martinhouseclr

52 DARWIN D. MARTIN HOUSE // CULTURAL LANDSCAPE REPORT Upon Martin’s later request, Griffin returned the original planting plan to Martin which he apparently “took home with him” after his visit to oversee the installation. 131 This illuminates why the original linen drawing for the 15 February 1905 ‘Plan of Plantings’ was in Martin’s possession (now at University at Buffalo Archives) and not in Wright’s (The Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation Archives, Avery Library, Columbia University). 132 Martin requested it specifically as it represented the only legible copy of a complete planting plan for the property, despite not being used to keep a record of changes that were made. One further inclusion on both plans, though with no apparent relation to the site as-constructed, is the faint (half-erased) pencil line work signifying approximately 10’ x 10’ squares (with what appear to be ripple symbols of water in a pool) which are separately on a distinct axis with each verandah at the complex (both the Barton House and the Martin House). Griffin scholar Christopher Vernon notes that the pools could be related to the previously discussed drawing titled Water Basin and noted as “Reflecting planter on the blueprint are not those shown in 1906 photos, and appeared to have changed several times. The ginkgo tree on the east side of the driveway was also a later planting and noted in pen on the blueprint (planted ca.1912-14). 131 DDM-FLW, 29 June 1905, WMP-UB. 132 The February 1905 planting plan is the only Wright drawing held in the Martin Archives (UB) that is original ink on linen. The Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation Archives (Columbia) contain the remainder of original ink and linen drawings, of which there are only blueprints of at UB. Pool (Project), c. 1910” held by the Deutsches Architekturmuseum , Frankfort, and published on page 128 in Jack Quinan’s book Frank Lloyd Wright’s Buffalo Venture. 133 The drawing is undated and thought to be circa 1910 based on prior analysis, yet Vernon believes that the lettering in the drawing is in Griffin’s hand and the possibility exists that the drawing may in fact be from circa 1905 and represent a design study for lily pools in front of the Martin House verandahs. In any case, and although mostly erased, the line work of what appears to be water features at the terminus of both the Barton and Martin verandah on the February 1905 planting plans indicate the importance of the site’s relationship to the verandah and house. Wright Returns, Martin Requests Changes On May 18 Wright informs Martin that he has returned from Japan “much improved in health and spirits,” jokingly adding in the parlance of the times, “can lick my weight in wild-cats. How would you like to be a wild cat?” With plants undergoing installation at this time by Martin’s newly hired replacement gardener, Wright also informs Martin he will be arriving in Buffalo the following Sunday morning – two days after Martin notes the major spring plantings have been 133 Christopher Vernon, e-mail message to author, 29 May 2014. Fig. 32, top Detail of hemi-cycle area, original ink on linen Plan of Plantings, 15 Feb 1905. Fig. 33, bottom Detail of Barton House area, original ink on linen Plan of Plantings, 15 Feb 1905.