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THE GARDENS

The Four Seasons Garden

This was the first of the Citadelle Gardens and is the most intimate. A glass door from this charming little garden gives a dramatic view into the vast living room of the Mansion.

This garden was designed as the Abrahams were turning the old abandoned Baptist Church into their home. They used old brick for the garden walls and flanked a lead wall foundation with four lead sculptures from England representing the Four Seasons.

Now the walls are mostly covered with ivy and moss. A massive oak tree spreads its branches to make a green leafy ceiling. Persons entering this garden suddenly find themselves in a green grotto with the sounds of water dropping into a small pool. Most peaceful. Quite secluded.

This lovely spot would remind one of England and is perfect for a small gathering.

The Hathoot Garden

Over the years, the Abrahams bought up nine different properties to expand the Mansion and develop the gardens. Dr. Abraham, a.k.a. Malouf, has always loved architecture and garden design, and his plan was to have each garden be a separate outdoor room and for each to have its own personality.

Malouf designed the Hathoot Garden after a summer of study at the Chateau de LaNapoule on the French Riviera. He says, “I was in my rock phase.” He had the central area excavated to make a sunken meadow. Then a stone drywall undulates along the right side and wide stone steps ascend at the far end of the meadow. Then one arrives at two stone pillars topped with terra cotta urns. This forms a small outdoor stage.

The whole meadow is surrounded by tall trees whose branches reach out to touch one another. It’s all quite magical & protected making it a lovely setting for any event. This garden is entered through huge iron gates.

The Pavilion Garden

In 1990, the Abrahams were able to buy three more houses on their block and re-route the alley. Dr. Abraham had been studying at The Institute for the Study of Classical Architecture in New York City, so he designed this garden area with those principles.

In the center of this large garde,n you will see a round rug made of grass. This used to be the round swimming pool. The center of the pool was the center point for the curving brick wall, which encloses this garden.

From the Mansion, the Classical Pavilion sits at the end of the Garden as both a focal point and a destination. The grey tile roof of the pavilion is supported by ten fluted Corinthian columns, which are ten feet tall. Atop this tile roof is an iron cresting, which the Abrahams had cast in Savannah, where they spent their first year of marriage.

There are several one-of-a-kind sculptures. This garden has its own arched gateway, which is 15 ft in height or it can be entered through The Citadelle Grand Entry, which is 26 ft high and 18 ft wide, making it one of the most massive entry gates in Texas.

Being surrounded by the grandeur of The Pavilion Garden makes any event quite memorable.

The Sculpture Garden

The Sculpture Garden is the home of a large bronze sculpture, the Abrahams commissioned in 1990 called “Coming of Winter: the Forerunner”. It is by William Pochial, who was greatly influenced by Rodin. It carries an urgent message about the threats to the Environment. The green lawn surrounding the sculpture has a lofty canopy formed by large trees and is given a semi-enclosed feel by brick pillars and cast iron fencing. To one side of this garden is the curving brick wall of the Pavilion Garden. The iron cresting of the pavilion, the finial atop the Garden Room, the tall chimney of the Mansion, and the fourth-story balustrade all create a very interesting interplay of architecture against the skyline.