martinhouseclr

98 DARWIN D. MARTIN HOUSE // CULTURAL LANDSCAPE REPORT pathway. The clearly identifiable perennials along the wall included iris and hollyhock, though many more textures and habits are visible. [Fig. 78, 79] The construction of Graycliff begins in earnest in June of 1927, with the Martins making frequent trips to the lakeside site and corresponding with Wright on several details. 231 232 As construction progresses and Martin-Wright correspondence shifts to the landscape of Graycliff, the association with the landscape alterations being made along the western boundary of Jewett Parkway become clear. In January of 1929, Martin notes to Wright: There are, I believe, eight cedars at Jewett Parkway, in the way, ranging ten to fifteen feet, which I want to place grouped near garage doors to screen them from house. 233 The cedars which remained along the top of the stone wall were most likely the subject of this request, since there are at least seven of them visible in this area from the period and likely more off-frame from photographs. Furthermore, a photograph from circa 1930-35 clearly shows the result of these modifications whereby it seems all the evergreens were removed from along the driveway by that time. 234 The large elm tree at the 231 DDM, Memorandum, 29 June 1927, MFP-UB. 232 DDM, Memorandum, September 1927, MFP-UB. 233 DDM-FLW, 21 January 1929, WMP-UB. The emphasis underline of “I” is original in the type’s letter, certainly a nod to the fact that Isabelle Martin was generally in charge of Graycliff’s design. 234 Not all the evergreens were removed. An Eastern Hemlock, existing at the south end of this grouping, remained until the north side of the porte-cochere, believed to have been planted as part of the earliest grouping of elm plantings (1905), was not removed. [Fig. 80] Other landscape alterations of the courtyard area in this period do appear in photographs, but are less apparent and lack a written context from Martin or Wright, or just escape strong identification. Later photographs (1930s and beyond) of the courtyard garden potentially show a mass of shrubs visible at the south end of the courtyard near the kitchen windows – situated near the end of the western-most peony bed. In actuality, some earlier photographs (including a circa 1907 Fuermann and an undated poor quality photograph looking across the courtyard garden toward the kitchen windows) indicate the early presence of a shrub in this location – superficially identified as a lilac. 235 This suggests that it was not an alteration after all, but an original planting from prior to 1910. Also, the planting of sumac or other small ornamental trees at the base of the fountain seems to have occurred at some point. Unfortunately, the documentation for these courtyard alterations is insignificant and they do not relate to known correspondence or planting plans. Undeniably, Martin was still interested in amending his garden based on his or Isabelle’s whims or readings at the time – despite Wright’s vision. Coinciding late 1950s. 235 The Fuermann photograph referenced is in the Canadian Center for Architecture collection, and is shown on the cover of Jack Quinan’s Frank Lloyd Wright’s Martin House: Architecture as Portraiture. The original uncropped photograph clearly shows a shrub near the driveway (next to a garbage can lid laying on the driveway). Fig. 78, top Courtyard area as viewed from the newly improved lands south of greenhouse. Cedars removed. c. 1927. Fig. 79, bottom Relatives of William Thorpe standing in lawn south of Greenhouse, c. 1927.