Graycliff --Landscape Restoration Underway at Last!

We aren't really under siege, but the place looks a little like it as the attached photos indicate.  We are heavy into the process of removing  trees, removing the asphalt and re-creating the historic driveway, major improvements to the pond (including a new circulation system and real concrete liner, so that many of you will not have to wade into the pond several times a year to fix the plastic liner currently in place)  and other exciting activities in an effort to return the site to the original 1931 landscape plan.  Only non-historic trees are being removed; historically significant trees are being carefully protected.  Some  trees are being removed  to allow a large crane access to the bluff to remove and save the bridge  to the tower, and reinforcing the tower, which will be happening in the next several weeks.  All the trees in the circle have already come down including the dawn redwoods.

 I was there Tuesday morning when these pictures were taken and by the time I left at 11:30, more than half of the driveway circle asphalt had also been removed and I suspect the rest may have been gone by the end of the day. It's always sad to remove trees, but the good news is that once construction is finished, new trees and shrubs will be installed to replicate the original landscape design.

This restoration will provide challenges to conducting tours and I suggest you arrive early if you are leading tours and survey what the situation is like on the grounds prior to starting your tours.   Historic renovation at Graycliff is always an ongoing process and guests--and we-- are fortunate to be able to view parts of that process.  Invite guests  back in the future to see how the place changes. Just be aware of the process and be prepared to work your tours around it (rerouting may be necessary) and work the preservation process into your presentation.

PS  Was there Saturday 4/20 and the walkway from the kitchen stoop was removed making it a pretty big jump down to leave , be careful there.  The driveway is not yet completely removed, some work is going on at the pond. the cut trees have been removed from home grounds and stored elsewhere so less of a messy look in that respect.