Description: Garvan Woodland Gardens is situated on a 210 acre forested peninsula jutting into Lake Hamilton. Originally part of a larger tract bought for its timber, much of the property was lost when the lake was built. Many years later Verna Cook Garvan, the heir to the property, visited and decided to build a private residence and garden on the peninsula. The house idea was abandoned but the garden idea grew and grew. Mrs. Garvan eventually decided to develop the garden for the public. She supplemented the area with native plants to develop its natural beauty. She added bridges and waterfalls and brought in some exotic plants.
Admission is $8 for Adults, $7 for Seniors, $4 for Children 6-12. For that admission price there are many gardens and trails to explore. For an additional $6 fee handicapped or energy deprived people (us) can take a golf cart tour of the gardens with a volunteer guide. Our guide was very friendly and well informed about the history, landscape architecture and buildings at the gardens. She warned us that she was not a botanist, but we could stop the golf cart and read labels on plants and trees. The gardens change seasonally. We were there in time to see the beautiful natural colors of the trees. We were at the tag end of the Fall flower displays. Most still looked terrific but some were fading. Crews of workers were throughout the gardens. Some were relocating bulbs; some pulling up plants, and some were decorating the trails with holiday lights. Our guide said the late Mrs. Garvan may not have approved of these electric decorations, but the crowds who come here sure do!
One unique feature to this garden was the miniature railroad. Garden railroads first became popular in Europe during the 1930s. We were told the trend reached America in the 1980s, but this is the first one we had seen. The layout features the two businesses that Verna Cook Garvan owned: a brick factory and a lumber mill. The miniature trains run on three loops over trestles and through tunnels. Unfortunately the trains don’t run every day due to lack of skilled volunteers.
On the property are special event centers such as a giant pavilion and wedding chapel. I didn’t have a need for them, but I sure enjoyed the great gift shop.
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