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Haskell Family History
Horticulture pioneer Allen Haskell dead at 69
By LAURA McLEAN, Standard-Times correspondent
NEW BEDFORD -- Allen C. Haskell, whose horticultural talents and innovations earned him international renown, died yesterday after a brief illness.
For most of his life, Mr. Haskell, 69, was devoted to plants and animals and openly shared his talents with the world, counting royalty among his clients and domestic diva Martha Stewart among his friends. But his heart also belonged to his hometown of New Bedford, where he operated his 7-acre nursery -- Allen C. Haskell and Horticulturalists on Shawmut Avenue -- and where he shared his signature gifts, including designing gardens for the Rotch-Jones-Duff Museum, the Whaling Museum and Buttonwood Park.
"He loved the city," recalled his longtime friend Frances Levin. "He was always interested in getting New Bedford on the horticultural map. Beautification, you name it, if it made the city look better, he was interested." An inspired designer who began winning awards before he had even graduated from Bristol Agricultural School, Mr. Haskell rarely took time for a vacation, often joking that he once took one in Fall River. But his work and influence were far-reaching. Among his famous clients were Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, who used his dahlias and cosmos to decorate the church at her daughter Caroline's wedding. When Prince Charles and Princess Diana attended a ball at the White House, Mr. Haskell provided the decorations. The White House Rose Garden and the National Gallery in Washington also benefited from Mr. Haskell's green thumb; he bestowed the latter with a precious heirloom azalea collection.
Mr. Haskell said in an interview two years ago that he didn't measure success in ribbons and trophies. What he valued was the ability to play a part in changing concepts (about garden design), introducing many exciting new plants and being able to collaborate with his fellow nurserymen and clients. "Because of so many mentors that have taken an interest in me and exposed me to what's what in this world, I have been able to treat horticulture as an art instead of a vocation," he said.
When he was 2 years old he developed brain cancer and had to have one of his eyes removed and replaced with a glass eye.
Consequently, he avoided playing sports as a child because of the danger of being hit in the eye. Instead, confined to his back yard, he developed an interest in animals and birds. He thought of becoming a veterinarian, and he graduated high school with a scholarship for college. But he turned it down because he already had begun to get established in business.
The Shawmut Avenue nursery and gardens that bear his name combine his passions for animals and plants. Its treasures include rare and interesting plant specimens and exotic birds. An avid plant explorer, Mr. Haskell took pains to reproduce and introduce rare species of plants. This enthusiasm extended into the animal world, where he had recently been instrumental in breeding heirloom animals, including San Clemente goats and Scottish Highland cattle. His Fairhaven farm boasted an assortment of rare animals such as emu and camels.
Mrs. Levin, whose North Dartmouth garden won a gold medal from the Massachusetts Horticultural Society owing to Mr. Haskell's guidance, said, "There wasn't a notable horticulturist that didn't know Allen ... because you couldn't purchase anything through the mail from him, you had to come to the nursery in person." That included Martha Stewart, with whom Mr. Haskell maintained a close and supportive friendship. He worked side by side with Ms. Stewart as a flower show judge and as a guest on her television program and in her magazine.
He possessed a genius for creating gorgeous landscapes that combined informal and formal elements in the same garden. His modern-day style was often described as "painting with plants." His award-winning displays at the New England Spring Flower Show in Boston, which spanned 50 years, gave New Englanders a burst of inspiration each year. In recognition of his contributions, an award in his name is given at the show each year.
He cited as his crowning achievement the honor of being included by the Smithsonian Institution's Horticulture Services Division as a resource to landscape designers, historians, researchers and garden enthusiasts. Another proud moment came when the Smithsonian awarded him a plaque citing his contribution to its educational mission to "promote the increase and diffusion of knowledge." Mr. Haskell was also very proud to receive the prestigious George C. Perkins President's Award in 2001, the top honor given by WHALE, New Bedford's Waterfront Historic Area League, for his "extraordinary career in horticulture, which has made him an American treasure and has brought New Bedford national attention."
"Allen represented the best of the best," remarked WHALE's executive director, Tony Souza, yesterday. "He was a great friend, he always allowed us to use his beautiful plants for our annual wine tasting (and other functions). Allen was always there for us."
His topiary displays at such highbrow chains as Bergdorf Goodman brought him acclaim while fueling the public's passion for topiary. It soon became a popular choice of home landscapers. He also is credited with making plants from Asia and other distant places around the globe accessible to local horticulturalists.
"Allen polarized a lot of what's in gardening," stated Falmouth landscape designer Paul Miskovsky, who trained under Mr. Haskell. "Topiary, ornamental grasses, exotics. … When landscape hardy topiary wasn't used much, he found it and made it available. Instead of the horticultural status quo, he found the sources and, through trial and error, made short cuts for people who wouldn't have spent the time or energy."
William E. Santos, owner of Sowle the Florist in New Bedford's North End, said Mr. Haskell once turned down a television offer similar to Martha Stewart's show, saying he would only do it if it could be shot in New Bedford. He didn't want to leave his family or business.
"Once my wife, Maria, asked him if he was going to ever retire," Mr. Santos said. "He answered. 'How can I retire? I don't work.' He loved what he was doing. … He was going to keep going."
Survivors include his widow, Ellena (Brightman) Haskell; a son, David Haskell, and his wife, Alyson, of New Bedford; two daughters, Rebecca Akers and her husband, Mark, of North Dakota and Felecia Cruz of New Bedford; a sister, Nancy Rua, and her husband, Kenneth, of Florida; and longtime friend Eugene Bertrand Jr. of New Bedford. ... appeared on Page A1 of The Standard-Times on December 8, 2004.
By LAURA McLEAN, Standard-Times correspondent
NEW BEDFORD -- Allen C. Haskell, whose horticultural talents and innovations earned him international renown, died yesterday after a brief illness.
For most of his life, Mr. Haskell, 69, was devoted to plants and animals and openly shared his talents with the world, counting royalty among his clients and domestic diva Martha Stewart among his friends. But his heart also belonged to his hometown of New Bedford, where he operated his 7-acre nursery -- Allen C. Haskell and Horticulturalists on Shawmut Avenue -- and where he shared his signature gifts, including designing gardens for the Rotch-Jones-Duff Museum, the Whaling Museum and Buttonwood Park.
"He loved the city," recalled his longtime friend Frances Levin. "He was always interested in getting New Bedford on the horticultural map. Beautification, you name it, if it made the city look better, he was interested." An inspired designer who began winning awards before he had even graduated from Bristol Agricultural School, Mr. Haskell rarely took time for a vacation, often joking that he once took one in Fall River. But his work and influence were far-reaching. Among his famous clients were Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, who used his dahlias and cosmos to decorate the church at her daughter Caroline's wedding. When Prince Charles and Princess Diana attended a ball at the White House, Mr. Haskell provided the decorations. The White House Rose Garden and the National Gallery in Washington also benefited from Mr. Haskell's green thumb; he bestowed the latter with a precious heirloom azalea collection.
Mr. Haskell said in an interview two years ago that he didn't measure success in ribbons and trophies. What he valued was the ability to play a part in changing concepts (about garden design), introducing many exciting new plants and being able to collaborate with his fellow nurserymen and clients. "Because of so many mentors that have taken an interest in me and exposed me to what's what in this world, I have been able to treat horticulture as an art instead of a vocation," he said.
When he was 2 years old he developed brain cancer and had to have one of his eyes removed and replaced with a glass eye.
Consequently, he avoided playing sports as a child because of the danger of being hit in the eye. Instead, confined to his back yard, he developed an interest in animals and birds. He thought of becoming a veterinarian, and he graduated high school with a scholarship for college. But he turned it down because he already had begun to get established in business.
The Shawmut Avenue nursery and gardens that bear his name combine his passions for animals and plants. Its treasures include rare and interesting plant specimens and exotic birds. An avid plant explorer, Mr. Haskell took pains to reproduce and introduce rare species of plants. This enthusiasm extended into the animal world, where he had recently been instrumental in breeding heirloom animals, including San Clemente goats and Scottish Highland cattle. His Fairhaven farm boasted an assortment of rare animals such as emu and camels.
Mrs. Levin, whose North Dartmouth garden won a gold medal from the Massachusetts Horticultural Society owing to Mr. Haskell's guidance, said, "There wasn't a notable horticulturist that didn't know Allen ... because you couldn't purchase anything through the mail from him, you had to come to the nursery in person." That included Martha Stewart, with whom Mr. Haskell maintained a close and supportive friendship. He worked side by side with Ms. Stewart as a flower show judge and as a guest on her television program and in her magazine.
He possessed a genius for creating gorgeous landscapes that combined informal and formal elements in the same garden. His modern-day style was often described as "painting with plants." His award-winning displays at the New England Spring Flower Show in Boston, which spanned 50 years, gave New Englanders a burst of inspiration each year. In recognition of his contributions, an award in his name is given at the show each year.
He cited as his crowning achievement the honor of being included by the Smithsonian Institution's Horticulture Services Division as a resource to landscape designers, historians, researchers and garden enthusiasts. Another proud moment came when the Smithsonian awarded him a plaque citing his contribution to its educational mission to "promote the increase and diffusion of knowledge." Mr. Haskell was also very proud to receive the prestigious George C. Perkins President's Award in 2001, the top honor given by WHALE, New Bedford's Waterfront Historic Area League, for his "extraordinary career in horticulture, which has made him an American treasure and has brought New Bedford national attention."
"Allen represented the best of the best," remarked WHALE's executive director, Tony Souza, yesterday. "He was a great friend, he always allowed us to use his beautiful plants for our annual wine tasting (and other functions). Allen was always there for us."
His topiary displays at such highbrow chains as Bergdorf Goodman brought him acclaim while fueling the public's passion for topiary. It soon became a popular choice of home landscapers. He also is credited with making plants from Asia and other distant places around the globe accessible to local horticulturalists.
"Allen polarized a lot of what's in gardening," stated Falmouth landscape designer Paul Miskovsky, who trained under Mr. Haskell. "Topiary, ornamental grasses, exotics. … When landscape hardy topiary wasn't used much, he found it and made it available. Instead of the horticultural status quo, he found the sources and, through trial and error, made short cuts for people who wouldn't have spent the time or energy."
William E. Santos, owner of Sowle the Florist in New Bedford's North End, said Mr. Haskell once turned down a television offer similar to Martha Stewart's show, saying he would only do it if it could be shot in New Bedford. He didn't want to leave his family or business.
"Once my wife, Maria, asked him if he was going to ever retire," Mr. Santos said. "He answered. 'How can I retire? I don't work.' He loved what he was doing. … He was going to keep going."
Survivors include his widow, Ellena (Brightman) Haskell; a son, David Haskell, and his wife, Alyson, of New Bedford; two daughters, Rebecca Akers and her husband, Mark, of North Dakota and Felecia Cruz of New Bedford; a sister, Nancy Rua, and her husband, Kenneth, of Florida; and longtime friend Eugene Bertrand Jr. of New Bedford. ... appeared on Page A1 of The Standard-Times on December 8, 2004.
Allen C. Haskell 1934-2004
...Obituary
