The 129 acres known as Reynolda Gardens were part of the 1067-acre estate developed by Richard Joshua Reynolds and Katharine Smith Reynolds in the early twentieth century. 125 acres of woodlands, fields, wetlands, and a four-acre formal garden with greenhouse range have been preserved. Today Reynolda Gardens is a center for learning and quiet recreation within the city of Winston-Salem, N.C.

"... in recognition that with the increasing turbulent pace of our civilization and with the vibrant growth of the metropolitan area of the City of Winston-Salem, there is an evergrowing need in Forsyth County for land areas to be set aside, preserved, and enhanced in the beauty of their natural state, which land areas can become a refuge for relaxation and contemplation and a haven for reflective outdoor leisure...."

Deed of Gift transferring Reynolda Gardens
to Wake Forest College, 1961

History of Reynolda Estate

The design of Reynolda was multifaceted, incorporating income-producing farms, homes for employees, and numerous businesses as well as recreational grounds within a carefully designed landscape plan. 125 acres that remain of the estate now comprise the Greater Gardens. Many of the estate buildings and other structures (or remains of structures) are located near the nature trails.

Reynolda Farms
Between 1906 and 1923 Mrs. Reynolds purchased 1,067 acres of farmland. By 1917, the year the family home was finished, over 350 acres were under cultivation on Reynolda Farms. While she created and expanded her farms, Mrs. Reynolds educated herself on the latest advances in agriculture, and she hired employees educated in the agricultural sciences to operate them. She intended for the farms to be income-producing and educational. The farms produced and sold a wide variety of crops and products — vegetables, dairy and meat products, fruits, grains, and poultry. Pastureland was rented out to area farmers. The farms provided a showcase for modern agricultural and domestic science techniques. Classes and demonstrations were presented at the modern dairy barn.

Mr. Reynolds died in 1918. Mrs. Reynolds married J. Edward Johnston in 1921. After Mrs. Johnston's death in 1924, Reynolda Farms remained in operation, but income gradually declined and other activities were discontinued. Most of the property was sold or donated to individuals and organizations, including a gift of 300 acres to Wake Forest College in the late 1940s for its new home in Winston-Salem.

Water Supplies
Water from eighteen springs located on the property and Silas Creek running through it was sufficient to meet the needs of the Village, farms, and Lake Katharine for Reynolda's first decade. By 1918, when the formal gardens and other ornamental plantings were installed, irrigation needs had increased, and an extensive system of pumps, pipes, and fixtures was built. Architectural remains of this system, located near the nature trail, are two covered pump houses and the caps of the walls of the swimming pool, which was also known as the irrigation pool. A pump house and cistern are located at the corner of Coliseum Drive and Reynolda Road.

Recreation
Extensive recreational facilities included the lake with a boathouse, the swimming pool, golf links, two tennis courts, an athletic field, and polo grounds. The fence and shelter for one of the tennis courts and sandy areas that were once part of the golf links that were located in the open field are remnants of these facilities.

Reynolda Village
The Village, with approximately sixty structures, consolidated homes for employees, two churches, farm buildings, businesses, a post office, a school, and offices at the heart of the estate. Most of the buildings were designed by Charles Barton Keen, the architect for the Reynolds' family home, or designed under his supervision. The restored buildings of Reynolda Village today house shops, restaurants, and offices.

The Formal Gardens

"...for the operation and maintenance of a botanical garden having an aesthetic and educational value..."

Deed of Gift, 1958

History of the Formal Gardens

Thomas Sears, a Harvard-educated landscape architect with offices in Philadelphia, drew the plans for the four-acre formal garden under the direction of Mrs. Reynolds. The garden, situated between the family home and Reynolda Road, was designed to be enjoyed by the public as well as by its owners. Following the deaths of Mr. Reynolds in 1918 and Mrs. Reynolds Johnston in 1924, trustees supervised estate operations. In 1931 they asked Mr. Sears to return to Reynolda to draw plans for reducing the numbers of plantings in the garden. In the mid-1930s Mary Reynolds Babcock, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds, and her husband Charles became the owners of Reynolda. The Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation donated the greenhouses, formal gardens, and 125 acres of woodlands and fields to Wake Forest College in a series of deeds of gift dated 1958, 1961, and 1962 to establish Reynolda Gardens of Wake Forest College.

The Greenhouse and Conservatory
The 1913 Lord and Burnham greenhouse and conservatory was designed to serve the needs of the family and Reynolda Farms, as well as to provide income through the commercial enterprise, Reynolda Florist, which was an active business for over fifty years. Today the buildings contain an educational display of tropical and succulent plants, featuring an extensive orchid collection. The growing houses support the requirements of the formal gardens and plant sales. One wing of the greenhouse has been converted to a classroom.

The Greenhouse Gardens
1917, 1920, 1931
Almost two acres in size, the Greenhouse Gardens were an expression of modern ideals for large privately owned formal gardens. Wide grass lawns, border plantings combining shrubs and perennials, theme gardens, specimen trees, and boxwood hedges comprised the plant life. Tea-houses, fountains, and pergolas in the "Italian" style complemented other architecture of the estate. Plantings were designed to provide interest throughout the seasons.

Restoration of the Greenhouse Gardens
A restoration of the Greenhouse Gardens was completed in 1999. During the five-year project the walls, walks, fountains, tea-houses, and pergolas were rehabilitated, restored, or reconstructed. New plantings adapted from Mr. Sears' designs completed the re-creation of the appearance of the original garden. Wake Forest University and The Jaeger Company, landscape architects, have received awards and recognition for the excellence of the restoration project from the American Society of Landscape Architects and the National Park Service.

The Fruit, Cut Flower, and Nicer Vegetable Garden
1921
This two-acre section, separated from the Greenhouse Gardens by five tea-houses, a pergola, and boxwood hedges, was designed for growing useful ornamental plants. Crushed stone paths and grass borders separated individual plots. Post and rail fences supported vines, climbing roses, and espalier fruit trees. Today this area showcases modern plant varieties and horticultural techniques within the design and horticultural guidelines of the 1921 garden. Harvested vegetables are used by volunteers and donated to local food charities.

The Play House was designed by Charles Barton Keen for the Reynolds children in 1920. It is not open to the public.

Historical Photos