An outstanding example of a country estate laid out in the English manner, the Codman House is set in a park-like landscape with a ha-ha wall, specimen trees, and plantings in Lincoln, Massachusetts. Both Italianate and colonial revival style gardens that once held more than 250 plant species are on the property.

Hidden in a dell behind the house, the “secret” Italianate Garden dates from the turn of the century and was begun by Sarah Codman. Its classical style is attributed to the influence of her son, Ogden Jr, the successful architect, and interior designer who collaborated with Edith Wharton on the influential book, The Decoration of Houses. Sarah designed and maintained the garden’s plantings which included shade tolerant plants (ferns, foxglove, and wildflowers) as well as roses, day lilies, phlox, lupine delphinium, gladiolas, and peonies. Sarah worked in the garden daily, often accompanied by her daughter, Dorothy.

Eschewing the formality of her mother’s Italianate garden, Dorothy created her own, in the style of an English cottage garden. Located near the carriage barn, Dorothy’s Garden contained plantings geometrically arranged and connected by narrow walks. Enclosed with a simple fence and accented with wire arches, it contained climbing roses and clematis. Herbs were planted amongst the flowers and a lily pool was surrounded by Japanese irises. According to sources, Dorothy was inspired by the writing of English garden designer, Gertrude Jekyll.

Owned by Historic New England, the landscape of the Codman Estate is undergoing a significant restoration to restore it to its appearance in the 1930s.