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The Myers House Garden

Thanks to the generosity of the Garden Club of Virginia, the Junior Garden Club of Virginia Beach, the Norfolk Garden Club, and the Harborfront Garden Club, Phase One of the Moses Myers House Garden has been completed. The classic sundial donated by the Garden Club of Norfolk in the 1960s now sits on axis with the Long Dining Room in a grassy rectangle edged in boxwood. A large terraced oval of grass will be used for outdoor programs, while a small gardener's shed, designed to complement the architecture of the main house, will be used to accommodate various storage needs.

This initial phase, begun in the spring of 2001, dealt solely with the renovation of the Garden west of the Myers House. Working from digitized and enlarged photographs of the exterior of the House from 1871, landscape architect William D. Reiley of Reiley and Associates in Charlottesville, Virginia researched the physical features of the area as well. There is now a new fence with pickets painted dark green, matching color found on the outside shutters.

Newly planted trees and shrubs not only enhance the Garden's appearance, but provide an interesting historical context. Sweetbay Magnolia, Buckeye, Wild Ginger, Quince, Dogwood, Carolina Silverbell, Hydrangea, American Holly, and Sourwood all had practical uses in early America. While the leaves of the plants were often used for cooking and medicinal purposes, the wood of Buckeye and the American Holly was crafted into tools and frames for portraits.

Phase Two of the restoration, set to begin in will focus on the older section of the Garden. This section, south of the Myers House, is decidedly less formal and is likely to have been used as a small herb garden. Currently various herbs, such as rosemary, lavender, southernwood, and lambs ear are found here. Museum Gardener Rachel Higgins will plant a garden patch that will yield seasonal vegetables such basil, tomatoes, beets, eggplants, okras, squash, and various greens.

There are also plans for an "Heirloom Harvest," during which the vegetables would be available for sale to Historic House visitors, and the planting of Old Orinoco Tobacco and ornamental cotton-products that would have been traded by Mr. Myers in his commercial dealings. Stay tuned to this wonderful saga of the Myers Garden as the project continues to evolve.

For More Information or Images Please Contact the Chrysler at (757) 664-6200 or museum@chrysler.org

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