Villa Terrace Renaissance Garden

The Renaissance Garden at Villa Terrace surrounds the Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The house was designed by architect David Adler for Milwaukee industrialist Lloyd R. Smith and his family, and was built on the bluff above Lake Michigan in the style of an Italian Villa. The family called it Sopra Mare -"Above the Sea" - because its beautiful setting reminded them of the Mediterranean Sea.   
The garden was originally designed by Bostonian Rose Standish Nichols in the formal Italianate style, with a central axis running from the wrought iron entry gates by Austrian blacksmith Cyril Colnik, to the Hermes fountain in the elegant courtyard, through the Great Hall, across the terrace, down the water stairs, across the meadow and finally to the grand Neptune Gate. Statuary and garden features are arranged symmetrically along the sides of the central axis. The garden was renovated in 2002 according to the design of Dennis Buettner, FASLA.  

The lakeside portion of the garden is approximately three acres and is inspired by the classical themes of order and beauty. It is initially viewed from the museum's Terrace d'Luna atop the bluff, allowing a broad and inspiring view of the garden and the waters of Lake Michigan. The second terrace, called Parnassus, features small putti statues, representing the four seasons and the fine arts. Descending the bluff is the Bride's Orchard of flowering crabapple trees, divided by the Scaletta d'Aqua (a water stairs), and at the bottom of the pedestrian stairway is a statue of Ceres, the goddess of agriculture. The center of the lower portion of the garden is a large meadow, with a fish pond, ("Vasca") at one end, and a wrought iron Neptune Gate at the other. Just beyond the Vasca is a small building resembling a Roman temple, providing space for public restrooms. Rows of Armstrong maples stand at each side of the meadow and an obelisk with surrounding flowering annuals marks its center. Rows of hydrangeas lie beneath the trees, and at their far end are two ironwood arbors, providing welcome shade for visitors. Nearby are semicircular benches, placed conveniently for conversation and rest, and just beyond these are two roundels, with statues of Hercules and Diana, goddess of the Hunt. All of the features echo those of the traditional Renaissance Garden and are designed to delight, amuse and inspire.

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