Riverside Garden Restoration

The garden’s historic structure is now visible.  Guests may climb the mansion’s exterior side stairs to peek over the fence.  Even better views of the garden are available during tours of the mansion itself.  Guests may look through the windows to see the garden’s broad pathways and the four planting beds.  The garden is surrounded by what John Mason called a “high, paled fence.”  This 18th-century style design has tall vertical boards installed next to each other without gaps. Elegant gates mark the three entrances to the garden.

Within the planting beds, staff have planted the boxwood edging, as well as parts of the perennial borders and many historic varieties of vegetables.  Dozens of fruit trees are in the garden already or are ready to be planted soon.

All spring, summer, and fall, Gunston Hall’s horticulturist and her volunteer team grow vegetables and flowers that were familiar to George Mason, his family, and the enslaved workers who tended the garden.  

Visit our Learning from Home: Cooking and Drinking page to learn more about foods consumed by people at Gunston Hall.