Wistariahurst Museum

No experience necessary! Work gloves and tools will be provided. Restoration plans of the Wistariahurst Gardens have begun. The gardens and landscape tell an important part of the historical and cultural story at Wistariahurst. The restoration project will not only improve the grounds but also give volunteers the opportunity to work with Master Gardeners to learn more about their own garden projects. The Holyoke Wistariahurst Gardeners' primary goal is education and enjoyment of gardening.

Belle Skinner's renovation to Wistariahurst was all encompassing and included extensive work to the grounds as well as the interiors. In 1909 she hired florists Wadley and Smythe of New York City to plan a formal perennial garden. The detailed plan included the name and location of each planting. In 1914, Landscape Architect Herbert J. Kellaway of Boston was commissioned to design a rose garden over the site of the perennial garden. By 1916, a Chinese Tea House that Miss Skinner purchased from a New York dealer was assembled at the end of the rose garden and surrounded by an Asian influenced garden. Miss Skinner also refined other sections of the garden to include a fountain, a koi pool and statuary. A 1927 addition gave the home a formal entrance with Porte Cochere and driveway paved with shale fossil stones dating to the Jurassic age taken from a quarry in Holyoke. The gardens and landscape tell an important part of the historical and cultural story at Wistariahurst.

Self guided garden tours are currently utilized however; the bones of the gardens, walkways, benches, statuary and now dry water structures offer only a hint of the garden's former elegance!

2009 Annual Garden Sale Photograph by Denis Luzuriaga

2009 Annual Garden Sale Photograph by Denis Luzuriaga
2009 Annual Garden Sale Photograph by Denis Luzuriaga