The American Museum in Britain’s Annual Americana Lecture – Andrea Wulf’s Founding Gardeners

Eric Groft – Oehme, van Sweden Principal – accompanied his long-time friend and client Barbara Slifka to Andrea Wulf’s Annual Americana Lecture for the American Museum in Britain (AMIB), which took place at the Colony Club of New York on Thursday, April 15.

During the lecture Andrea discussed her book, Founding Gardeners: The Revolutionary Generation, Nature, and the Shaping of the American Nation, which presents a unique perspective of the American founding fathers as farmers and horticulturalists.

Her animated lecture infused humor, showcased visuals, and presented new, innovative insights into the country’s horticultural history. These insights serve as inspiration to OvS – inspiring them to continue their juxtaposition of history and modernity within the landscape.

Currently OvS is working hand-in-hand with the AMIB on The New American Garden – which will incorporate the 50 acres adjacent to Claverton Manor in Bath, England. Claverton Manor – home to the AMIB – is an 18^th century house designed by Jeffry Wyatville, whose renowned gardens blend both the remnants of the historic manorial pleasure grounds and the surrounding parkland landscape.

OvS’ New American Garden at the American Museum in Britain will further meld history and modernity – drawing inspiration from the Winding Way of Monticello and demonstrates the planting designs made famous by OvS – using native forbs and grasses to provide four seasons of horticultural interest. This Master Plan design includes a twin pavilion to shade visitors, an American Rose Garden, a Great Lawn for events, an amphitheater, and American shrub border.

The Master Plan also includes a new garden bridge, which will take visitors between the Manor and the existing Mount Vernon Garden – a recreation of George Washington’s Garden at Mount Vernon.