Reynolda Gardens facts for kids
Reynolda Gardens is a beautiful place in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. It's right next to Wake Forest University and the Reynolda House. You can visit the gardens every day, and it's free to get in!
A Look Back: How Reynolda Gardens Started
Reynolda Gardens was once part of a huge country estate. This estate was over 1,000 acres big! It belonged to a famous tobacco businessman, R. J. Reynolds, and his wife, Katharine Smith Reynolds. They created this large property between 1906 and 1923.
In 1913, a special greenhouse was built. It was used to grow flowers for the family. They also grew flowers to sell.
Katharine Reynolds wanted a beautiful formal garden. She hired a landscape architect named Thomas W. Sears. He designed the 4-acre formal garden. Work on this garden began in 1915.
After Katharine Reynolds passed away in 1924, much of the property was sold. Some parts were also given away. For example, about 300 acres went to Wake Forest College. This happened in the late 1940s.
Later, the Reynolds' daughter, Mary Reynolds Babcock, helped create Reynolda Gardens. Between 1958 and 1962, she gave the garden property to the college.
In 1995, Wake Forest University and the National Park Service worked together. They carefully rebuilt parts of the garden. This made it look like its original design.
What You Can See at Reynolda Gardens Today
Today, Reynolda Gardens covers 125 acres. It includes woodlands, open fields, and wet areas. There is also a special 4-acre formal garden with a greenhouse.
Two acres of the formal gardens are called the Greenhouse Gardens. These were designed in 1917, 1920, and 1931. They have a sunken garden divided into four parts. You can see green lawns, many different plants, and rose gardens. There are also special trees and neat boxwood hedges. Look for the tea-houses, fountains, and pergolas too!
The other half of the formal garden is for growing things. It's called the Fruit, Cut Flower, and Nicer Vegetable Garden. This part was created in 1921. Here, you'll find vines, vegetables, climbing roses, and fruit trees. The fruit trees are trained to grow flat against a wall.
You can also explore the property on foot. There's a woodland trail that is about 3/4 of a mile long. A longer trail goes around the edge of the property. It is about 1.5 miles long.
See also
In Spanish: Reynolda Gardens para niños
