THE ART OF LIVING
The Historic Gardens of the Mid-Atlantic
From Virginia Hunt Country to Maryland’s Eastern Shore, these historic gardens are among the Mid-Atlantic’s most important.
The Historic Gardens of the Mid-Atlantic
From the rolling hills of Virginia Hunt Country to the sprawling waterfront estates of Maryland’s Eastern Shore, the Mid-Atlantic is home to some of the world’s most beautiful homes.
Yet, when one thinks of home, it’s common to think of the built environment — the exterior of the home, the kitchen, and the primary living spaces.
But for those who relish in the ideals of home, it’s easy to forget the splendor of outdoor landscapes and gardens.
In this curated collection of the most historic gardens in the Mid-Atlantic, we hope you will find inspiration in what the great outdoors has to offer.
Ready to create the garden of your dreams? Browse a curated collection of the best landscape architects and landscape designers in the Mid-Atlantic.
Mount Sharon of Orange, Virginia. Image courtesy of Bright MLS.
ORANGE, VIRGINIA
Mount Sharon
Located on over 500 acres, the Mount Sharon estate is among the finest private gardens in the Mid-Atlantic. Anchored by a handsome Georgian home, the historic gardens were originally created in 1937 by renowned architect Louis Bancel LaFarge and have been recently re-imagined by acclaimed Virginia landscape architect Charles J. Stick that accentuate the bucolic vistas and stunning mountain views of the nearby Blue Ridge Mountains.
Cloverfields of Queenstown, Maryland. Image courtesy of Jennifer Hughes.
QUEENSTOWN, MARYLAND
Cloverfields
A rare example of early 18th-century architecture, Cloverfields was built along the Wye River on Maryland’s Eastern Shore for wealthy planter and merchant Philomont Hemsley. Built with over 300,000 handmade bricks, over 30 glazed windows, and magnificent terraced gardens, Cloverfields shines under new light thanks to a meticulous renovation by Kimmel Studio Architects, Lynbrook of Annapolis, and the Cloverfields Preservation Foundation.
The Merrywood Estate of McLean, Virginia. Image courtesy of Gordon Beall.
MCLEAN, VIRGINIA
The Merrywood Estate
Regarded as one of the finest private estates in the Mid-Atlantic, The Merrywood Estate has served as home to several of America’s most influential political and business leaders, including Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. Gracing the banks of the Potomac River in McLean, Virginia, Merrywood was built in 1919 in the Georgian style and features formal gardens designed by celebrated landscape architect Beatrix Ferrand.
Oak Spring Farm of Upperville, Virginia. Image courtesy of Roger Foley.
UPPERVILLE, VIRGINIA
Oak Spring Farm
Among the most important in the United States, the gardens at Oak Spring Farm in Upperville, Virginia stand in a class all their own. The former estate of noted garden designer and philanthropist Rachel Lambert “Bunny” Mellon and business magnate Paul Mellon, the gardens at Oak Spring Farm represent a lifelong pursuit of excellence in the field of garden design. Today, under the careful supervision of the Oak Spring Garden Foundation, the gardens at Oak Spring Farm serve as a destination for those interested in land conservation, garden design, and the unique history of one of America’s most treasured families.
Monticello in Charlottesville, Virginia. Image courtesy of Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello.
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA
Monticello
The home of Thomas Jefferson, Monticello is among the world’s most notable private residences. Located in Charlottesville, Virginia. Monticello was the first house in America to be built with a dome, and took 40 years to construct in large part due to its location at the top of a mountain rather than near a navigable river. The kitchen gardens of Monticello included over 250 varieties of vegetables and herbs, with the dependencies creating an L-shaped frame around the primary residence.
THE RAPPAHANNOCK RIVER COMPANY
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