When Olmsted purchased this land from the previous owners- sisters Sarah and Susannah Clark- the South Lawn was a decimated apple orchard covered with rows of old fruit trees. Under Olmsted's careful guidance, most of the trees and the old driveway were removed, the barn relocated, and underground drainage systems lain. Finally, inspired by the "green, dripping. glistening, gorgeous" scenery of the English countryside, Olmsted graded, reshaped, and replanted the space.
In many ways, the South Lawn at Fairsted is like the Long Meadow that Olmsted designed in Brooklyn's Prospect Park. Both employ the Beautiful, or Pastoral, style to soothe the soul and restore the spirit. Though the area here is fairly small, there is an appearance of spaciousness due to varied values of green, indefinite boundaries, and the delicate interplay of light and color.
Olmsted's pastoral landscapes often feature elms as a focal point for the contemplation of scenery. Olmsted kept this elm when he redesigned the property in 1883. In 2011, the National Park Service removed the elm when it showed advanced symptoms of decline and structural instability. Today, cuttings taken from the tree are being propagated with the hope that a genetic match can be replanted for future generations to enjoy.
Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service