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Perry Hunt Wheeler (5 October 1913 – 1989) was an American 
landscape architect
A landscape architect is a person who is educated in the field of landscape architecture. The practice of landscape architecture includes: site analysis, site inventory, site planning, land planning, planting design, grading, storm water manageme ...
who is primarily known for several garden projects in Washington, D.C.
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, image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...
, including the White House Rose Garden
The White House Rose Garden is a garden bordering the Oval Office and the West Wing of the White House in Washington, D.C., United States. The garden is approximately 125 feet long and 60 feet wide ( by , or about 684m²). It balances the Jacquel ...
. He was born in Cordele, Georgia
Cordele is a city in and the county seat of Crisp County, Georgia, United States. The population was 11,147 at the 2010 census.
Cordele calls itself the Watermelon Capital of the World.
History
Cordele was incorporated on January 1, 1888, and ...
to John L. and Sarah Wheeler. He began his post-secondary education at Emory College, but soon transferred to the University of Georgia
, mottoeng = "To teach, to serve, and to inquire into the nature of things.""To serve" was later added to the motto without changing the seal; the Latin motto directly translates as "To teach and to inquire into the nature of things."
, establ ...
where he earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1937. He went on to earn a graduate degree in landscape architecture in 1938 from Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1636 as Harvard College and named for its first benefactor, the Puritan clergyman John Harvard, it is the oldest institution of higher le ...
.
Wheeler moved to Georgetown in the District of Columbia after World War II and began practicing by designing private gardens for the District's high society clientele. He specialized in low-maintenance gardens that consisted of water features, ornamental shrubbery
A shrubbery, shrub border or shrub garden is a part of a garden where shrubs, mostly flowering species, are thickly planted. The original shrubberies were mostly sections of large gardens, with one or more paths winding through it, a less-rememb ...
, and detailed hardscape
Hardscape refers to hard landscape materials in the built environment structures that are incorporated into a landscape. This can include paved areas, driveways, retaining walls, sleeper walls, stairs, walkways, and any other landscaping made ...
s.
In addition to working with Rachel "Bunny" Mellon on the official design of the Rose Garden, Wheeler worked on projects such as the National Arboretum Asian Garden pagoda, several gardens of the Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens
Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens is a decorative arts museum in Washington, D.C., United States. The former residence of businesswoman, socialite, philanthropist and collector Marjorie Merriweather Post, Hillwood is known for its large decorativ ...
, and the Washington National Cathedral
The Cathedral Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul in the City and Diocese of Washington, commonly known as Washington National Cathedral, is an American cathedral of the Episcopal Church. The cathedral is located in Washington, D.C., the cap ...
Bishop's Garden.
The American Horticultural Society
The American Horticultural Society (AHS) is a nonprofit, membership-based organization that promotes excellence in American horticulture. It is headquartered at River Farm in Alexandria, Virginia.
History
Established in 1922, the AHS is one of t ...
presented Wheeler with an AHS Landscape Design Award in 1977. Other honors included serving on the Garden Advisory Committee at Dumbarton Oaks
Dumbarton Oaks, formally the Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection, is a historic estate in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. It was the residence and garden of wealthy U.S. diplomat Robert Woods Bliss and his wife, M ...
from 1964 to 1974 and an Award of Merit from the University of Georgia.
Wheeler died of cancer in Virginia, at the age of 76.
Published articles
* ''Home and Garden'', 1953, “The Bride’s First Garden: A Five Year Plan” * ''The American Garden'', 1951, "Three Purpose Garden"References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wheeler, Perry Hunt 1913 births 1989 deaths American landscape architects People from Cordele, Georgia University of Georgia alumni Harvard Graduate School of Design alumni