Delaware
Gardens - An Historical Vignette
George
Read was a prominent lawyer and son of a signer of the
Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.
The Read
house located in historic New Castle, was featured in
the October 1901 issue of House and Garden Magazine.
Owner William Couper grew up
in a house that stood in what became the garden. Couper
purchased the property in 1846 and his descendants occupied
the house until 1919. Couper hired the famous Robert Buist
to design and install the garden.
The final
residents of Read House, Mr. and Mrs. Philip D. Laird
who acquired the property in 1920 bequeathed it to the
Historical Society of Delaware, which has since overseen
its preservation and maintenance.
Designed
by Robert and David Buist of Philadelphia and created
in 1847-1848, the gardens still flourish with one or two
original trees and shrubs and 90 percent of its original
design.
Many thanks to Timothy Mullin for updating the above information.
Timothy worked on the Read garden for 18 years, and was
the person responsible for its restoration.
Bibliography and Acknowledgments
Shown: Peach Blossom (Prunus
persica)
