Gardens & Grounds
A Storied Landscape
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. Now, Reynolda Gardens of Wake Forest University serves as a 134-acre outdoor horticultural oasis open to the public year-round from dawn to dusk. Revive your senses as you connect with nature and immerse yourself in this peaceful landscape complete with lush, colorful gardens, scenic walking trails, and a waterfall.
Estate Design
Louis L. Miller and Horatio R. Buckenham, who were partners in the landscape engineering firm, Buckenham and Miller, created a landscape plan for the estate and designed several important features between 1911 and 1913. Beginning in 1915, Thomas W. Sears made changes to the Buckenham and Miller plans and designed additional plantings.
Gardens Events
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Oct 17, 2026, 10:00am — 12:00pm
Celebrate the season with a fall hayride and scavenger hunt through Reynolda’s Meadow! Families are invited to explore our outdoor Meadow Classroom through hands-on Pumpkin STEM activities and natur…
Oct 21, 2026, 10:00am — 11:00am
Join us in the Gardens to learn more about the natural world around us. Each session will engage a young naturalist in hands-on learning as we closely study a topic while enjoying the Gardens and Grou…
Nov 4, 2026, 10:00am — 11:00am
Join us in the Gardens to learn more about the natural world around us. Each session will engage a young naturalist in hands-on learning as we closely study a topic while enjoying the Gardens and Grou…
Nov 10, 2026, 12:30pm — 1:30pm
Experience a true Cinderella tale — the transformation of the poinsettia from a lanky shrub into one of the world’s most iconic plants. Its rise to fame weaves together an intriguing story of bota…
Nov 17, 2026, 12:30pm — 1:30pm
John Buettner and John Dole, both life-long gardeners, tend a one acre garden at their home on the south side of Raleigh, North Carolina. Their yard is an exploration in the typical and unusual variet…
Nov 18, 2026, 10:00am — 11:00am
Join us in the Gardens to learn more about the natural world around us. Each session will engage a young naturalist in hands-on learning as we closely study a topic while enjoying the Gardens and Grou…