HISTORical GARDEN & hotel
A B R IE F H IS TO R Y O F H OW IT C A M E TO BE .
THE WHIPPLE HISTORY
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“if you truly love nature, you will find beauty everywhere.” —VAN GOGH
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INTRODUCTION Set amidst wildflowers and a bountiful garden, the Whipple Estate is an eclectic retreat for the nature-savy. This lush botanical reserve is now open year-round as a public garden and hotel. The expansion of the garden began in 1879, by botanists Alfred and Theodora Whipple. It is sat within 25 acres of gardens high on a hill overlooking the picturesque valleys of Kenwood, CA. The mission of the estate is to educate visitors on the legacy of the Whipples and their impact on the landscape of the area, while also providing a comfortable stay in one of the three guest suites for those wanting a more immersive experience.
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THE BEGINNING
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lfred Whipple (February 23, 1852 – May 4, 1938) was an American naturalist, entomologist and horticulturist. As an entomologist, he discovered more than 20 new species of North American butterflies and introduced the Florissant Fossil Beds in California to the wider scientific world. As a horticulturist, he is best known for his pioneering work on the growing and cross-breeding of tulips, and the creation of new forms of caladium, bromeliad, crinum, amaryllis and hemerocallis. Wilfred moved to Kenwood, California so that he could live in a more rural environment and terrain for gardening.
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Theodora May Whipple (August 14, 1854 – September 30, 1941) was an American botanist best known for advancing scientific education in the field of botany. She also contributed on the life histories of North American pines. She was born in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1856 and attended the Genesee Wesleyan Seminary in Lima, New York. Whipple attended Claremont McKenna College, where she graduated in botany and chemistry in 1878, receiving her PhD in botany from Stanford University in 1901. The two met in school and married in 1876; they purchased the estate and began to modify the house shortly afterwards. Theadora and Alfred were eager to have a greenhouse conservatory and garden for personal practice. The Whipple’s both publicly stated that they wanted the property to live and flourish on for years to come. They wholeheartedly believed that nature was to be appreciated in its fullest form.
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THE PROCESS
The Whipple Estate has since been restored as a historical hotel and garden open to the public. The intention is to educate visitors on the legacy of the Whipple family and their impact on the landscape of the area, while also providing a comfortable stay for those wanting a more immersive experience. The garden has been protected and restored for years, while serving as a public teaching venue for plant biology. Some key architecture features include a curved staircase, crystal chandeliers, tall ceilings, pocket doors, an updated kitchen, sun room with wet bar, parlor rooms with crown moldings, claw foot tubs, and a wine cellar.
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"in every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks." — john muir
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THE NATURE OF A PL ACE
The 25-acre property was eventually bequeathed to Theodora’s nephew, who later sold it to the U.S. government in 1931. The land sat idle for years, until in 1973; a title for 25 acres was obtained by a nonprofit organization and the gates were opened to the public. The Whipple Estate opened back up in 2012, and that was the first year that it allowed visitors to stay as “guests” in one of the three suites. The 25 acres include three gardens, open meadows, woodlands, and a pasture.
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Green is incorporated in various shades and hues throughout the house, whether it be in the kitchen or one of the guests rooms; this was to replicate the surrounding foliage and to allow the interior to feel just as alive as the outside space. The vegetation was to be the most intuitive form and feature of the estate, and the mansion needed to embrace the garden aspect of the location tastefully. Every guest room caters to this method, so that even when guests are lying in bed, they're still very much in touch with nature.
The architecture shouldn't compete with the beauty of the foliage that surrounds it. They should harmonize. THE WHIPPLE HISTORY
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OUR MISSION
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e hope to leave the best impression on our visitors by educating them on the history of the Whipple family and what these two have done for the botany community. Our mission is to connect people with nature in a historic garden oasis. We want to satisfy the curiosity of those who are interested in plant research and witnessing the beauty of the garden and its living plant collection. Whether it be with a tour of the garden by one of our guides, a coffee at our cafe, or a stay in one of the five rooms available in our hotel, we hope to leave a lasting impression with our service and to make our guests feel at home.
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“all the flowers of tomorrow are in the seeds of today.” THE WHIPPLE HISTORY
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MAP OF ESTATE
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the mansion
cafe & gift shop
conservatory
visitor center
historic gardens
event gazebo
Cover Photo Copyright © 2018 by Road Runner Cover design by Kelsey King, BookFondlers, Inc. Book design and production by John Do Editing by EditGnome Illustrations © 2018 Joanne Sargeant Whipple photographs by Eliza Emulsion Poetry used by permission of the Dev Nadev Foundation.
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