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Esteemed landscape architect Laurie Olin , whose studio produce outside place throughout the world , has done some of his finest work in his home base of Philadelphia . His later at - dwelling house undertaking is the garden at the “ new ” Barnes Foundation , an prowess and horticulture foundation that was recently moved from its original property in Merion , PA to its current site in downtown Philadelphia . I wonder : Would it be a compact variation of the twelve - acre botanical garden at the original place , or its own refreshing expression of urban landscape gardening . On a recent sunny day I wandered through the Barnes Foundation to find some answer .
Olin ’s garden incorporates varying textures , distinct patches of shade and sun , and the flaccid frame of a stone edifice which Laura Barnes , married woman of the great collector / founder Dr. Albert Barnes , used in her 1940 intent of the Merion land . A paseo line with London Plane trees , horse cavalry chestnut , and eye - popping carmine Nipponese maples lightly guides the visitor from the drive curb to the entrance . On the room , you pass the longsighted streamlined horizontal water supply board and the sleek stainless steel Barnes Totem by Ellsworth Kelly .
Much of the landscape painting texture come from perpendicular and horizontal juxtaposition . Climbing hydrangea , Nipponese climbing hydrangea , virgin ’s bower clematis , Boston ivy and half 12 others are taking time lag of trellising and architectural concrete walls . Arborvitae hides no - nonsense fences . It all intermix down into nearly planted bed of hostas and annuals ( more will fulfil in some blank ) and little apron of lawn .
The patio garden connects visually with the conterminous Rodin Museum and its garden . And , yes , there is literally a garden within the Barnes — a crank box , open to the sky three stories above , crammed with woody ferns , gingko and sweetgum tree . And when winter add up , winter jasmin will brighten things when cold atmospheric condition arrives .
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