Sidney Frazier “King of Camellias” Featured in Charleston Magazine
Our very own Sidney Frazier was recently interviewed by Anna Miller for the Charleston Magazine. We are incredibly grateful for...
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AMERICA'S OLDEST LANDSCAPED GARDENS
The Gardens, which Henry Middleton envisioned and began to create in 1741, reflect the grand classic style that remained in vogue in Europe and England into the early part of the 18th century. The principles of André Le Nôtre, the master of classical garden design who laid out the gardens at Vaux-le-Vicomte and the Palace of Versailles were followed. Rational order, geometry and balance; vistas, focal points and surprises were all part of the garden design.
Recreating the Original
Henry Middleton's original gardens contained walkways or allées, which were planted with trees and shrubs, trimmed to appear as green walls that partitioned off small galleries, green arbors and bowling greens. Sculpture was placed at the end of long vistas and ornamental canals designed with mathematical precision. Changes in elevation and new surprises were created at every turn.
Historic Charleston Garden Tours
The Gardens evolved as subsequent generations made contributions over time. Arthur Middleton, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, befriended French botanist, André Michaux, who is thought to have brought the first camellias in America to Middleton Place. Governor Henry Middleton, Arthur’s son, planted many more camellias and introduced additional plant material, including tea olives and crepe myrtles. Williams Middleton expanded the Gardens, incorporating romantic garden influences, and brought azaleas to the plantation – now over 100,000 in number. In the early 20th century, Heningham Lyons Ellett Smith, wife of Middleton descendant J.J. Pringle Smith, restored the landscape that had been largely neglected for nearly six decades following the Civil War. Her efforts led the Garden Club of America to describe Middleton Place in 1940 as the “most important and interesting garden in America.” It remains so to this day.
January
Annuals - throughout the gardens
Camellia Japonica
Common Camellia
Throughout the gardens
Daphne Odora
Winter Daphne
Cypress Lake
February
Annuals - throughout the gardens
Camellia Japonica
Common Camellia
throughout the gardens
Daphne Odora
Winter Daphne
Cypress Lake
Narcissus 'Geranium'
Tazetta Daffodil
throughout the gardens
Narcissus 'Marinette'
Tazetta Daffodil
throughout the gardens
Narcissus 'Carlton'
Large-Cupped Daffodil
throughout the gardens
Narcissus 'King Alfred'
Tazetta Daffodil
throughout the gardens
Leucojum vernum
Spring snowflake
Cypress Lake
Magnolia Stellata
Star Magnolia
Inner Garden
Magnolia soulangiana
Saucer Magnolia
North Paterre
March
Annuals - throughout the gardens
Camellia japonica
Common Camellia
Inner Garden
Throughout the Gardens
Azalea Indicas
Azalea
Throughout the Gardens
Cornus Florida
Dogwood
Throughout the Gardens
Rhododendron alabamense
Alabama Azalea
North Green Walk, Cypress Lake, Flooded Rice Field Bank
Rhododendron Arborescens
Sweet Azalea
South Green Walk, Cypress Lake, Flooded Rice Field Bank
Rhododendron austrimum
Florida Flame Azalea
South Green Walk, Cypress Lake, Flooded Rice Field Bank
Rhododendron canescens
Mountain Azalea
North Green Walk, Cypress Lake, Flooded Rice Field Bank
Rosa Banksiae
Lady Banks Rose
Stableyards, Restaurant East Garden
Orantium aquaticum
Golden Club
Cypress Lake
Daphne Odora
Winter Daphne
Cypress Lake
Narcisuss ‘King Alfred’
Trumpet Daffodil
Throughout the Gardens
Narcissus ‘geranium’
Tazetta Daffodil
Throughout the Gardens
Narcissus ‘Martinette’
Tazetta Daffodil
Throughout the Gardens
Narcissus ‘carlton’
Large-Cupped Daffodil
Throughout the Gardens
Leucojum vernum
Spring Snowflake
Cypress Lake
Cercis canadensis
Eastern Redbud
Throughout the Gardens
Acer rubrum
Red Maple
Throughout the Gardens
Wisteria senensis
Chinese Wisteria
Throughout the Gardens
Wisteria floribunda
Japanese Wisteria
Half Moon Bridge
Aponogeton distachyos
Water Hawthorne
Cypress Lake
Viburnum Tinus
Viburnum
Throughout the Gardens
Spiraea
Spirea
Throughout the Gardens
Zephyranthes atamasco
Atamasco Lily
Cypress Lake
Osmanthus fragrans
Tea Olive
Throughout the Gardens
April
Annuals - throughout the gardens
Trachelospermum Jasminoides
Confederate Jasmine
Restaurant East Garden
Osmanthus Americanus
Wild Olive
Camellia Allées
Osmanthus Fragrans
Tea Olive
Throughout the Gardens
Viburnum Opulus
Eastern Snowball
Camellia Allées
Deutzia Gracilis
Slender Deutzia
North Green Walk, Camellia Allées
Deutzia x Minor
Pink Minor
Inner Garden
itea virginica ‘henry’s garnet’
Virginia Sweetspire
Cyprus Lake
Liriodendron tulipifera
Tulip Tree
Throughout the Gardens
Azalea Indica
Azalea
Throughout the Gardens
Rhododendron alabamense
Alabama Azalea
North Green Walk, Cypress Lake, Flooded Rice Field Bank
Rdododendron arborescens
Sweet Azalea
South Green Walk, Cypress Lake, Flooded Rice Field Bank
rhododendron austrimum
Florida Flame Azalea
South Green Walk, Cypress Lake, Flooded Rice Field Bank
Rhododendron canescens
Mountain Azalea
North Green Walk, Cypress Lake, Flooded Rice Field Bank
Cornus florida
Dogwood
Throughout the Gardens
Cornus Kousa
Dogwood
Azalea Lake North Path
Viburnum Tinus
Viburnum
Throughout the Gardens
Robinia pseudoacacia
Black Locust
Middleton Tomb
Magnolia acuminata
Cucumber Magnolia
South Green Walk
Magnolia tripetala
Umbrella Magnolia
South Green Walk
Magnolia Liliiflora
Lily Magnolia
South Green Walk
Magnolia macrophylla
Bigleaf Magnolia
Azalea Hillside
Viburnum Tinus
Viburnum
Throughout the Gardens
Spiraea
Spirea
Throughout the Gardens
Rhaphiolepis indica
India Hawthorn
Inner Garden
Chionanthus Virginicus
Fringe Tree
Throughout the Gardens
Rosa Banksiae
Lady Banks Rose
Stableyards, Restaurant East Garden
Zephyranthes atamasco
Atamasco Lily
Cypress Lake
Aquilegia canadensis
Eastern Red Columbine
Cypress Lake
Orontium aquaticum
Golden Club
Cypress Lake
Aponogeton Distachyos
Water Hawthorne
Cypress Lake
Clethra alnifolia
Sweet Pepperbush
Cypress Lake
Rosa Laevigata
Cherokee Rose
Azalea Hillside at Upper Pond
ilex vomitoria ‘will fleming’
Yaupon Holly
North Green Walk
ilex vomitoria ‘wiggins’
Yaupon Holly
North Green Walk
kalmia lafifolia
Mountain Laurel\
Throughout the Gardens
crinum powellii
Crinum Lily
Azalea Hillside
amarcrinum howardii
Amarcrinum
Azalea Hillside
May
Annuals - throughout the gardens
Magnolia Virginiana
Sweetbay Magnolia
Inner Gardens
orantium aquaticum
Golden Club
Cypress Lake
aponogeton distachyos
Water Hawthorne
Cypress Lake
Magnolia grandiflora
Southern Magnolia
Throughout the Gardens
kalmia lafifolia
Mountain Laurel
Throughout the Gardens
Hydrangea Quercifolia
Oakleaf Hydrangea
Azalea Lake
Hydrangea Macrophylla
Bigleaf Hydrangea
Wood Nymph Sculpture, Inner Garden,
Hydrangea macrophylla
Penny Mac Hydrangea
Camellia Allees
agarista populifolia
Florida Hobblebush
South Green Walk, Southwest Corner of Inner Garden
Michelia figo
Banana Shrub
South Green Walk
Calycanthus floridus
Carolina Allspice
South Green Walk, Flooded Rice Field Bank
Hymenocallis
Korean Beauty Berry
Cypress Lake South Path
Rosa palustris
Swamp Rose
Cypress Lake, East and South Path
Canna flaccida
Golden Canna
Restaurant South
June
Annuals - throughout the gardens
Hydrangea macrophylla
Penny Mac Hydrangea
Camellia Allees
aponogeton distachyos
Water Hawthorne
Cypress Lake
Magnolia grandiflora
Southern Magnolia
Throughout the Gardens
Magnolia virginiana
Sweetbay Magnolia
Inner Gardens
orantium aquaticum
Golden Club
Cypress Lake
Ilex Opaca
American Holly
Secret Gardens & Inner Gardens
hydrangea quercifolia
Oakleaf Hydrangea
Azalea Lake
Hydrangea macrophylla
Bigleaf Hydrangea
Inner Gardens, Wood Nymph Sculpture
Agarista Populifolia
Florida Hobblebush
South Green Walk, Southwest Corner of Inner Garden
Michelia Figo
Banana Shrub
South Green Walk
calycanthus floridus
Carolina Allspice
South Green Walk, Flooded Rice Field Bank
Hymenocallis
Korean Beauty Berry
Cypress Lake South Path
Rosa Palustris
Swamp Rose
Cypress Lake, East & South Path
Canna Flaccida
Golden Canna
Restaurant South
Hibiscus Coccineus
Scarlet Rosemallow
Restaurant South
July
Annuals - throughout the gardens
Hedychium Coccineum
Ginger Lily
Reflection Pool Walk & Cypress Lake
Circuma Cordata
Ginger Lily
Restaurant Lower Brick Wall
Thalia Dealbata
Hardy Canna
Half Moon Bridge
Vitex agnus
Chaste Tree
Inner Garden
Hydrangea macrophylla
Hortensia
Wood Nymph
Hydrangea macrophylla
Sister Theresa
Inner Garden
Illicium Floridanum
Purple Anise
South Magnolia Walk
Illicium Parviflorum
Yellow Anise
North and South Green Walk
Illicium Floridanum 'Semmes'
White Florida Anise
Middleton Tomb and Cypress Lake
Abelia x 'Edward Goucher'
Abelia
Throughout the Gardens
Abelia x Grandiflora 'Sherwoodi'
Glossy Abelia
Throughout the Gardens
Crinum Americanum
American Crinum Lily
Azalea Lake and Mill
Aponogeton Distachyos
Water Hawthorne
Cypress Lake
Orantium Aquaticum
Golden Club
Cypress Lake
lagerstroemia indica
Crape Myrtle
Throughout the Gardens
fatsia japonica
Glossy-Leaved Paper Plant
Restaurant East
August
Annuals - throughout the gardens
Fatsia Japonica
Glossy-Leaved Paper Plant
Restaurant East
lagerstroemia indica
Crape Myrtle
Throughout the Gardens
Crinum Americanum
American Crinum Lily
Azalea Lake and Mill
Hydrangea Macrophylla
Hortensia
Wood Nymph
Hydrangea macrophylla
Sister Theresa
Inner Garden
September
Annuals - throughout the garden
Crinum Americanum
American Crinum Lily
Azalea Lake and Mill
Fatsia Japonica
Glossy-Leaved Paper Plant
Restaurant East
Abelia x 'Edward Goucher'
Abelia
Throughout the Gardens
Abelia x Grandiflora 'Sherwoodi'
Glossy Abelia
Throughout the Gardens
Hydrangea Macrophylla
Hortensia
Wood Nymph
Hydrangea macrophylla
Sister Theresa
Inner Garden
Lycoris Radiata
Red Spider Lily
Cypress Lake
October
Annuals - throughout the gardens
Fatsia Japonica
Glossy-Leaved Paper Plant
Restaurant East
Camellia Sinensis
Tea Plant
North Green Walk
Hydrangea macrophylla
Hortensia
Wood Nymph
Hydrangea macrophylla
Sister Theresa
Inner Garden
Cortaderia Selloana
Pampas Grass
Butterfly Lakes and Demonstration Rice Field
November
Annuals - throughout the gardens
Macrophylla
Hydrangea Hortensia
Wood Nymph
Macrophylla
Hydrangea Sister Theresa
Inner Garden
Cortaderia selloana
Pampas Grass
Butterfly Lakes
Camellia Sinensis
Tea Plant
North Green Walk
Camellia Sasanqua
Mine-No-Yuki
Inner Garden
Camellia Japonica
Common Camellia
throughout the gardens
December
Annuals - throughout the gardens
Camellia Sasanqua
Mine-No-Yuki
Inner Garden
Camellia Japonica
Common Camellia
throughout the gardens