Gardens

The Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site grounds feature an array of garden areas for visitors to enjoy. Our gardens have been beautifully restored and are masterfully cared for by nine volunteer gardeners (most of whom are Master Gardeners) who manicure and beautify the presidential estate on a weekly basis throughout the spring, summer and fall. They hail from local gardening associations, including: Garfield Park Master Gardeners, Arbutus Garden Club, Irvington Garden Club, Indianapolis Garden Club, Broad Ripple Garden Club, Hillcrest Garden Club, and Northside Master Gardeners. Our gardens thrive in the warmer months and provide a visual oasis for visitors and passers-by. In many of our gardens, there is seasonal interest and historic relevance: the Freedom Garden is a completely transformed area—featuring small trees, shrubs and perennials—along a new brick walkway to the new restroom facility on the museum grounds; the Presidential Lilac Garden boasts lilac plants that were cultivated in the late 1800s, when Benjamin Harrison was U.S. President.

Many of our 25,000 annual visitors stroll the grounds while awaiting their museum tour, especially in the warmer months when the gardens are in full bloom. We encourage you to do the same! A map of the gardens will guide you through the following garden areas: Elizabeth Harrison Rose Garden; "Shades" of the Past Hosta Garden; Freedom Garden; Day Lilies on Delaware Garden; Victorian Vintage Garden; Caroline Scott Harrison Herb Garden; Arbutus Garden; Centennial Perennial Garden; Hoosier Harvest Vegetable Garden; Presidential Lilac Garden; and others!

The Majestic Harrison Oak The Harrison Oak has been designated as a historic tree by the America the Beautiful Fund.  It was also designated as the Millennium Landmark Tree in Indiana. Vine & Branch, Inc. has graciously and dutifully trimmed and maintained the Harrison Oak tree for many years so it can continue to welcome guests to the beautiful Harrison Site.

 

Elizabeth Harrison Rose Garden The Elizabeth Harrison Rose Garden located on the north side of the home offers brick pathways to walk through the period rose collection.

 

Freedom Garden  The Freedom Garden is located on the northwest edge of the property and is anchored by serviceberry trees, boxwood shrubs and knockout roses.

 

Victorian Vintage Garden A new grape arbor was constructed to support the original Concord Grapes that were planted on the property by the Harrison family when they resided here.

 

Caroline Scott Harrison Herb Garden The herb garden contains a variety of herbs identified by labels that tell the use of herbs in the Victorian Era.

 

Arbutus Garden This garden plot, established and cared for by members of the Arbutus Garden Club, is especially beautiful in the spring with a show of tulips and Carlesii Viburnum.

 

Hoosier Harvest Vegetable Garden Growing in the vegetable garden each season are vegetables that are picked from the garden and put on the table. In President Harrison's time, the garden would have been much larger and the produce preserved by canning.

 

Presidential Lilac Garden This garden can be found on the southern-most border of the property, approximately 150 feet from the house, and features plants of pink, lavender, burgundy, blue and rose colors.

 

Grefsheim Spirea These wonderful plants, appreciated by garden enthusiasts all over, cheerfully greet you around the front porch of the house.

 

University of Michigan Historic Peonies We are proud to serve as a satellite location for a Univ. of Michigan historic peony preservation project of harvesting heritage 1800s peony rhizomes.  They are now labeled and blooming for all to enjoy!

 

Historic Urns The stately urns at the entrance of the museum are changed three times a year for seasonal interest.

 

Hollyhocks Tall hollyhocks stand stately on the property. This biennial plant flowers from mid-summer to late autumn.

 

Vintage Peonies Vintage peonies form a lovely background to a limestone sculpture that was commissioned and won grand prize at the 1893 Columbian Exposition.

 

Herb Garden A lonely foxglove stands erect in the herb garden. Digitalis provided by this plant acts as a cardiac tonic.

 

Irises This planting of pale blue iris serves to connect the home with other gardens.

A colorful thank you to the following community members, gardeners, gardening groups and foundations for supporting gardening initiatives at the Site.

• Arbutus Garden Club
• Broad Ripple Garden Club
• Dataflow Systems
• Helen Dickinson
• Dolly Dold
• Rosalie Fletcher
• Garfield Park Master Gardeners
• Janice Hannon
• Ken and Georgia Hottell
• Indianapolis Garden Club
• Jamia Jacobsen
• Marion County Master Gardener Association
• Janice Michael*
• Dick and Elizabeth Miller
• Nancy Morse
• The Principal Financial Group, in conjunction with National Garden Clubs, Inc.
• Merle Ritter
• Elizabeth and David Stevens
• Steve Thomas
• Vine & Branch, Inc.
• Estate of Anne K. Williams
• John W. Wynne Family Foundation

*deceased