellor Livingston called the "Long Meadow" to frame the river and a solitary mountain peak near Kingston. She called this vista "Long View.", The garden featured massed perennials and rose bushes; geraniums, zinnias, and cacti were planted in cast-stone urns. Alice wrote "… This garden lies in full view of our southern windows, and is planted only with such things as survive without covering."