Sarah Davis Heirloom Garden

These are images from the David Davis Mansion web site. The black and white images are from the 1800s and the color photo is how the mansion looks today.

Although the mansion alone is worth the trip, to tour and be a part of their many special events, it's the garden I'll focus on today.

A little history: David Davis was a friend and political colleague of Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln appointed Davis as U.S. Supreme Court Justice in 1862.

Davis built the Italianate and Second Empire mid-Victorian home in 1869 for his wife, Sarah, who did not want to move to Washington. It was designed to bring genteel culture to the western frontier.

Sarah's garden is the feature of this story. Not because it's unusual for women to have gardens during this time, but because some of the original plants survive today. To those plants, the volunteers and Foundation added another seventy of the original 120.

The volunteers have committed to preserving the existing heirloom plants while establishing what is now known as Sarah's Garden. Some of these heirloom plants are over 130 years old.

The Foundation hosts the "Glorious Garden Festival and Garden Walk" every 3rd weekend in June. (check the exact dates as time gets closer) This allows a guided tour of Sarah's Garden plus many other private Bloomington-Normal gardens. Tickets may be purchased at the David Davis Mansion visitor booth.

The 36 room mansion is located at 1000 E. Monroe Drive, Bloomington, on 4.1 acres. Also on the property is the mentioned Sarah's Garden, an 1856 barn/stable, 1868 carriage house/barn, 1872 foaling shed, 1890 garage, and two privies.

The home is open for tours on the half hour (lasting 45 minutes) every Wednesday through Sunday, 9:30 am to 4 pm, except State holidays. Groups of ten or more should call 309-828-1084 for tour information. There are quite a few guidelines and rules about touring the property - it is a National treasure to be preserved.

Photographs may be taken of the garden for private use but a contract is needed for professional use photographs. There are no photos permitted inside the mansion.

One of the interesting comments made about Sarah and her gardening techniques was she brought seeds from her native Massachusetts, and obtained others from friends, dug in the wild and bought some of them. Gardeners in the 1800's were not so different from those of us today who wish to make our yards both beautiful and productive.

Add this site http://www.daviddavismanion.org/ to your favorites and schedule a tour this summer. I've been there and it's a Midwest gem and only a short drive away - even in the western frontier town of Bloomington.