Reef Point Estate

Reef Point Estate is located in Bar Harbor, Maine, United States, on Mount Desert Island. Reef Point was the coastal “cottage” of Mary Cadwalder Rawle and Frederic Rhinelander Jones, the parents of landscape architect, Beatrix Farrand (1872–1959).

The residence was shingle-style with turrets, and high gables overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Wide verandas from which to view the sea were embroidered by vines of clematis and honeysuckle while the structure itself was shielded from the strong ocean winds by red and white spruce trees. Vegetation of this property proved crucial. The continually evolving gardens interwoven by grass paths that surrounded the Reef Point structure were essential to creating the estate. In 1917, Reef Point was deeded to Beatrix by her mother. In 1935 following her mother’s death Farrand and her husband Max Farrand (1869–1945), set about turning Reef point into a horticultural study center, one of the most ambitious projects in her career. The Farrands spent their summers at Reef Point and together, began creating their visionary educational enterprise: Reef Point Gardens. This property played an instrumental role in Beatrix Farrand’s life and her dedication to the estate with particular attention to the grounds was a lifelong and heartfelt endeavor. One of many projects which was undertaken at the estate was the creation of a bog garden, to illustrate how indigenous plants could be used creatively. Conversely, groupings of numerous types of azaleas demonstrated how seemingly exotic plants could survive the severe Maine climate.

In 1946 Farrand began publishing the Reef Point Bulletins in an attempt to explain the undertakings at Reef Point Gardens with the primary focus on the horticulture of the property. The species in the garden were documented, their growth and habits often closely logged and graphed. Plant choices for specific conditions were under intensive study, in this case plants suitable for the Bar Harbor region was of primary interest. Along with this publication, the grounds and gardens of the estate itself Farrand created a large library and collection of educational materials.

Perhaps in part because of the remoteness of location, scholarly use of Reef Point Gardens did not achieve the level Farrand desired. A devastating fire on Mount Desert Island in 1947 wiped out much of Bar Harbor's tax base, and the town badly needed its few taxpayers to assist with the cost of recovery. In 1955, concerned with the survival of Reef Point Gardens, following Bar Harbor's refusal to grant it tax-exempt status, Farrand decided that Reef Point’s future was not secure and reluctantly abandoned the project. Once the decision was made to end Reef Point Gardens, she swiftly took the steps to sell Reef Point for development. Farrand donated the contents of her library, a large collection of fine art prints, horticulture books, and design drawings to the department of Landscape Architecture at University of California, Berkeley to continue her initial goal of spreading knowledge and education concerning landscape design. Her herbarium of approximately 2000 sheets that documents exactly what plants were used and where they were planted is housed at the University & Jepson Herbaria, University of California, Berkeley.

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