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Gardens of Colonial Williamsburg
Colonial
Williamsburg is known for its cool green spaces, tidy flower gardens,
fenced pastures, trimmed boxwoods, and big shade trees. It was not
always so, as a 1777 account of the view from the cupola of the
College of William and Mary indicates that both the York River and
the James River were visible from that vantage point, because the
view was unobstructed by trees.
Historians and horticulturists have combined historically accurate native plants with exotics that tolerate the hot humid summers to create gardens and green spaces that keep visitors coming back again and again to photograph and enjoy. Garden clubs make regular excursions to see the gardens and participate in Colonial Williamsburg gardening programs. At Christmas, plant materials are used to make some of the most beautiful and anticipated decorations in the country.
Whether you are interested in planning your own colonial garden, researching native plants, participating in an educational gardening program, visiting the colonial nursery, or taking a garden walking tour, you are sure to enjoy the gardens of Colonial Williamsburg.
Garden Blog
Follow Colonial Williamsburg's gardens as they bud, flower and set fruit. The new Garden Blog features updates from the gardeners, resources for the home grower, and vibrant images of what's blooming each month. Launch.
Flower Screensaver
Flowers grown in Colonial Williamsburg gardens make this vivid new screensaver. Available for PC and MAC. Learn more.
Learn more
- "A Williamsburg Perspective on Colonial Gardens," excerpted from The Gardens of Colonial Williamsburg, written by M. Kent Brinkley and Gordon W. Chappell.
- Relative Flowering Dates in the Gardens of Colonial Williamsburg
- Bibliography
- Book: “Flowers and Herbs of Early America”
- Book: “From a Colonial Garden”
- Book: “The Gardens of Colonial Williamsburg”
- Book: “Williamsburg’s Glorious Gardens”
- View more Colonial Williamsburg publications.





