Wilderness Garden

South of the Palace stretching towards the Trent River is the Wilderness Garden, so named because it reflects a more natural “landscape” style that was popular in 18th-century England but rare in the American colonies in the 1770s.

Many plants in the Wilderness Garden were native to North America when explorers first came here. The fence at the south end of the garden traces the shoreline of the Trent River when the Palace was first built. These plantings are mixed with more ornamental additions added to more accurately mimic the contrived natural experience for which this garden is named.

This is one of the most popular gardens during the hot summer due to its shade and breeze, as well as many benches to watch the animals and blooms. This garden features many blooming trees, from redbuds and magnolias to buckeyes and pawpaws, the largest native edible fruit in North America!