Wye Plantation
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[edit] Wye Plantation Orangery
A more interesting, and extant, early 18th Century orangerie can be seen at the Wye Plantation, near Tunis Mills (Easton), Maryland. This orangery sits behind the main house, and consists of a large open room with two smaller wings that were added at some point after the initial construction. The south-facing wall consists of very large triple-hung windows. A second story was added as a billiards room, according to the current resident, Ms. Tilghman, a descendent of the Lloyd family. This plantation is also notable as having been the home of Frederick Douglas, as a young slave boy. The orangery is described in the book Glass Houses, along with the orangery at the Tayloe house.
Ms. Tilghman notes that plants are still stored inside the building in winter, but a frame has been constructed to hold the house plants, and the whole of the frame is covered with plastic to keep in moisture. In this way, the plants do not have to be watered the entire winter.
