AN OLD WORLD GARDEN IN A NEW WORLD SETTING

The Doheny, Jr., Estate at Beverly Hills By PAUL G. THIENE, A. S. L. A.

"GREYSTONE"
905 Loma Vista Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210

IN GENEREAL, the development of the hillside estate of Mrs. E. L. Doheny, Jr., presented many problems.

To the left of the gates stands the gate lodge with flagstone paths on a grass terrace and cut-flower garden, and thence ascends the drive, bordered with Cedrus Atlantica, and wide stretches of lawn.

Entrance to "“Greystone" the estate of Mrs. E. L. Doheny, Jr. Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, California.
Paul G. Thiene, Landscape Architect
Gordon B. Kaufman, Architect

The property, composed of hills and deep canyons, with a scattering of eucalyptus trees, necessitated excavating several hundred thousand cubic yards and tilling in approximately 30,000 cubic yards of top soil to get the place in a workable condition. Since the cost of the disposition of any undesirable earth would be excessive, an additional canyon was purchased, which was tilled to a depth of seventy-five to eighty feet, creating a large, level area designated as the meadow.

Residence of Mrs. E. L. Doheny, Jr., Beverly Hills

Terraces were created in back of the house to take care of the rapid rise, and the extremely high retaining walls were camouflaged with planting to foreshorten then visible height.

Numerous specimen trees, ranging from ten to thirty feet in height, were moved onto the property in boxes from five to eight feel in diameter. These included Cedrus Atlantica, Cedrus deodara, Libocedrus, crape myrtle., olive, oak, pepper, redwood, pine, sycamore and poplar.

Dynamiting was imperative and an extensive drainage system was installed to successfully cope with the soil and adobe.

South Elevation
Residence of Mrs. E. L. Doheny, Jr., Beverly Hills

South Terrace
Residence of Mrs. E. L. Doheny, Jr., Beverly Hills

A very complete garden lighting system answers a dual purpose. Besides being controlled by individual switches, a master switch located in the owner's bedroom may illuminate the entire gardens, thus acting as a burglar protection and attracting the attention of the night watchman.

In the event of large assemblies, provision has been made to call the chauffeurs by means of eight loud speakers from a microphone placed in the residence.

Driveway
Residence of Mrs. E. L. Doheny, Jr., Beverly Hills

On entering the electrically controlled, massive wrought iron gates of "Greystone", the visitor has a feeling of having been transposed into an old English garden.

Arrival Court
Residence of Mrs. E. L. Doheny, Jr., Beverly Hills

Fountain in Arrival Court
Residence of Mrs. E. L. Doheny, Jr., Beverly Hills

On entering the arrival court, "The Child and the Swan” greets you. This attractive fountain figure, together with many of the other garden figures, was personally selected for its particular location and imported from England.

South Terrace
Residence of Mrs. E. L. Doheny, Jr., Beverly Hills

Entrance From South Terrace
Residence of Mrs. E. L. Doheny, Jr., Beverly Hills

Reflection Pool, South Terrace
Residence of Mrs. E. L. Doheny, Jr., Beverly Hills

Reflection Pool
Residence of Mrs. E. L. Doheny, Jr., Beverly Hills

End of Long Terrace
Residence of Mrs. E. L. Doheny, Jr., Beverly Hills

Cypress Walk
Residence of Mrs. E. L. Doheny, Jr., Beverly Hills

Passing thru the arrival court and continuing on into the gardens, an easy flight of steps brings us to the “Lookout Terrace", where, beneath the shade of an interesting old olive, we view the waterfalls and other engaging bits of the gardens.

Intermediate Terrace
Residence of Mrs. E. L. Doheny, Jr., Beverly Hills

Another short rise and we are on the intermediate terrace where a simple stone fountain bubbles refreshingly. From this point we look down the walk between two stately rows of perfectly matched eugenias, whose red and green foliage furnish the only touch of color in this unit. The wall is embellished with eight fountains carved out of Pouillenay Rose, an imported stone.

Entrance into the Formal gardens
Residence of Mrs. E. L. Doheny, Jr., Beverly Hills

Ascending toward the formal gardens, our attention is drawn to a most unique lead cistern. Beyond, a bench nestled between two lovely oleanders beckons us to rest while our eyes wander over the surrounding beauties. The oleanders are planted in hand carved, teakwood boxes with wrought iron fixtures, as are many other specimen plants located at different points of vantage, where planting notes of size and color are needed, but not otherwise feasible.

Residence of Mrs. E. L. Doheny, Jr., Beverly Hills

The blended colorings of the Mettowee stone paving lure us on to climb a semicircular stairway into the formal gardens.

Formal Gardens
Residence of Mrs. E. L. Doheny, Jr., Beverly Hills

End of Formal Gardens
Residence of Mrs. E. L. Doheny, Jr., Beverly Hills

A wide grass panel edged with penstemon is terminated by a hand-carved, Pouillenay Rose fountain, on which the lights play alluringly at night. On the upper level the planting is interspersed with English yew.

Formal Gardens
Residence of Mrs. E. L. Doheny, Jr., Beverly Hills

Sun Dial
Residence of Mrs. E. L. Doheny, Jr., Beverly Hills

A perpendicular sun-dial located on the wall of this garden was minutely designed to record time correctly. The sun-dial is cast in bronze, while the stone work surrounding it, as well as the other four plaques on the wall, are of the same material as the heads in the intermediate terrace and carved by the same sculptor.

Plaque in Wall of Formal Gardens
Residence of Mrs. E. L. Doheny, Jr., Beverly Hills

View of Formal Gardens
Residence of Mrs. E. L. Doheny, Jr., Beverly Hills

Residence of Mrs. E. L. Doheny, Jr., Beverly Hills

Swimming Pool
Residence of Mrs. E. L. Doheny, Jr., Beverly Hills

Along a winding, flagstone path, paralleled by plantings of vari-hued flower and foliage, we proceed to the swimming pool unit, which consists of the swimming pool, with adjacent dressing rooms. A tennis court is artistically surrounded with an ornamental lattice work serving principally as a backdrop. The swimming pool, equipped with high diving tower and spring board, is finished in shades of blue, glazed tile laid in pattern with Boise stone gutter and coping. A circulating system recirculates and filters the water, thus keeping it clear and at the same time conserving the supply, while a purifying system serves to keep the pool free from germs.

Former Swimming Pool
Residence of Mrs. E. L. Doheny, Jr., Beverly Hills

The guest house is picturesquely located overlooking the upper gardens.

We are now ready to descend, and as we stroll along the flagstone driveway our attention is caught by a beautiful, emerald-green lawn known as the “meadow" or picnic area, on the southern edge of which has been erected a decorative lattice trellis which answers primarily as a rose arbor, being covered with the choicest of California’s climbing roses. Secondly, it acts as a safety measure, and as this area is used by the children as a playground it is also effective as a backstop. On the easterly boundary of the meadow, close up against the hill, has been built a barbecue pit. with adjoining kitchen and room equipped to accommodate outdoor parties.

On we go down a twisting, shaded, flagstone path with now and then a flagstone platform, along banks planted with plumbago and chorizema, California holly or perhaps a clump of hydrangeas or cannas, whose vivid colors brighten many positions of prominence throughout the gardens. Enticed by the rippling of water we suddenly find ourselves standing on the brink of a wonderful lake. Casting our eyes down into the water we find thousands of trout. Gazing upward, we perceive the supply in the form of a cascade, whose background is the balustrade of “Lookout Terrace” many, many feet above.

Walk Leading to Lakes
Residence of Mrs. E. L. Doheny, Jr., Beverly Hills

Cascades
Residence of Mrs. E. L. Doheny, Jr., Beverly Hills

Centuries might easily have elapsed, although in reality it is less than two years since this stream of crystal clear water started rushing down over its moss grown course, touched here and there by the shadow s of the overhanging plantings. The numerous rocks were all made by hand. The water is clarified by a circulating system which likewise regulates the flow as well as recirculates the water for the eighteen fountains and pools in the gardens above.

Cascades
Residence of Mrs. E. L. Doheny, Jr., Beverly Hills

Residence of Mrs. E. L. Doheny, Jr., Beverly Hills

As we leave the lake we follow a brick walk paralleling the wall below the house terrace. From this location we look north to the hillsides and if it happens to be spring the hills are a solid mass of pink and yellow, for the banks are heavily planted with flowering peaches, almonds and genista. If it is fall or winter, the pyracantha and holly are daringly showing their gold and red fruit. To the south is a rolling lawn.

The hillsides are watered by sprinklers, and the rapidity of the growth speaks assuringly of the capability of the system. The meadow is covered with rubber-topped sprinklers as a precaution against the children slipping while at play, while the extensive lawns are provided with pop-up heads. In accordance with the laws of nature, all watering is done while the sun’s rays are hidden. Therefore these gardens are watered at night by means of an automatic system controlled from the gardener’s cottage by a master clock. Thus the proper quantity of water required for each area may be adjusted by simply moving a few pins in the clock. Automatic irrigation is regarded as an essential in California, particularly in fall.

Stables
Residence of Mrs. E. L. Doheny, Jr., Beverly Hills

And now your visit to the English gardens of Mrs. E. L. Doheny, Jr., is but a memory, but you have covered approximately thirty acres, at least with your eyes. Perhaps you did not notice the rose garden with its hundreds of bush and tree roses, or the cut-flower garden with its bounty of continuous blossoms, or the orchid house with its wealth of bloom; but all these units were in your path as were the propagating gardens and mushroom cellar. The minutest detail has not been overlooked.

TWO VIEWS OF THE INTERIOR OF THE HOME OF MRS. L. H. DOHENY, JR.

Entrance Hall
Residence of Mrs. E. L. Doheny, Jr., Beverly Hills

Living Room
Residence of Mrs. E. L. Doheny, Jr., Beverly Hills

Jo Van Ronkel, chairman of Citizens for Greystone, is shown at the swimming pool on the Greystone Estate. His group is seeking to preserve the landmark by converting it into a public park, a cultural facility, and a reservoir. NOTE the diving tower.