Rose Garden Terrace

After wandering down the Avenue of Formal Gardens and before entering the Brick Wall Garden, visitors approach the 24-foot x 232-foot Rose Terrace. The brick wall between the Rose Terrace and Brick Walled Garden was added around 1905. For years, rose bushes were carefully stretched in espalier fashion on this wall. Above the garden itself, on two tall pedestals, stand the Sea Maidens by German artist, Richard Kuöhl. While in Hamburg, Germany in 1930, Robert and John spied a kiosk topped by a bronze Sea Maiden with a Viking longboat in her hand. It was an advertisement for a line of passenger ships. The artist was Richard Kuöhl, a German sculptor specializing in Art Deco architectural sculpture. Robert sought out Kuöhl and requested symmetrical versions, but wanted the maidens each holding a bowl to represent “plenty.” Kuöhl added garlands of seaweed to accentuate the water aspect.

Text courtesy of Maureen Holtz.