University of Massachusetts Amherst ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst Masters Theses 1911 - February 2014 2013 The Lovely and the Wild: Considering Naumkeag Carol Waag University of Massachusetts Amherst Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umass.edu/theses Part of the Landscape Architecture Commons Waag, Carol, "The Lovely and the Wild: Considering Naumkeag" (2013). Masters Theses 1911 - February 2014. 1100. Retrieved from https://scholarworks.umass.edu/theses/1100 This thesis is brought to you for free and open access by ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst. It has been accepted for inclusion in Masters Theses 1911 - February 2014 by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst. For more information, please contact [email protected]. THE LOVELY AND THE WILD CONSIDERING NAUMKEAG A Thesis Presented by CAROL WAAG Submitted to the Graduate School of the University of Massachusetts Amherst in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE May 2013 Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning © Copyright by Carol Waag 2013 All Rights Reserved THE LOVELY AND THE WILD CONSIDERING NAUMKEAG A Thesis Presented By CAROL WAAG Approved as to style and content by: ____________________________________________ Ethan Carr, Committee Chair ____________________________________________ Patricia McGirr, Committee Member ____________________________________________ Deborah Picking, Committee Member __________________________________________ Elizabeth Hamin, Department Head Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning DEDICATION To the Memory of my Mother Josephine Emery Waag ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Many people have made this work possible. Without the thoughtful and patient guidance of Archivist Miriam Spectre at The Trustees’ Archive and Research Center, who gamely, and repeatedly, gathered rooms full of material for me to peruse, this project would have never gotten off the ground. Stephen Weiter, Director of the Libraries at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, skillfully guided me through the complexities of the Moon Library’s Steele Collection, despite the fact that it was not even his job. At The Trustees, I would particularly like to thank Mark Wilson for generously offering me his valuable time and deep knowledge of Naumkeag, Steele and the Choates, and for allowing me such unlimited access to the grounds and to the restoration materials. Anne Masury’s excellent research supplied the organizational clarity and thoroughness that my own efforts lacked. Lucinda Brockway’s expertise in the field of landscape architecture and historic garden design expanded my range of focus. Conversations with her clarified my understanding of the profound dynamics of gardens and their management. Julie Richburg’s insightful suggestions for particular avenues of research early in my project led in rewarding directions. She generously shared her extensive understanding of Naumkeag’s natural resources, its place in the Berkshires and among The Trustees’ numerous properties in the western region. Robin Karson, whose understanding of Fletcher Steele’s work and philosophy is unequalled, tirelessly answered my questions, corrected my misconceptions and guided me towards fruitful inquiry. Without the inspiration of her excellent writing and scholarship, I would have never considered this topic, and my research would have had no foundation on v which to rest. The longer I worked on this paper, the greater my awe for her work became. Any errors I have nonetheless committed here are entirely my own. My first in depth experience at Naumkeag was in the summer of 2011 when Peter Kumble invited me to assist in an internship for undergraduates on water use in historical landscapes. I am indebted to him and the other professors on the project, Reid Bertone- Johnson and NanWolverton of Smith and Elizabeth Brabec at UMass, as well as to the Mellon Foundation, for that valuable and formative opportunity. My understanding of ecological processes has been deepened throughout my time at UMass by Jack Ahern’s spirited teaching and optimistic perspective. He has the rare ability to inspire his students with the hope that our efforts can make a difference. I want to thank Deborah Picking for suggesting soil analysis of the grasslands and for patiently guiding me through the otherwise unfathomable intricacies of soil chemistry. Her considerable experience with calcareous fens was essential to my own investigations. From my first day on the UMass campus, Patricia McGirr has provided calm wisdom and crucial advice. My understanding of landscape has been immeasurably enhanced by many conversations, classes and garden visits with her. My Committee Chairman Ethan Carr has answered my countless questions with wit and aplomb. With his extensive understanding of both the heritage landscape field and the craft of writing, he provided a flexible framework for my independent and sometimes wayward explorations. Without his sage and uncompromising guidance I could never have considered such an ambitious undertaking, and my progress through a succession of research questions would have never led to a conclusion. Finally I want to thank my friends and family for their essential support and encouragement throughout this seemingly endless project. vi ABSTRACT THE LOVELY AND THE WILD CONSIDERING NAUMKEAG MAY 2013 CAROL WAAG, B.A., YALE UNIVERSITY M.L.A. UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AMHERST Directed by: Professor Ethan Carr This paper investigates Fletcher Steele’s ideas about nature, and the fitness of gardens, in order to guide and support a reinvigoration of Naumkeag. Its aim is to highlight the protection of ecological resources while preserving aesthetic and historic integrity. This topic is particularly timely as The Trustees of Reservations are in the process of completing an extensive and unprecedented restoration plan, which will be carried out over the next five years. The Trustees have a long history of historic preservation and ecological conservation. This paper explores how these two aspects of their work can be integrated at Naumkeag, with particular attention to the undesigned portions of the site, such as the grasslands’ fen community. It illuminates how Steele’s original conception of the site, his environmental ethic, and his inspired design, can inform the adoption of original sustainable practices in the gardens, guide sensitive plant replacements, and enhance the visitor’s experience and knowledge. vii TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ................................................................................................................ v ABSTRACT ........................................................................................................................................ vii PART I CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................................... 2 Naumkeag Gardens ......................................................................................................................... 4 Beyond the Garden ......................................................................................................................... 7 The Periphery .............................................................................................................................. 7 The Setting ................................................................................................................................... 8 2 LITERATURE REVIEW .............................................................................................................. 9 Definitions and ideas about nature and culture .......................................................................... 9 Historical Context .......................................................................................................................... 10 American concepts of wilderness ........................................................................................... 10 European Enlightenment and Romantic Contributions ..................................................... 11 The Nineteenth Century .......................................................................................................... 12 Contemporary Views and Uses of Nature ................................................................................. 26 The Preservation, Restoration and Management of Cultural Landscapes ............................ 29 Fletcher Steele ................................................................................................................................ 35 Scientific Studies ............................................................................................................................ 36 Calcareous Fen .......................................................................................................................... 36 Invasive non-native plants ....................................................................................................... 39 3 FLETCHER STEELE’S DESIGN PHILOSOPHY AND PRACTICE ...........................43 Nature and Man ............................................................................................................................. 44 The Genius Loci ........................................................................................................................ 47 Fitness ........................................................................................................................................