American Landscape Architect Fletcher Steele (1885-1971) designed almost 700 gardens during his career of sixty years and is considered as the key figure in the transition from Beaux Arts formalism to modern landscape design. Steele's design philosophy stemmed from two main beliefs: that landscape architecture was an art form on par with painting or music and that gardens were for pleasure.

Rochester New York was Steele's birthplace and the location of the Helen Ellwanger Estate. The gardens Steele designed and built for his client included this spectacular bird house for the rose garden. Helen Ellwanger was instrumental in the foundation of the Landmark Society of Western New York in 1937 and was assisted by her close friend, Fletcher Steele.

The dimensions of this piece are impressive. From the base of the bird house to the tip of the spire is 42 inches high and 19 inches across at the widest, or lower section of the roof. From the bottom of the ornamental ironwork, to the tip of the spire is about five feet. Mounted on a hexagonal wooden post of six feet, the entire structure is almost ten feet high at final placement.

The Ellwanger Estate Bird House is constructed of solid white pine. The roof is copper, the ironwork is hand wrought and the hexagonal post is clear cedar. The piece is home to four bird families.

Each bird house is made to order. Please contact me for more information using the contact page.