Jane Silverstein Ries facts for kids

Jane Silverstein Ries (born 1909, died 2005) was a very important American landscape architect. She was the first woman in Colorado to get a special license to design outdoor spaces. She was also known as Julia Jane Silverstein.

Jane was honored for her amazing garden designs and for helping save old buildings and places. She was even put into the Colorado Women's Hall of Fame. Today, a special group gives money to students studying landscape architecture and holds talks in her honor.

Early Life and Learning

Julia Jane Silverstein was born in Denver, Colorado, on March 10, 1909. Her parents were Harry S. and Eva W. Silverstein. She went to public schools in Denver.

Jane loved designing outdoor areas. She studied landscape architecture at the Lowthorpe School of Landscape Architecture. She finished her studies there in 1932. She also took more classes at other universities. These included the Colorado University, the University of Denver, and the Rhode Island School of Design.

For the first few years of her career, she used her birth name, Julia Jane Silverstein. In 1953, she married Henry F. Ries. He worked with insurance in Colorado. After 1961, she started using Jane Silverstein Ries as her professional name. Henry passed away in 1984.

Designing Amazing Landscapes

Jane Silverstein started her career in 1933. She worked for a company in Denver called McCrary, Culley and Carhart. Her first big job was designing plants for Colorado University.

In 1935, she opened her own design business in Denver. She mostly designed gardens for homes with smaller yards. But she also got jobs to design plants for many other places. These included housing projects, large estates, churches, schools, and hospitals. She even designed areas for government buildings and businesses.

One of her famous designs is the Herb and Scripture Gardens. You can find these beautiful gardens at the Denver Botanic Gardens.

Her Unique Garden Style

Jane Silverstein became known for her special way of designing gardens. Most gardens in Denver at the time had a front lawn, a back lawn, and some basic plants around the house. Jane wanted to do something different.

She was inspired by the walled gardens she saw in Boston's Beacon Hill. These gardens were private and charming. Jane designed gardens that felt a bit formal but also very cozy. She often used native plants that did not need a lot of water. This was a smart choice for Colorado's dry climate.

Her career really took off after she designed a garden for a General Electric project in 1935. Over her long career, she designed more than 1500 gardens!

Serving During Wartime

During World War II, Jane took a break from designing. She joined the Women's Reserve of the U.S. Coast Guard in New York. She worked as an officer, helping with port matters and property surveys. She finished her service as a lieutenant.

After the war, Jane worked briefly for a design firm in New York. But she soon returned to Denver in 1947. She reopened her own landscape design business there.

Protecting Colorado's History

Jane Silverstein Ries also worked hard to save important historical places in Colorado. She helped lead a project to fix up the grounds of the Colorado Governor's Mansion. She also gave advice on the garden at the Molly Brown House Museum. Another project she helped with was the 9th Street Historic Park. She even helped create early plans for the Larimer Square area.

Becoming a Licensed Professional

In the 1960s, Jane worked to create a special license for landscape architects in Colorado. She wanted to make sure people designing outdoor spaces were properly trained. After the state passed the Landscape Architect Registration Act, Jane became a pioneer. In 1968, she was the third person and the first woman to become a licensed landscape architect in Colorado.

Awards and Recognition

Jane Ries received many honors for her work. In 1965, she was chosen as a fellow of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA). This is a very high honor in her field. She was also a member of the ASLA's Rocky Mountain Chapter and became its first president.

The Denver Chapter of the American Institute of Architects gave her the Community Service Award. In 1990, she was inducted into the Colorado Women's Hall of Fame. This recognized her amazing achievements and contributions.

Jane never officially retired from her work. In 1989, she became a senior advisor for a company called Land Mark Design. This company was started by people she used to work with.

Jane Ries passed away on July 6, 2005. Earlier that year, she received the important American Society of Landscape Architects Medal. This award honored her lifetime of achievements in landscape architecture.

Her Lasting Impact

Jane Silverstein Ries left a big mark on her field and her community.

In 1992, her home and office at 737 Franklin Street in Denver was named a landmark. This means it's an important historical place.

In 1983, the ASLA's Colorado Chapter created the Jane Silverstein Ries Award. This award honors people who show great care for the land in the Rocky Mountains. The Colorado Chapter also started the JSR Foundation in 1997. This foundation helps students studying landscape architecture. It gives out scholarships and holds an annual series of talks. Jane herself gave the first talk for the foundation.

A special type of boxwood plant, called Buxus mycrophylla “Julia Jane”, is named after her. This shows how important she was in the world of plants and design.

Her important papers, including photos, design drawings, and letters, are kept at the Denver Public Library.