Tag Archives: A. J. Downing and lawns

A Modern Man: A. J. Downing and the American Gentleman’s Country Seat

A. J. Downing (1815–1852) was full of modern ideas about landscape gardening. And he particularly wanted to create a tradition in the United States that was inspired by—but separate from—British and European precedents. He also recognized the need to adapt … Continue reading

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A Carpet of Velvety Green: Lawns on 19th-Century Country Estates

A beautiful undulating carpet of fresh green grass was an essential luxury on 19th-century country estates. Today, that idea may seem fairly obvious, but why? And how did the landed gentry plant and maintain their expansive (and expensive) lawns in … Continue reading

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