GCO Spotlight:
1204 Hulton Road Oakmont PA by Carol & Phillip Fraley
When we purchased our home in October of 2012 we loved both the unique architecture of the house and the potential beauty of the garden. In a way it seemed as if we had traveled back in time and were now going to assume the role of caretakers to an already established ‘mini estate’. The history of 1204 Hulton Road begins in 1907 when Silas M. Ament commissioned Pittsburgh architect Fredrick G. Scheibler, Jr. to design a country home across the street from the new Oakmont Country Club. This home, known as the Ament house, was one of Scheibler’s first ‘artistic’ houses and it closely resembles cottages designed by H.M. Baillie Scott, a well-known English architect and artist.
In the 1920’s Charles and Marie Stroh Blue acquired the property and made modifications to the house adding an attached garage and an oval Master Bedroom in the Classic Italian Style. Because the exterior of these additions blends so seamlessly with the original structure it is thought that Scheibler was quite possibly involved. The Blues also purchased an additional property behind the house and demolished an existing home so they could add an extensive garden. The expanded garden design was clearly based on “Springcot” garden plans published in Baillie Scott’s Houses and Gardens (1906). Mr. Blue died in 1929 and Mrs. Blue continued to live in the home for many years. It was subsequently sold to the Fletcher family who lived there until 1970 when Lloyd and Barbara Kaiser bought the property. Mr. Kaiser was an enthusiastic gardener and many Oakmont residents remember his lavish plantings and garden embellishments.
When we moved into 1204 Hulton Road it had been vacant for many months. The house and grounds had not been maintained and were in a state of disrepair. There was so much organic material growing around the home that it was difficult to tell the difference between weeds and desirable plants. Garden structures and Mrs. Blue’s detached garage-greenhouse had collapsed from neglect and the weight of the overgrown foliage. Much of the garden infrastructure needed restoration and/or repair. As soon as we took ownership of the property we had nine mature trees that closely surrounded the house removed because they were growing into the basement, windows, roof and gutters. We cleared away the weeds, removed overgrown shrubs, invasive vines and pruned back shrubs that could be rejuvenated.
In the 1920’s Charles and Marie Stroh Blue acquired the property and made modifications to the house adding an attached garage and an oval Master Bedroom in the Classic Italian Style. Because the exterior of these additions blends so seamlessly with the original structure it is thought that Scheibler was quite possibly involved. The Blues also purchased an additional property behind the house and demolished an existing home so they could add an extensive garden. The expanded garden design was clearly based on “Springcot” garden plans published in Baillie Scott’s Houses and Gardens (1906). Mr. Blue died in 1929 and Mrs. Blue continued to live in the home for many years. It was subsequently sold to the Fletcher family who lived there until 1970 when Lloyd and Barbara Kaiser bought the property. Mr. Kaiser was an enthusiastic gardener and many Oakmont residents remember his lavish plantings and garden embellishments.
When we moved into 1204 Hulton Road it had been vacant for many months. The house and grounds had not been maintained and were in a state of disrepair. There was so much organic material growing around the home that it was difficult to tell the difference between weeds and desirable plants. Garden structures and Mrs. Blue’s detached garage-greenhouse had collapsed from neglect and the weight of the overgrown foliage. Much of the garden infrastructure needed restoration and/or repair. As soon as we took ownership of the property we had nine mature trees that closely surrounded the house removed because they were growing into the basement, windows, roof and gutters. We cleared away the weeds, removed overgrown shrubs, invasive vines and pruned back shrubs that could be rejuvenated.
As we gained control over our garden we started a detailed spreadsheet that included each plant’s location, common and scientific name. Sometimes the identification was not easy. We discovered that some of our many trees, shrubs and perennials were unique specimens, rare in Western Pennsylvania gardens. During this inventory process we came to believe that Mr. Kaiser never met a plant he didn’t like. The diversity and abundance of flora made our heads spin with future possibilities. We had abundant plant material but felt the need to develop a cohesive garden design.
Painting is a metaphor often used to describe how to plan a garden. A gardener uses plants to fill the canvas with texture and color. In classical painting and gardening the relationship between background, midground and foreground factors into the composition. But, unlike a painting, a garden is not static. For everything there is a season and a good garden design considers how plants change with the seasons, how they will mature over the years, and how they respond to their environment. We inherited a strong garden foundation with ample garden architecture and plantings. Our garden had multiple stylistic influences including English cottage, classical European and the additions of an avid plant collector. Our primary challenge was how to integrate our ideas.
What were our ideas? We enjoy old things and feel no need to get rid of the old to bring in the new. Overall we wanted to nurture the garden we inherited. Our vision was inspired by Mr. Scheibler’s original idea of the ‘artistic house’. A home where the inside and outside are contiguous. We relocated many plants and some had to go. The majority of work that we did in the first two years was a combination of removing invasive plants and weeds, pruning trees and shrubs and when necessary, removing and replacing them with new plant material. Work on the gardens' hardscape required repairing and replacing stone steps and walls as well as sections of the wood retaining walls. The ornamental iron work, an architectural feature which tied the house and garden together, was restored and/or replaced.
We wanted a garden that was cultivated, full of color and texture but also one that facilitates and supports the health of our ecosystem. We wanted to live in harmony with nature, and believe it is all a balance. From the beginning we made a commitment to avoid the use of herbicides, insecticides or fungicides. We continue to hand weed and control garden pests without the application of chemicals. This means our property is not blemish free or weed free, and our lawn is far from perfect. Dandelions, clover, violets and other ‘lawn pests’ are all important food sources for pollinators. We welcome native volunteers into our garden including May Apple, Virginia Bluebells, Trillium, Dutchman's Breeches, Wild Ginger, Cardinal Flowers and Great Blue Lobelia.
Painting is a metaphor often used to describe how to plan a garden. A gardener uses plants to fill the canvas with texture and color. In classical painting and gardening the relationship between background, midground and foreground factors into the composition. But, unlike a painting, a garden is not static. For everything there is a season and a good garden design considers how plants change with the seasons, how they will mature over the years, and how they respond to their environment. We inherited a strong garden foundation with ample garden architecture and plantings. Our garden had multiple stylistic influences including English cottage, classical European and the additions of an avid plant collector. Our primary challenge was how to integrate our ideas.
What were our ideas? We enjoy old things and feel no need to get rid of the old to bring in the new. Overall we wanted to nurture the garden we inherited. Our vision was inspired by Mr. Scheibler’s original idea of the ‘artistic house’. A home where the inside and outside are contiguous. We relocated many plants and some had to go. The majority of work that we did in the first two years was a combination of removing invasive plants and weeds, pruning trees and shrubs and when necessary, removing and replacing them with new plant material. Work on the gardens' hardscape required repairing and replacing stone steps and walls as well as sections of the wood retaining walls. The ornamental iron work, an architectural feature which tied the house and garden together, was restored and/or replaced.
We wanted a garden that was cultivated, full of color and texture but also one that facilitates and supports the health of our ecosystem. We wanted to live in harmony with nature, and believe it is all a balance. From the beginning we made a commitment to avoid the use of herbicides, insecticides or fungicides. We continue to hand weed and control garden pests without the application of chemicals. This means our property is not blemish free or weed free, and our lawn is far from perfect. Dandelions, clover, violets and other ‘lawn pests’ are all important food sources for pollinators. We welcome native volunteers into our garden including May Apple, Virginia Bluebells, Trillium, Dutchman's Breeches, Wild Ginger, Cardinal Flowers and Great Blue Lobelia.
After several years we realized the value of all the leaves we had been removing each fall. Now we compost these leaves and use them in our beds to mulch and enrich the soil. In our first spring here we discovered that toads were drawn to our water features for breeding and laying their eggs and our garden is now full of insect (and slug) eating amphibians. We are also fortunate to have a few snakes and hope that someday a turtle will make a home in the garden. Numerous birds call our property home and others stop by to enjoy the amenities. A red shouldered hawk flies in on a regular basis to take a bath or grab something to eat. We also encourage a diverse array of insects including beneficials.
We coexist with chipmunks, rabbits, voles, moles, and mice as long as they stay outside. We have used natural repellents and mechanical barriers to protect our plants when necessary. Deer have been controlled by the use of repellent sprays but this year we have had less success and are now considering deer fencing.
After we retired in 2014 we became certified as Penn State Extension Master Gardeners. This not only increased our knowledge of gardening but reinforced our commitment to native plants and pollinator friendly gardening. We added many natives and in 2017 our garden became Certified as Pollinator Friendly.
We often laugh at ourselves and say that we retired only to become full time gardeners. But the truth is that we enjoy the full time attention that our garden demands. Most of the work we do ourselves but we also depend on the help of others. We use Certified Arborists for our trees and have an ongoing relationship with a local landscaping company. They helped in the initial cleanup and now help us throughout the year beginning with the spring cleanup, mowing the lawn in the summer, and blowing the leaves in the fall so we can mulch them.
We can honestly say that we have never regretted our decision to embrace this beautiful home and it’s garden. Everyday we are greeted by the beauty and challenge of maintaining a living canvas. It is a rare opportunity and humbling experience.
We often laugh at ourselves and say that we retired only to become full time gardeners. But the truth is that we enjoy the full time attention that our garden demands. Most of the work we do ourselves but we also depend on the help of others. We use Certified Arborists for our trees and have an ongoing relationship with a local landscaping company. They helped in the initial cleanup and now help us throughout the year beginning with the spring cleanup, mowing the lawn in the summer, and blowing the leaves in the fall so we can mulch them.
We can honestly say that we have never regretted our decision to embrace this beautiful home and it’s garden. Everyday we are greeted by the beauty and challenge of maintaining a living canvas. It is a rare opportunity and humbling experience.
‘Everything changes nothing stays the same’ — Heraclitus
Phillip and Carol Fraley
Reference on history: Aurand, Martin. The Progressive Architecture of Frederick G. Scheibler, Jr., University of Pittsburgh Press, 1994, pp. 85-89.
Links for Additional Information
Frederick G. Scheibler, Jr. | Architecture Archives
Pollinator Garden Certification — Penn State University
What is Integrated Pest Management?
Composting Leaves
Landscaping to Attract and Conserve Beneficial Insects
Phillip and Carol Fraley
Reference on history: Aurand, Martin. The Progressive Architecture of Frederick G. Scheibler, Jr., University of Pittsburgh Press, 1994, pp. 85-89.
Links for Additional Information
Frederick G. Scheibler, Jr. | Architecture Archives
Pollinator Garden Certification — Penn State University
What is Integrated Pest Management?
Composting Leaves
Landscaping to Attract and Conserve Beneficial Insects