Gardens and Grounds

This is the Ruthmere Gardens & Grounds Tour. Look for small signs on the grounds with Ruthmere’s "R" to find out more specific information on that item. In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries the percentage of families that were farmers declined as the population moved to urban industrialized cities. Because of this shift people became more interested in the use of gardens for status. Having a lawn became an indication of personal wealth. The Edwardian Era, named for the reign of King Edward VII of England started in 1901. This period became the golden era of horticulture. Albert and Elizabeth Beardsley built Ruthmere precisely at this time. For Edwardian homes it was especially important that grand gardens became an extension of the home itself and the style of the home matched the style of the garden. All of the gardens at Ruthmere continue to be planted with flowers that were used in the early 1900s.

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