Allyson Hayward

Allyson is an internationally acclaimed garden historian, lecturer, and author who writes and lectures extensively on topics related to gardens and their history. She is a frequent garden club speaker and is included in the Garden Club of America’s Speakers List. She is a graduate of the Radcliffe Seminars Graduate Program in Landscape History at Radcliffe College, and for several years served as Chairman of the New England Garden History Society. In 2003 she was awarded a Gold Medal by the Massachusetts Horticultural Society for her work in promoting New England’s garden history.

Allyson’s interest in Norah Lindsay started while she was still a student at the Radcliffe Seminars. This interest turned into a passion as she retraced the footsteps of Norah Lindsay through the gardens and grand estates of England. Her research represents more than ten years of travel through the UK and of delving into private and public archives in both the UK and the US.

Allyson lives in Santa Barbara, California with her two beagles and a cat named Norah.

Awards

2003 Gold Medal awarded by the Massachusetts Horticultural Society
For promoting New England’s garden history

1997 Faculty Award, Radcliffe Seminars
Outstanding graduate in class of Landscape Design and Landscape Design History

Publications by Allyson Hayward

Books

• Norah Lindsay: The Life and Art of a Garden Designer. Frances Lincoln Limited Publishers. 2007.
• Hill-Stead: The Country Place of Theodate Pope Riddle, edited by James F. O’Gorman. 2010.
• 1001 Gardens You Must See Before You Die, edited by Rae Spencer-Jones. 2007. Allyson Hayward was a Contributing Author to this book.

Articles: Periodicals and Journals

• “The Roses of Norah and Nancy Lindsay”. Rosa Mundi: Journal of the Heritage Rose Foundation.Volume 24, Number 1 Spring/Summer 2010, pp. 18-31.
• “Gardener to the Great and the Good”. Country Life. October 11, 2007, pp 118-121.
• “Hats Off to the Women Who Made Our History! A History of New England Farm and Garden Association, Inc.”. 2006.
• “Private Pleasures Derived From Tradition: The Hunnewell Estates Historic District” . Arnoldia – The Magazine of the Arnold Arboretum. Fall 2006.
• “Hill-Stead: A Country Place Farm in Connecticut”. Journal of the New England Garden History Society. Volume 11/Fall 2003.
• “Elm Bank: The Evolution of a Country House”. Journal of the New England Garden History Society. Volume 8/Fall 2000.
• “A Rather Wild and Picturesque Place” Henry Sargent Hunnewell at The Cedars. Journal of the New England Garden History Society. Volume 6/Fall 1998.

Thesis

• Private Pleasures…Derived from Tradition: Hunnewell Estates Historic District Cultural Landscape Report. Vol. 1 and Vol. 2. Historical Overview and Site Analysis. 1997.

Service

• 2019: Docent, Lotusland, Montecito
• 2019: Member Garden Club of Santa Barbara
• 1999 – 2003: Chairman, New England Garden History Society
• 1999 – 2007: Landscape Advisory Committee, Historic New England
• 2006 – 2008: President, New England Farm and Garden Association, Inc.
• 1998 – 2002: Education Chairman, New England Farm and Garden Association, Inc.
• 1997 – 1999: Co-Chair, Boston Society of Landscape Architects/Radcliffe Chapter
• 1994 – 1996: Trustee and Vice President, New England Wild Flower Society
• 1986 – 1988: President, The Hills Garden Club of Wellesley
• 1979 – 1986: Junior League of Boston, various committees
• 1973 – 1975: Docent, Strybing Arboretum, San Francisco, CA
• 1974 – 1975: Docent, Filoli, Woodside, CA

Other Professional Experience

1997 – Present
Garden History Speaker
Garden Club of America Garden Club Speakers List

1997 – Present
Landscape Historian
Specializing in historic landscape research and documentation