Ashintully Gardens facts for kids

Ashintully Gardens is a beautiful estate in Tyringham, Massachusetts, covering about 120 acres. It's looked after by an organization called The Trustees of Reservations, which is a land trust that protects special places. The gardens, along with a nearby 594-acre nature reservation, were given as a gift by John Stewart McLennan Jr. and his wife Katharine. The name Ashintully comes from the Gaelic words Eas an Tulaich, which mean "cascade of the hillock" – like a waterfall on a small hill.

What Are Ashintully Gardens Like?

The gardens at Ashintully mix natural beauty with carefully planned designs. You'll find a lively stream, native trees that change color with the seasons, a rounded knoll (a small hill), and open meadows.

Some cool spots in the garden include the Fountain Pond, Pine Park, Rams Head Terrace, Bowling Green, Regency Bridge, and Trellis Triptych. You'll also see decorative urns, columns, and statues. Paths, bridges, stone stairs, and grassy areas connect all the different parts of the garden, making it fun to explore.

In 1997, Ashintully Gardens won a special award called the H. Hollis Hunnewell Medal from the Massachusetts Horticultural Society. This award celebrates gardens that have rare and beautiful ornamental trees and shrubs.

The Story Behind Ashintully Gardens

Ashintully Gardens exists thanks to two important people: Robb de Peyster Tytus and John S. McLennan Jr.

Who Was Robb de Peyster Tytus?

In the early 1900s, Robb de Peyster Tytus, who studied ancient Egypt (Egyptologist) and was also a politician, brought together three farms in Tyringham and some extra land in Otis, Massachusetts. This created a huge estate of almost 1,000 acres.

Between 1910 and 1912, Tytus built a grand white mansion on a hill overlooking the Tyringham Valley. It was built in the Georgian style and was known as the Marble Palace. The front of the mansion had four large Doric columns and many windows. Inside, it had 35 rooms, 10 bathrooms, and 15 fireplaces! Sadly, the Marble Palace was destroyed by a fire in 1952. But even today, you can still see its front terrace, foundation, and the four impressive Doric columns.

Tytus passed away in 1913, leaving behind his wife, Grace Henoys Tytus, and their two daughters.

Who Was John Stewart McLennan Jr.?

A year after Tytus died, his wife married John Stewart McLennan, who was a Canadian businessman and newspaper owner, and later a Senator. John S. McLennan Jr. was born in 1915.

John S. McLennan Jr. spent all his childhood summers at the Tytus estate. He took over the property in 1937 after his mother passed away. He later moved into the farmhouse at the bottom of the hill and turned the nearby barn into a music studio. McLennan was a talented composer who wrote contemporary classical music, including pieces for small groups (chamber), large groups (orchestral music), piano, and organ. He even won a music award in 1985! He designed the beautiful gardens as another way to express his creativity, just like his music.

In 1977, John began giving parts of the Ashintully estate to The Trustees of Reservations. He continued to live there for the rest of his life. Shortly before he died in 1996, John and his wife Katharine gave even more land to the Trustees. This included the ruins of the Marble Palace, the farmhouse, and Ashintully Gardens. Katharine McLennan kept some land for her cottage until she passed away in 2017. After her death, the rest of the land officially went to The Trustees of Reservations.

John McLennan's life and the Gardens were featured in a TV show called GardenStory in 2007. It was shown across the country on American Public Television.

The McLennan Reservation

Next to Ashintully Gardens is the McLennan Reservation. This area is part of the large 1,000-acre estate that Robb de Peyster Tytus first put together.

In 1977, John McLennan Jr. not only gave the gardens to the Trustees but also donated 446 acres of the estate in Otis and Tyringham to create the McLennan Reservation. More land was added in 1978, 1991, and 1995, bringing the McLennan Reservation to a total of 594 acres.