New Twist for Historic Garden

Envisioned by a Progressive Woman, Reynolda Gardens Embraces History and Innovation

"Why would a public garden with a talented, creative staff hire me as an outside consultant to design anything?" This question lingered as I stepped through Reynolda Gardens at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, NC. Having had a career in public gardens, I knew the answers, including my knack for balancing preservation and innovation.

This Sunday, I'm with my old friend Jon, the Director of Reynolda Gardens. The gardens are alive with diverse visitors, a pleasant surprise and change from my old days in historic gardens.

I pause often to admire and photograph. The yellow and blue border, the amazing cucuzzi gourd tunnel, and the giant golden elephant ears all catch my eye.

Jon briefly leaves to address some issues - confetti cleanup beside a sign that says ‘Please, No Confetti’ and a surprise sinkhole that needs orange cones set around it. This reminds me why places like this occasionally hire out design work: the staff juggles myriad responsibilities, while this design needs singular focus.

When Jon returns, I ask my question. He explains, "We want outside perspective and new plant ideas. Your perennial border design already introduced plants I've never used. I’ve never grown that coastal plain species of phlox that you say has such flower power." Then he points to a hydrangea border, "Chip Callaway designed that. I'd have never thought of it, and now it's loved here."

1. Tea Cup Elephant Ear. 2. Tropical Border. 2. Perennial Border

This lush garden ends at a ragged chain link construction fence. Jon unlocks it, and we step through to a raw site, tractors, pallets of soil, and a port-o-john – this is where my designed border will be planted in front of the conservatory under renovation. I’ve re-imagined an original perennial border in front of the conservatory. The historic glasshouse, once somewhat tattered, is being meticulously restored with modern functionality carefully integrated into its classic structure. It's a perfect metaphor for my task here: to redesign a historic perennial border, maintaining its romantic, flowery feel while subtly updating it with newer plants and themes.

Our job today is to lay out plants. The design aims for multi-season appeal, with flowering peaks and quieter foliage moments. My vision blends Gertrude Jekyll style with Southern cottage gardens and intentional use of some native plants – this border will be pretty but have lots of educational themes. Jon and I talked as we worked. He told me, “The plants are all purchased by the Garden Club Council of Winston-Salem/Forsyth County.” “See,” I tell myself, “To make a project like this happen, it takes all kinds of support from outside the garden itself.”

The next day, we plant the garden with staff and volunteers– eager to participate in a historic moment. A volunteer told me that she usually works in a different part of the garden but ‘I couldn’t miss being a part of this.” I look forward to sharing the plants I chose - both star performers and underrated gems - that I hope will create memorable moments while honoring the original design.

Sometimes, it takes an outside perspective to strike that perfect balance.

Want a complete plant list and my reasons for each plant? They’d all make fantastic front-of-the-house plants. I’ll do that in part two of this post, along with plenty more photos of each plant and a look at our ‘green mulch’ technique.