Where Gumbo Was #381
Maymont Gardens is a section of the 100 Acre Maymont Estate and Public Park. A previous TravelGumbo blog described the history and artifacts of the Maymont Mansion that resides within this estate. In addition to the Gardens, there is also a Children’s Farm and a Wildlife Exhibit. Maymont Park’s primary entrance is located at 1700 Hampton Street in the city of Richmond, and there is another entrance located at 2201 Shields Lake Drive.
Congratulations to Professor Abe, who was this week’s only success at identifying our mystery location!
Entrance is free (though the guided tours of the mansion itself request a voluntary small donation) and the park is open from 10 AM until 5 PM with extended evening hours from April until September. Golf cart tours are available at $25 per person, but are currently not operating during the pandemic. There is also a Carriage House where historic carriages are exhibited. Maymont is also a place were people can celebrate birthday events, weddings, retreats and private events.
I was fortunate to walk the grounds on a beautiful, mostly sunny day. The Maymont Estate took shape at the end of the 1800’s during the Gilded Age, when the millionaire couple James and Sallie Dooley bought a dairy farm along the James River and build a mansion complete with beautiful gardens. The gardens were primarily the handiwork of Sallie who was an educated and enthusiastic horticulturist and had 20 gardeners on staff assisting her endeavor. After the death of James and Sallie, the Maymont Estate was left to the City of Richmond to become a public park for all to enjoy.
The Japanese Garden encompasses a waterfall, stepping stone pond, bridges and various stonework. It was designed by the famous Japanese gardener named Muto. There is a Roman style grotto that was recently restored and is within the Japanese Garden area.
The Italian Garden was modeled after the gardens of Villa Torlonia near Rome. The entrance to this garden is a stone arch with the etched words “Via Florum” meaning Flowered Way. The walk leads down a colonnade to a gazebo which opens up to a multi-tiered flower garden and those serpentine steps with large urns at the top.
Up the slope above the colonnade is the Fountain Court which is part of the Italian Garden grounds.
There are also a few other specialty gardens. The Herb Garden is in and around the Stone Barn and the small enclosed Secret Garden was the place ladies could go to relax, do needlework and talk.
Attached is a photo of the aerial map layout to give you perspective on some of the buildings. The Carriage House and Water Tower, Stables, Garage and finally the Maymont Mansion from my previous blog.
The reflective pool and other gazebo are located very near the mansion.
Richmond is the capital city of the state of Virginia and easily accessible. Richmond boasts an international airport, Greyhound bus hub and two Amtrak railroad stations. It is located on north-south Interstate 95 about a 6 hour drive from New York City and 3 hour drive from Washington DC. It is also located on east-west Interstate 64 connecting Williamsburg, Virginia Beach and Charlottesville.
