Formal Gardens
As part of the overall design of the park, Antoinette Lapham was closely involved with the design of the formal gardens. As an avid gardener and co-founder of the New Canaan Garden Club, she worked closely with Percival Gallagher, a member (and future partner), of the Olmsted firm who was trained as an artist. A. Chandler Manning contributed his horticultural expertise by overseeing the plantings.
A primary design feature was the East/West axial terrace and flagstone pathway that form the structure for the formal gardens and on down to the pond. The gardens include a parterre garden below the terrace that led to a wild garden around the fountain and on to the walled garden, which was originally a rose garden. Now tended by the New Canaan Garden Club, the Walled Garden has a mature herbaceous border and a single bed of roses along its eastern border.
Over the past few years, the Conservancy has undertaken major renovation work which has transformed the area with new flagstone pathways, a renovated fountain statue and a new entrance gate and patio.
Today, the formal gardens have peaceful simplicity that continue to work well together yet without the need for the multitude of gardeners employed by the Laphams!