George Eastman was the founder of the Eastman Kodak company. He pretty much established popular photography and was the inventor of motion-picture film.
In 1902, he purchased 8.5 acres of land from the Marvin Culver Farm in Rochester, New York, where he built his 35,000 square-foot Colonial Revival style mansion with 37 rooms, 19 baths, 9 fireplaces and 5 greenhouses for a cost of $300,000. A pretty penny back then.
The home was built during the Country Place Era between the end of the 19th century and the Great Depression of the 1930s. This was a time before income taxes (imagine that) when wealthy Americans spent tons of money building lavish estates.
My husband and I stopped in to see the George Eastman Estate on a September road trip. I thought the gardens were beautiful and worth sharing on the website.
This is the front entrance to the George Eastman estate. The house sits well in the landscape. There are a lot of vines used that help the house blend into the surrounding garden.
The west garden (pictured above) has a beautiful wisteria covered veranda. I can see hanging out here drinking coffee and eating scones.
This is a view of the west garden looking out from the side of the house. I love the loggia-like structure at the back of the garden with the archways. It’s really beautiful and matches the arches on the house.
The center of the west garden is decorated with a antique sun dial.
The informal plantings are contained within a formal boxwood structure. This is one of my favorite garden styles.
The flowers in the west garden are contained within very large drifts, which gives you a chance to appreciate the flowers. The garden is primarily green and white.
The terrace garden sits off the east side of the house (pictured above). This garden also features informal plantings within a formal boxwood border. The terrace garden is also primarily green and white.
Japanese anemones were the main flower blooming during September in the terrace garden. I love the different textures used in this garden, especially the ornamental grass shown here.
The terrace garden is filled with huge drifts of white Japanese anemone “Honorine Jobert”, an indispensable plant for great Fall color.
A large round lily pond sits in the center of the terrace garden.
An ancient well head is used as a decorative feature at the intersection of the brick garden paths.
Here is a closer view of the well head sitting at the intersection of the brick paths in the terrace garden. I think I would have filled it with some plants, but that’s just me. I can never have enough flowers in the garden.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Susan, I just looked up Country Place Era……never knew this term
I love this garden, and would definitely make a trip to visit. Of course I adore the green and white color palette. And all the garden ornaments!!! Susan, I prefer the well head empty…..a handsome relief from all the garden beds and plantings. Hope it’s ok for us to disagree
The gardens are really harmonious with the stately house.
xo
Loi
PS – Beautiful photos! Glad to see you watermarking them.
Thanks for the kind words Loi. Of course we can disagree. I trust your judgement on design. You have such a wonderful eye for style. I was reading My French Country House blog about how she recommended watermarking your photos so I decided I would start. I was shocked to read her blog was being plagiarized. I hope you have an awesome weekend Loi!