Oldfarm 9:Passion for Gardening

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NPS Photo

Quick Facts

Location:

44.374422, -68.192908

Passion for Gardening

After the death of her eldest son William in 1876, Mary Dorr dedicated herself to preparing the family home and developing the gardens at Oldfarm, their summer estate on Mount Desert Island. Her inspiration for the gardens drew from both her family's home in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts, and the formal gardens she had encountered in England and Continental Europe. The Dorr family transported flowering shrubs, herbaceous plants, and fruit-bearing species from their Massachusetts home to begin establishing the early plantings at Oldfarm.

Around 1888, Mary’s son George B. Dorr hired William Miller to take over management of the gardens. During this period, the estate blossomed into a site of social gatherings and entertainment, with expansive lawns and rolling terraces stretching from the wooded cliffs near the manor house down to the shore—its beauty captured in historical photographs.

The gardens left a strong impression on visitors, including the renowned landscape gardener and summer resident Beatrix Farrand, who detailed a wide variety of plantings around the property. In an 1893 letter, she described lilac bushes flanking the front door, white spruces in the corners, magnolias, spireas, and a particularly striking Pinus mugo. Farrand’s observations reveal a landscape that blended ornamental plantings with the rugged natural beauty of the island.

While little documentation remains that outlines the exact layout of these early gardens, it is believed that large oak, pine, and maple trees created a canopy separating the driveway from the garden spaces. Near the front entrance stood a prominent spruce, while nearby, round flowerbeds were arranged within lawn areas and bordered by conifers, offering framed views of the southern mountains. Together, these elements formed a refined yet naturalistic garden that reflected both European influence and the spirit of Mount Desert Island.

Duration:

1 minute, 2 seconds

Station Nine of the Oldfarm Video Tour