Expect the Unexpected: Schnormeier Gardens
Article and Photographs by Toni Leland
The rolling terrain of Knox County, Ohio
leads the eye on a gentle journey through wooded hills and neatly tended farms,
but just south of Gambier, the eyes widen in wonder as one views the
magnificent Schnormeier Gardens. Have we stumbled upon a secret hideaway?
On one June weekend of every year, Ted and
Ann Schnormeier graciously open their private estate to the public, a visual and
sensory experience you won’t want to miss. Nine individual garden spaces cover
75 acres, presenting nature at its very best and showcasing art and design to
fit the predominantly Oriental theme of the property.
Perched
at the edge of a five-acre lake, the main house commands immediate attention.
The ideas of Frank Lloyd Wright and the concept of “Fallingwater” are
integrated into this magnificent long, low structure of 4,600 square feet. An
elegant Japanese Garden surrounds the back of the home, wrapping it in a cocoon
of serenity and seclusion. The Schnormeier home is not open to the public,
however, photographs of the beautiful design and interior are viewable on the
website.
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| A serene pond the base of the Stream Garden |
Ted wryly mentions that the driving force
behind the gardens was the need to have something stimulating to look at when
one lives in a glass house. And what a view it is! The gardens were begun on
paper in 1996 with the plans for the Meadow Garden, the Waterfalls Garden, and
the Chinese Cup Garden & Pavilion. The physical work started with the
delivery of 814 tons of rocks weighing ten to thirty tons each! When the projects
were completed, more than double that amount of rock was in place. Trees,
shrubs, perennials, ground covers, and lawns were chosen and planted by
mid-November. The gardens were a work-in-progress for the next few years and,
in 2000, the Japanese Teahouse was built, construction began on the Serenity
Garden water features, and the Conifer Forest was planted. From 2001 through
2004, additional features and gardens were implemented: the Japanese Garden
House, the Stream Garden, and the Woodlands Garden’s half-mile walking trail.
Both Ann and Ted work in the gardens, although they do have staff to help with
such a mammoth job.
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| A contemporary version of the Copenhagen Mermaid sits at the edge of the lake. |
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| Above the Stream Garden, the Chinese pavilion stands over the miniature conifers. |
Art imitates Nature and, in 2002, the
Schnormeiers began integrating commissioned fine art into the natural beauty of
their gardens. All of the gardens contain the work of artists from around the
country, and each piece represents a specific thought or feeling for its
particular location. See if you can find all fifty pieces (hint: the buildings
and structures are all works of art, too).
Things to Seek Out
Over 2,000 varieties of hosta
cover an acre of land in the Hosta
Garden.
Visit the Meadow Garden with four ponds; colorful Japanese Koi live there
year around with a pair of Australian Black swans. Several sculptures by Ohio
artists grace the Meadow Garden, including a huge water lily.
The Stream Garden is a roaring mountain stream 400 feet long, rushing
600 gallons per minute through densely planted beds before surging into the
central lake. Art features include four bronze sculptures entitled “Beginnings
I, II, III, and IV.”
In the Serenity Garden, notice the ancient design of the post-caps (giboshi) on the Japanese arch bridge.
Continue on to the Japanese Garden House where you’ll see an antique altar
table and a custom designed fabric artwork by a renowned textile artist. A huge
Buddha head is another art feature of the garden.
Four sculptures grace the Waterfalls Garden, including a contemporary
version of the famous Copenhagen Mermaid sitting under the bridge. The
Waterfalls Garden is 100 feet long with a twenty-five foot drop for the 1,000
gallons per minute that course through the area. A large hand-carved granite
Japanese lantern, the Red Arch bridge, and a Japanese teahouse are other
features of this space.
For the avid walker, the Woodland Garden offers a trail through
the trees and meadow, and the opportunity to view the many wildlife silhouette
sculptures located throughout the natural setting. Be sure to notice the
sculpted wall of the Japanese resting house.
Schnormeier Gardens is a place
of wonder and beauty, peace and serenity, but more than that—a magnificent
legacy for Knox County.
If You Go–Important to Know
The annual open house is in June,
usually from 10:00 a.m. until 4 p.m. Exact date and times are posted on the website, http://www.schnormeiergardens.org. The gardens are located at 8701 Laymon
Road, Gambier, Ohio (east of Mount Vernon). Be sure to bring your camera!
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| A view of the upper falls of the Serenity Garden. The Japanese Garden House is in the background. |
The gardens are privately owned
and the following points should be considered before visiting.
The property covers 75 acres of
rolling terrain with some significant hills;
There are no hard-surface walks
or paths, and access to the gardens is mostly grass covered ground;
No transportation or staff are
available for guided/transported tours;
No ride-on wheeled vehicles are
permitted;
The area is not handicapped
accessible;
The lakes are deep and the banks
are steep; wet rocks are very slippery;
No smoking, swimming, wading,
flower picking, fishing, rock throwing, or picnicking;
Shoes and shirts required;
The restrooms are readily
accessible.
©2011 Toni Leland. All rights
reserved. This article originally appeared in Country Living, May ’10. No
portion of this work may be reproduced without written permission of the
author. Links to this article are welcomed, with proper full credit.
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