The conservatories at Duke Gardens, Somerville, New Jersey will be closing on the 28th May 2008, so if you wish to see them as the owners originally planned them, you just have a few days left before refurbishment changes them forever.
There are two conservatories at Duke Gardens, the Orchid Range and the Indoor Display Gardens; but first some history of the garden.
Duke Gardens is a 2,700-acre estate and was developed by tobacco magnate James Duke. He established the American Tobacco Company that controlled a huge volume of the US tobacco market until the US Supreme Court ordered the dissolution of the company in an anti-trust decision in 1911.
Starting in 1893 when he was 37-years old, James like a latter day Capability Brown, started on a programme that was to transform farmland into a garden landscape, a venture that was to last the next 32-years until his death in 1925. The work included excavation for nine lakes, erecting 45 buildings, two and a half miles of stone walls and more than 18 miles of roads. He also installed 35 fountains and numerous sculptures.
After he died, his daughter Doris then just 12 years of age, inherited the estate and when she was old enough enhanced the property further.
The Orchid Range was built in 1900, designed by Kendall Taylor & Stevens, it was built by Lord & Burnham, probably the most famous maker of greenhouses and conservatories in the USA.
When it was first opened the Orchid Range was used for commercial growing of orchids for local and New York markets. However, air freight and lower overseas labour costs undercut their prices by the 1950's and 60's.
The Indoor Display Garden was originally known as the New Greenhouse. Designed by Horace Trumbauer, a well-known Philadelphia architect who was known for his designs for mansions, but who also went on to design office buildings in his later life, like the Orchid Range it was built by Lord & Burnham.
Lord & Burnham built the New Greenhouse in two stages. Stage one was completed in 1909, while the second stage was not completed until 1917. Originally it was built to provide cut flowers and plants for the Dukes homes but like the Orchid Range, in later years it was also used to grow plants for the commercial market. When this became uneconomic, Doris Duke changed the New Greenhouse into the Indoor Display Garden. She started this project in 1958 and opened it to the public in 1964. The display is a series of gardens reputedly designed by Doris herself, the inspiration probably coming from her visits overseas where she saw different garden designs. Returning home she captured these within the Indoor Display Garden.
From the America's there is an American Desert containing cacti and other succulents, including barrel cactus, giant aloe, and crown of thorns, aloe vera and others. Meanwhile the Colonial Garden, represents gardens of the South Eastern States showing camellias, azaleas and magnolia.
From Europe there is an English Garden displaying topiary, a rock garden, herbaceous borders, plus a 16th century Elizabethan Knot Garden and an 18th century succulent garden. France is represented by a Parterre planted in a geometric parterre, while Italy has lush plantings in a courtyard complete with statues in the Romantic style.
The Middle East is represented by an Indo-Persian Garden complete with fountains, carved marble screens, orange trees, Mediterranean cypress and a Persian rose garden.
There is also a Japanese Garden that includes a tea house with bonsai trees and red maples. A Chinese Garden complete with a koi carp stream, rock formations and bamboo, camphor trees, bleeding heart and jasmine.
There are some that argue that these displays should be left as designed by Doris Duke, but to my mind they look dated and rather twee. A young Doris with all her wealth at her disposal would probably tire of them as they are now and want them updated.
The conservatories at Duke Farms will close at the end of May 2008 and over the next two years will be re-glazed and have their heating systems modernised. They are due to reopen in 2010 with new displays.
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