Fans and connoisseurs of I. F. Stravinsky's work are surely familiar with his late instrumental concerto "Dumbarton Oaks." This piece is linked to the history of the creative relationships between the composer, patrons, one of the leading American universities, and garden art.

The estate, located on the hilly outskirts of Washington, was established in the 18th century but became a center of artistic value in 1920 when it was acquired by Robert and Mildred Bliss, renowned patrons and collectors. Robert Woods Bliss (1875-1962), a Princeton University graduate, had a successful diplomatic career, working in St. Petersburg, Paris, and serving as ambassador to Sweden and Argentina. Although he was retired during World War II, he actively participated in organizing political negotiations. Important international meetings known as the "Dumbarton Oaks Conference" took place in his home in 1944, marking the beginning of the creation of the United Nations.

Mildred Barnes Bliss (1879-1969) had a passion for art from childhood. In Paris, the couple began collecting Byzantine and pre-Columbian art, which later became the foundation of the museum at Dumbarton Oaks. In 1936, the Blisses met Stravinsky in Paris, commissioning a concerto for their thirtieth wedding anniversary. The premiere took place on May 8, 1938, in the Music Room of Dumbarton Oaks, conducted by Nadia Boulanger. The original title of the piece on the score was "Dumbarton Oaks 8, 5, 38."

After acquiring the estate, Mildred Bliss began creating the garden as a work of art. The project was carried out by Beatrix Farrand (1872-1959), an outstanding landscape architect. She worked during a time when landscape art was just beginning to form as a profession. Farrand studied under botanist Charles Sargent and gained knowledge at the Columbia School of Mines. She sought to spread the culture of garden art over larger territories. In 1899, she became one of the founders of the American Society of Landscape Architects.

Farrand incorporated elements of the "wild garden" and free planning of flower beds in her work. She paid attention to the design of small forms, such as pavilions and benches. The foundation of her work consisted of patterned stone paving, rows of steps, pergolas, and inscriptions on walls. In the 1910s, she created a garden in the White House park. Among her friends was writer and collector Abby Rockefeller, for whom she created a park in the "Korean" style. Since the 1910s, she had been involved in planning university campuses. This experience was utilized in the creation of the garden at Dumbarton Oaks, which began in 1920 and was completed twenty years later. The foundation consisted of terraces on three levels, surrounded by lawns and flower beds.

In 1933, a visitor to the garden described its forms: "From the windows of the dining room and library, meadows intersected by a road are visible. The northern facade looks onto a courtyard surrounded by wings, from where the view axis begins. Three lawns on three levels lead to a point above the cliff, from where the sky and trees are visible." The garden acquired features of various historical styles, including Renaissance and Baroque. After completing the project, Farrand, Mildred Bliss invited Ruth Havens for additional work, which continued until 1968.

The nature of this place plays an important role in the perception of the garden. Ancient oaks and planes have been preserved here, and paths lead into shady lowlands, emphasizing the lushness of the flower beds. Inscriptions are placed on the walls of the terraces, one of which is dedicated to Beatrix Farrand. The lower part of the park is designed as a woodland park. The garden and park at Dumbarton Oaks became one of Farrand's most significant works.

Since 1936, the owners began preparing the estate for transformation into a public domain. A plant catalog was compiled, and three sections of a scientific library were created. In 1941, the estate was transferred to Harvard University. The buildings were renovated, the main house became a museum, and the service buildings became a library. The Dumbarton Oaks Library of Landscape Architecture is one of the most comprehensive in the world.

Stravinsky's connection to Dumbarton Oaks was not limited to the concerto. He conducted here in 1947 and 1958, and in 1954, the premiere of his Septet, dedicated to "The Library and Collections of Dumbarton Oaks," took place. The memory of Stravinsky is preserved, with tours conducted in the Music Room. The lower park is now a walking area, and the museum and garden are open to the public. In 2017, the garden's water system was restored, reminding us of the meeting of arts at Dumbarton Oaks.