A Legacy Crafted in Water and Stone

Tucked into the rolling landscape of Greenwood Gardens lies one of the most breathtaking features on the property, the Cascade. Loosely adapted from one designed in the 1620s by a renowned Baroque architect of the time, Carlo Maderno, for a villa in Frascati, Italy, the Cascade was designed by Short Hills architect William Whetten Renwick and built in 1915 – 1916 as part of Joseph P. Day’s grand Mediterranean-inspired estate. Strongly architectural in concept, this striking example of early 20th-century garden design was intended for visual impact rather than the leisurely pursuits afforded by other areas of the garden. Constructed of tile, stucco and stone, the structure was adorned with custom-glazed shell and leaf Rookwood tiles which were similar to motifs in the grottos of the retaining walls on the east façade of the Main Axis. From inside the mansion, Pauline Day would look out over the East Axis from her bedroom window and enjoy the garden views, while Joseph Day could push a button on control panels “and the lacy falls of the seven veils” sprang into life.

The symmetry and scale of the Cascade were purposefully built on a grand scale. Beginning at the eastern terrace, the water garden could be reached from twin staircases on the upper terrace. A recessed niche signaled the start of the Cascade’s descent, as water tumbled gracefully down seven sequential vine-covered basins in sparkling brilliance. Flanked on either side by sweeping horseshoe staircases, each step was punctuated with planters that would have once overflowed with color and oriental ornamental figurines, while surrounding retaining walls were covered in lush ivy.

Day Era Cascade on East Axis, circa 1924

At the base of the Cascade on the East Pool Overlook was the elliptical Dragon Fountain Pool, a perfect ending for this amazing water feature. Waterlilies graced the surface of the pool and a long, semicircular bench, framed by the dense greenery of adjacent South Mountain Reservation, offered a quiet pause where one could view the Chinese lanterns placed nearby. The flowing water was finally channeled beneath a service drive into an overflow pool and a stream, where it meandered through a shaded Rock Garden in the Orchard — a final touch of natural softness after the architectural drama that lay above.

Dragon Fountain Pool on the East Pool Overlook, circa 1924

In 1949, Peter Blanchard acquired the property, and he and his wife Adelaide Frick Blanchard focused on restoring the gardens. They began with the East Pool Overlook, and replaced the aging Dragon Fountain Pool with a grand swimming pool, once again elevating the grounds’ beauty and serenity. After Adelaide’s untimely death in 1956, the revitalization of Greenwood still continued. The once elegant Cascade had fallen into extensive disrepair, so Peter cleared overgrown plantings and introduced fresh shrubs, trees, and boxwood along the surrounding slopes. The East Terrace Exedra was lowered and enhanced with a bluestone terrace, opening sweeping views toward the Reservation.

Blanchard era Cascade and boxwood, circa 1969

A masterpiece of movement, symmetry, and artistic ambition, the Cascade is a rare garden feature that tells a story not just of water and stone, but of grandeur revived. It wasn’t just ornamental; this structure was theatrical, dramatic, and deeply personal for the Day family and the subsequent owners of the property, the Blanchard family. Today, Greenwood’s Cascade remains a legacy preserved in the spirit of stewardship passed down through generations. Currently under restoration while the garden remains open, the Cascade is expected to be completed this fall, when visitors once again will be able to experience the revitalizing effect of the sight and sound of water flowing down this monumental piece of Greenwood history, originally engineered over a century ago.

Cascade image at top, circa 2024.