Art In The Garden

DAYTON- Art enthusiasts from across the Touchet Valley visited the historic Boldman House on a sunny but breezy Saturday afternoon in Dayton. They gazed at newly-painted water-color paintings, took a home tour and munched on tasty refreshments.

The art displayed on the grounds of the more than 100-year-old Queen Anne Victorian style Boldman home featured paintings of several local artists that depicted flora from the early 1900s. The home is on local, state and national historic registers.

Mary Luce, a member of the Boldman House Garden committee, said the paintings were rendered by a local group of artists during "A Day in the Garden" in May. Several artists, all hobbyists, took time out of their busy schedules to paint the different flora surrounding the home.

Similar to the garden, the Boldman House has been renovated to make it look like the way it did back in the early 20th century.

The artists returned Saturday to share their works of art and mingle with the local community.

A garden-themed quilt and pillow decorated with needle-point pansies were also in display.

Luce explained the Boldman Family lived in the home for almost 90 years. When Gladys, the last surviving daughter of Steven and Blanche Porter Boldman who purchased the house in 1912, passed away at age 91 in 1999, she willed the house and some property to the Dayton Historical Depot Society.

Luce said Gladys wanted the home and garden to be cared for.

"The Boldman Garden is one of very special plants and trees," said Luce. "Gladys said she would love to have it a showplace, and that's what we tried to do here."

Darlene Broughton, also a member of the Boldman House Garden Committee, said during the planning of the garden, the committee made a concerted effort to determine which plants would likely have been planted on the property in the early 1900s.She said the committee wanted to replicate that and be as realistic as possible. A lot of reading, Internet research and talks with garden experts went into planning.

Fred Lighter of Educational and Environmental Consulting based in Seattle was asked to determine a list of plants that could have grown in the early 1900s era. Some plants of the time include tulips, amaryllis, geraniums, lilacs and lupines to name just a few.

Luce also summoned the help of Gertrude Jekyll, a turn-of-the century gardens designer, who added what Luce calls a painterly approach to the garden.

"I think it is really appropriate we have these artists enjoying our painterly garden," said Luce.

Luce said she was encouraged by the numbers of artists and people who turned out for the event. Nearly 10 artists participated on Saturday.

Painter Debbie Baxter, who lives in Dayton and works in the local school dis- trict, was excited to be part of this first-time event.

"It's wonderful to have the beautiful gardens of the Boldman House museum to display our work. The attendance and kind comments about our artwork are very gratifying," Baxter said.

Luce said like work on an old house, replanting the yard to replicate an early 20th century theme has not been so easy. In fact, she said there have been some challenges. The construction of a retaining wall and other outdoor displays actually destroyed some of the plants that were remaining from prior gardens.

However, there was an interesting discovery during the garden's restoration. When the renovators began digging, they found what were believed to be some of the same Peonies planted by Gladys Boldman's mother in the early 1900s. The flowers were on display Saturday afternoon.

Although this year the artists only came to the home to paint the flora in May, the committee is considering giving artists the ability to paint the garden around the home any time since different types of flora bloom at different times of year.