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The long covered porch at the north end of the house directly connects the main floor hallway of the house to the breathtaking Birch Allee Vista, a 550 foot long "alleyway" of trees consisting of more than 100 gray birches growing from the original root stock. Over time, the Birch trees have naturally formed a corridor in which a contrast between sunlight and shadows plays in the overhead canopy of leaves. The resulting dappled effect of light and dark is echoed by the bark of the trees and by randomly spaced stepping-stones.
When walking along the path lined with vinca and lily of the valley, landscaper Warren Manning's influence is apparent: a series of cross vistas reveal glimpses of the North Lawn and Bowling Green to the west, and the fruit tree allees to the east.
At the end of the Birch Tree Allee is the Birch Tree Allee Vista: a fabulous overlook of the Lagoons and distant views of the Cuyahoga Valley. At the end of the Allee are the Tea Houses: a pair of garden pavilions made of stone, timber and slate.Popular in the 18th century, Stan Hywet's teahouses bring an ancient tradition into the early years of the 20th century, providing shelter from unpleasant weather as well as a place to rest and enjoy the countryside or lush garden of the nearby lagoon.
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