Historic landscapes

Deb Engmark, head gardener at Brucemore, sent the following with info about two events this month at the historic site in Cedar Rapids:

 April is National Landscape Architecture month-the month that local chapters of the American Society of Landscape Architects most actively introduce students and the public to the profession.

 In January of 1899, Ossian Cole Simonds and 10 of his contemporaries met in New York to form the American Society of Landscape architects, establishing the trade as a professional practice. That same year, another founding member of the society, Frederick Law Olmstead Jr., along with Harvard University, offered the first professional landscape architecture training courses. Other programs followed across the nation including the University of Michigan in 1909 and Iowa State University in 1914 – both under the direction of O.C. Simonds.

 While O.C. Simonds designed the plan for Brucemore's grounds, further research indicates he had a much larger influence in shaping Brucemore's surrounding neighborhood than previously thought. 

 O.C. Simonds' notoriety is gaining momentum though only vaguely known outside the historic landscape realm previously. Along with his contemporaries he created an American Style that shaped the look of the Midwest landscape and aimed to make the country more beautiful while protecting the vanishing land for future generations. 

 Now is the perfect time to think about the role landscape architects, when given the opportunity, can play in making our surroundings more habitable, beautiful, and sustainable.

 To explore landscape preservation and architecture further, please join us for two upcoming Brucemore events.  These events, listed below, are part of Brucemore's 100 Years and Growing events celebrating the anniversary of the formal garden.

 Spring Landscape Hike

April 22, 6:00 p.m.

Admission is $10 per person and $7 per Brucemore member. Space is limited. Please call (319) 362-7375 to make reservations.

 Growing Appreciation Program: Seed Savers Exchange

April 28, 6:00 p.m.

Admission is $10 per person and $7 per Brucemore member. Space is limited. Please call (319) 362-7375 to make reservations.