Harding & Flower Gardens at Belle Meade
Visit or volunteer at the gardens of Belle Meade Historic Site & Winery to get a feel for what it was like to live and garden on the Tennessee frontier during the 1800s. Learn about the varieties of heirloom vegetables, fruits, and flowers cultivated on the property in the 1840s and beyond, which are still maintained there today following organic practices used centuries ago. The property has a deep history and you could even dig up a relic from the past; some gardeners have even found stones that appeared to be grave markers.
There are two gardens, which are maintained by the Master Gardeners of Davidson County (MGofDC) in partnership with the Belle Meade staff:
Donate to the Harding & Flower Gardens at Belle Meade
The Harding Garden is located adjacent to the two-room cabin in which John Harding and his family lived beginning in 1807, before he began construction on the first “Belle Meade” house in 1819. This vegetable and herb garden contains many older varieties such as Cherokee Purple tomatoes, Bulls Blood turnips, Alabama Red okra, Mennonite sorghum Tennis Ball lettuce, and medicinal herbs. MGofDC has helped maintain the Harding Garden since 2010. While there are limited records available, they make every effort to plant and follow practices of the era.
| The Flower Garden is located at the back of property near the crypt. It was started as a cutting garden in 2016 to add to visitors’ experience and serve as a replica to flower gardens of the era, though one did not historically exist on the same site. The garden was designed to provide continual blooms throughout the growing season and includes heirloom flowers such as bachelor’s button, goldenrod, Tennessee coneflowers, and Tennessee asters. |
Visit the gardens for equal doses of enjoyment and education. A brochure explaining the history of the plants, their uses, and a short history of the site is available onsite to help educate visitors (which we should also make available as a download on the page - it is currently being updated by Miranda Fuller hello@mirandafuller.com who can provide the pdf once complete). Events for school children are also hosted in the fall to further contribute to our educational efforts.
Location and Hours
See the Belle Mead website to plan your visit
The Harding Garden is on the southeastern part of the property, by the “Harding Cabin.” After entering the property, take a left at the visitors center to the southern parking lot.
The Flower Garden is northwest of the visitor center. After entering the property, follow the road past the Fox Run Cafe and park directly adjacent to the garden.
Accessibility
There is a paved path near the Harding Garden and a pull over for drop off, but the interior garden is soil and not wheelchair accessible. There is a limited number of parking spaces adjacent to the flower garden and a short grass path leading to it.
Member and Intern Volunteering
Volunteer for a taste of pioneer living that will also contribute to visitor education.
Work days are every Wednesday in late March through October, at 8:30 am in summer and 9 am in spring or fall. They are listed on the MGofDC calendar.
Email Mariwyn Evans at hardinggarden@mgofdc.org for more information.
