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| Pete Matthews Jr © 2024 |
| 2024-07-22 049 Dana & Larry Creel; Garden Day, Islesboro ME |
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My Dad and Bob Rothschild were friends on Islesboro, brought together by golf and other shared interests. Karen took spectacular pictures of monarch butterflies on Bob's dahlias, on the sea side of this, his cottage. The best shot is on 3nt.xyz, taken 2006-09-30. _____ 436 East Shore Drive The Morse Cottage was built 1901-02. Fundamental to its original design was a site plan that incorporated retaining walls, massive re-grading and a planting design. Earle G. Shettleworth, in Summer Cottages of Islesboro, writes that the H. J. Morse Cottage..."was notable for its grounds as well as for its architecture." He quotes the Belfast Republican Journal: "The new cottage... stands on a commanding eminence overlooking the East bay... On the east and south is a walled terrace. Most of the wall is some six or eight feet high and earth has been hauled in level with the top of the wall....The two circular driveways from the street to the cottage have massive stone walls on either side and four stone pillars at the entrance..." Maitland Alexander and his wife Alice purchased the property in 1911. They added traditional, beautifully kept flower gardens and a tennis court at the bottom of the hill. Bob and Maurine Rothschild purchased the property in 1966-67. Ben Moody was their caretaker, and he planted an English garden border facing the bay and a vegetable garden in the old fenced-in laundry yard. Lars Nelson understudied with Ben in 1911, and he and Maxine took over the job in 1975. They followed his lead in planting the border with a combination of annual and perennial flowers. They have added vegetable gardens and foundation plantings. When Ann and Peter Rothschild acquired the property, they added a perennial white garden at the south side of the property to partially shield the house from the road. Dana and Larry Creel then bought the home in 2020. Some of the gardens had not been planted for a few years and with the help of Maxine and Lars, they were brought back to life. They also relocated the vegetable garden to its original location at the northwest side of the home. Lars and Maxine continue to garden without pesticides and use natural soil nutrients like seaweed and compost. They also plant our window boxes and care for all the forest blowdowns. We are incredibly grateful for their wonderful vision and dedication to the home and property. |