On the hill below the Carriage House and other outbuildings is Maymont’s famous ITALIAN GARDEN. This garden was designed by Noland and Baskervill completed in 1910 and it contains many elements of traditional Italian gardens. This garden has 3 levels and the main level of the garden was sited to take advantage of the views of the James River. The long Pergola forms the major axis of the main level, which features parterres, planted with roses.
The Pergola is supported by solid, rusticated granite columns. The dome was originally roofed with red terra-cotta tiles. The ornamental urns are replicas of the marble originals now preserved in storage.
The formal entrance to the garden is at the west end of the Pergola, oriented toward the Maymont Mansion. A stone arch with the Latin inscription ‘Via Florum’ (meaning “flowering way”) marks the transition from informal parkland into the garden.
The Promenade is the second level of the garden with stairs descending along the Cascade Fountain.
The third level is a secluded space, reminiscent of the giardino segreto (secret garden) of Renaissance gardens. Original plans indicated that this garden was to be filled with flowers. The yellow flowering vine on the wall is a Lady Banks rose, Rosa banksia ‘Lutea’ which blooms in the early spring.
The Cascade is another traditional element of Italian gardens. This elaborate water feature appears to have been based on the cascade at the Villa Torlonia near Rome. Stylistically, the Cascade contrasts markedly with the naturalistic waterfall that flows over the adjacent granite outcropping, thus posing the contrast of man-made design and nature.
The Pergola is supported by solid, rusticated granite columns. The dome was originally roofed with red terra-cotta tiles. The ornamental urns are replicas of the marble originals now preserved in storage.
The formal entrance to the garden is at the west end of the Pergola, oriented toward the Maymont Mansion. A stone arch with the Latin inscription ‘Via Florum’ (meaning “flowering way”) marks the transition from informal parkland into the garden.
The Promenade is the second level of the garden with stairs descending along the Cascade Fountain.
The third level is a secluded space, reminiscent of the giardino segreto (secret garden) of Renaissance gardens. Original plans indicated that this garden was to be filled with flowers. The yellow flowering vine on the wall is a Lady Banks rose, Rosa banksia ‘Lutea’ which blooms in the early spring.
The Cascade is another traditional element of Italian gardens. This elaborate water feature appears to have been based on the cascade at the Villa Torlonia near Rome. Stylistically, the Cascade contrasts markedly with the naturalistic waterfall that flows over the adjacent granite outcropping, thus posing the contrast of man-made design and nature.
