that, even with these digressions, Union is still an unusually attractive spot to those who enjoy well designed architecture and harmonious landscape. After extensive inquiry, the author has found only one other American college which adopted a general group plan at an early day and adhered to it. This is the University of Virginia, planned by Thomas Jefferson in 1807.
The old Jackson Garden is located near the; Northern end of the college grounds, in the same section, apparently, as that designated by Ramée for a garden, though the garden of the latter was on a much greater scale and was likely meant to be quite pretentious. The Jackson Garden might almost be called a “woods garden.” One enters from the “Long Drive,” through a modest little iron gateway, and his eye is cast upon a dark woodsy scene as the path continues. Along this path, which is termed the “Lilac Path,” are giant lilac bushes, and finally one is led, by a turn, into what would appear as a woodland glade, taking the form of what has been called a natural amphitheatre, the path at this point entering at an elevation considerably above the open area. Within this area a flower garden has been developed. There has been no attempt made here to form a series of winding paths and a forced naturalesque treatment, which might ordinarily be considered proper for this type of garden, but long, straight axial paths have been constructed, with curved paths along the border, following the brook on one side, and the genera] contours of the foot of the ravine on the other. The paths are bordered with thick masses of peren
nial plants, most of them the old-time favorites, and back of these are flowering shrubs, the latter plantations melting softly into the woodland border of gigantic forest trees. Leaving the glade, the paths traverse the woods again, winding here and there, passing and crossing a most picturesque little brook which flows by the North border, emerging now and then into smaller open places, where grassy areas have been developed with some massive tree, or group of trees, as central features. Within this area is the old elm, called the “Nott” elm, which has been estimated to be four hundred and fifty years old. The garden as a whole is most original in most of its features, not bearing the stamp of any studied design but nevertheless leaving the impression that the planner was one who understood how to obtain most pleasing and impressive landscape effects. One of its remarkable features is that the woodland scenery it possesses is located almost within a stone’s throw of the live activities of the campus on one side and a residential section on the other, yet one can easily guide his thoughts, while wandering through, to the impression of passing through virgin forest which here and there, however, has felt the domestic touch of the hands of man.
Isaac W. Jackson, who developed the garden, was a graduate of Union College and was a professor there from 1831 to the time of his death in 1877. He was greatly interested in horticulture and was a friend of Wilder of Boston and a close student of landscape architecture as it was then propounded in the works of Repton and Loudon.
FACULTY HOUSE
SEAT OF STONE
The old Jackson Garden is located near the; Northern end of the college grounds, in the same section, apparently, as that designated by Ramée for a garden, though the garden of the latter was on a much greater scale and was likely meant to be quite pretentious. The Jackson Garden might almost be called a “woods garden.” One enters from the “Long Drive,” through a modest little iron gateway, and his eye is cast upon a dark woodsy scene as the path continues. Along this path, which is termed the “Lilac Path,” are giant lilac bushes, and finally one is led, by a turn, into what would appear as a woodland glade, taking the form of what has been called a natural amphitheatre, the path at this point entering at an elevation considerably above the open area. Within this area a flower garden has been developed. There has been no attempt made here to form a series of winding paths and a forced naturalesque treatment, which might ordinarily be considered proper for this type of garden, but long, straight axial paths have been constructed, with curved paths along the border, following the brook on one side, and the genera] contours of the foot of the ravine on the other. The paths are bordered with thick masses of peren
nial plants, most of them the old-time favorites, and back of these are flowering shrubs, the latter plantations melting softly into the woodland border of gigantic forest trees. Leaving the glade, the paths traverse the woods again, winding here and there, passing and crossing a most picturesque little brook which flows by the North border, emerging now and then into smaller open places, where grassy areas have been developed with some massive tree, or group of trees, as central features. Within this area is the old elm, called the “Nott” elm, which has been estimated to be four hundred and fifty years old. The garden as a whole is most original in most of its features, not bearing the stamp of any studied design but nevertheless leaving the impression that the planner was one who understood how to obtain most pleasing and impressive landscape effects. One of its remarkable features is that the woodland scenery it possesses is located almost within a stone’s throw of the live activities of the campus on one side and a residential section on the other, yet one can easily guide his thoughts, while wandering through, to the impression of passing through virgin forest which here and there, however, has felt the domestic touch of the hands of man.
Isaac W. Jackson, who developed the garden, was a graduate of Union College and was a professor there from 1831 to the time of his death in 1877. He was greatly interested in horticulture and was a friend of Wilder of Boston and a close student of landscape architecture as it was then propounded in the works of Repton and Loudon.
FACULTY HOUSE
SEAT OF STONE