martinhouseclr

77 2 // SITE HISTORY & EVOLUTION the feature to fill in substantially through thick naturalistic masses of flowering shrubs, with some layering of material particularly at the northern or southern termini at the existing Barton or Floricycle plantings, respectively. The plants have been identified as Clethera alnifolia , Cornus stolonifera [ sericea ], Cornus sericea ‘Flaviramea’, Hibiscus syriacus , Lonicera fragrantissima , Myrica cerifera , Pyracantha coccinea [likely ‘Lowboy’ or similar cultivar], Rosa rugosa , Shepherdia argentea , several Syringa vulgaris varieties, and the low spreading form of Juniperus virginiana savin [ Juniperus sabina ]. The massed and layered shrub border itself was consistent with the shrub massings around the property, if not a bit more substantial in height and impenetrable than other areas. Griffin also purposefully designed the border to have interest in multiple seasons, not relying on simply flower or summer foliage alone in appealing to the senses and fashioning what would substantially become the backdrop of the eastern view from the pergola. Griffin’s inclusion of Clethera (shades of yellow and golden brown in fall), Firethorn (orange-red fruit persisting into winter), Silver Buffaloberry (an edible red, orange, yellow berry persisting into winter), Red Osier Dogwood (brilliant red stems in winter), and a variety of Yellow or Golden-Twig Dogwood known as Flaviramea (brilliant yellow to lime-green stems through winter). As consequent correspondence between Martin IL) was used to determine the scheme, as many of the symbols are inconsistent. and Frank Lloyd Wright reveals, it is clear that Griffin designed the border in response to the Martins’ desire to enclose the lawn area that was visible along Summit Avenue. The effect would have been to bring the outdoor space defined by the Summit Avenue lawn more fully into the Martin’s visual and perceptual possession, or, as Isabelle termed in her earlier noted desires concerning the landscape, “less publistic.” 177 After receiving the plan from Griffin, Martin writes to Wright at the end of October. The letter was primarily a criticism of Wright’s ongoing business activities and advice concerning his social pariah status in Oak Park at the time. 178 The entire body of the letter is wholly unrelated to the Martin House, except a lengthy postscript, which reads: P.S. I have had Griffin make a planting plan for the east margin of Summit Ave. lawn where you promised Mrs. Martin you would design a wall. Mrs. Martin has held me up on the planting plan this fall clinging to the idea of the wall. Now I think that I know you were unwise in promising the wall for it would run skew-gee to every other line on the place and to itself for it would not be straight. Please write and settle the question on this point. 179 177 DDM-FLW, 26 December 1903, Trans. Jack Quinan 2003, WMP-UB. 178 The letter from DDM primarily concerns Wright’s ongoing troubles resulting from the well-publicized abandonment of his studio and wife in 1909 as he travelled to Europe accompanied by Mamah Borthwick Cheney. 179 DDM-FLW, 28 October 1910, Trans. Zakery Steele 2014, WMP-UB. Fig. 55 Detail of Griffin-designed shrub border along Summit Avenue, ‘Grounds of Dwelling,’ October 1910.