When Percival Gallagher of the Olmsted Brothers landscape architecture firm designed the Oldfields estate in the early 1920s, he created a delightful panorama of garden color, texture and fragrance throughout the spring and summer blooming seasons. Bulbs, perennials, and annuals begin their displays in late winter and continue through early autumn.

After these blooms have faded, Gallagher’s genius for landscape design remains evident as the structure of the garden becomes more prominent. Line and form take on more significance as colors fade and the range of foliage textures diminishes. The “bones” of the garden show more clearly.

Winter evokes special beauty in the garden that can be seen at no other time. Pale sunlight, mists, ice, and snow transform the landscape and shift the viewer’s attention to scenes and elements that are hidden by summer’s green luxuriance.

Christmas at Lilly House brings the change of seasons indoors. Decorations of the season take their inspiration from the 1930s era. Trees, wreaths, garlands and seasonal plants bring sparkle and glamour to the house’s handsome interiors. The tradition of festive decorations and warm holiday welcomes continues annually during Christmas at Lilly House.