Wake Wonders: Inside Reynolda Gardens

Take a closer look at Reynolda Gardens with five things you need to know about this blooming campus treasure. Spring is in full swing, bringing sunshine, flowers and plenty of reasons to get outside. Discover why this local favorite stands out as one of Winston-Salem’s best outdoor destinations. Located next door to the Reynolda Campus, the gardens are part of the expansive Historic Reynolda estate and are filled with beautiful blooms, a cozy greenhouse, a tranquil waterfall, and so much more.

Below are five surprising facts you might not know – but should – about Reynolda Gardens. 

#1 – 134 acres of outdoor space

When many people think about Reynolda Gardens, they think about the four acres next to the newly restored Brown Family Conservatory, where you’ll find the rose garden and cherry blossoms. However, beyond the formal gardens, Reynolda Gardens covers 16 acres of meadows, 2 miles of walking trails, woodlands, and wetlands. Furthermore, the Gardens staff maintains over 134 acres of outdoor spaces throughout Historic Reynolda. This outdoor horticultural oasis is open to the public year-round from dawn to dusk.

#2 – Over a century of history preserved 

Like much of the Historic Reynolda Estate, Reynolds family matriarch Katharine Reynolds was at the core of bringing the gardens to life. “More than a century old, Reynolda’s Gardens and grounds were part of the original 1917 footprint for the Reynolda estate, which included a 16-acre, man-made lake, golf course, formal gardens, greenhouses, and woods. Although the landscape has changed over the years, many of its original structures and plans remain intact,” says Jon Roethling, director of Reynolda Gardens. Fun fact: two of the landscape architects involved in the planning were protégées of Frederick Law Olmsted, the landscape architect of Central Park in New York and the Biltmore in North Carolina

#3 – A tranquil oasis 

The Brown Family Conservatory, restored in fall 2024, offers the perfect escape from a rainy spring day or the bustle of campus. It’s like stepping into a relaxing indoor oasis and being transported to a peaceful getaway. Not only is it warm & cozy and filled with gorgeous plants, but there is seating to enjoy the view or even read a good book. The original estate’s Lord & Burnham Greenhouse was completed in 1913. Not only did it serve as a warm place to grow vegetables and fruits year-round, but a spot to present large seasonal displays to the community, including a free annual chrysanthemum show. 

#4 – One-of-a-kind immersive outdoor classroom

Nature provides more than something beautiful to look at, but tools for learning and inspiration for creating. The team at Historic Reynolda wants to remind Wake Forest University staff, faculty, and students, “This is your Reynolda. We encourage you to not only visit and explore at your own pace, we invite you to work with the team here to identify the many ways to use Reynolda as a site for research. Several departments, including Biology, Sustainability, History, Art, and English, bring classes for offsite learning in the Conservatory, throughout the gardens and grounds, and into the museum’s galleries. There are still many areas to explore and discover something new, and our team of curators, gardeners and educators–who work throughout Reynolda House and Reynolda Gardens–are all available to assist.”

#5 – Over 1,000 plant classifications represented

While there is no exact count of how plants reside at Reynolda Gardens, there are well over 1,000 different plant taxa (classifications) represented in Reynolda Gardens. Throughout spring, you’ll find a variety of blooms. As you walk through the Formal Gardens space, you’ll be able to enjoy everything from perennials, tulips, and roses to magnolias, dogwood and redbuds. The spring flowers are typically best viewed from now through mid-May. Be sure to check out Reynolda Gardens’ ‘What’s Blooming’ webpage for more information and updates. 

Up Next: In Part 4 of our Wake Wonders series, we will showcase WakerSpace. Stay tuned for more information.