Secluded behind quiet tree-lined streets just outside Columbus, Ohio, is the Governor’s home. It is there that visitors are able to stroll the grounds, get a sense of Ohio’s physical geography and record native plant ideas to use at home. Gardeners can take a tour around Ohio in one backyard walk at the Heritage Gardens.
Physiographic Regions of Ohio
Each garden area incorporates native plantings, soils and stone depicting the five physiographic regions in Ohio. The first region in the Heritage Gardens is seen adjacent to the front doors of the Jacobean revival residence.
The Allegheny garden contains the small devil’s walking stick trees flowering in late summer, a sharp contrast to the massive aged pin oaks and silvery blue-green needles of a white fir. Before reaching the backyard, the designated state wildflower, the spring flowering Trillium, appears. The white flowers light up the dark woodland garden; ferns, plantain lilies, bloodroot and trout lilies contrast against a collection of native stone, one from each county in Ohio. A bench from Putman County is positioned at the garden gate, a symbolic welcome from its citizens.
The family patio and water garden includes a collection of native dogwood trees, some with yellow fruit, and summer blooming flowers. The tiered pond is a peaceful water garden home to Jackie, one of many rescued map turtles; if visitors are lucky they will catch a peek of her swimming among the water lilies. The arbor-covered walkway is bathed in green foliage and colorful flowers from Kentucky Wisteria and native Clematis. Exotic plants have been replaced with native evergreen bamboo separating visitors from the seating area.
The yellow sands and glacial stone of west central Ohio, along the Great Lakes, influenced the Lake Erie sand dune garden. The sand dune garden has growing sedge meadows, prickly pear, cranberry wood lilies, beach grasses and annual sea rocket. The early spring blooming winged sumac and wild blue lupine is native to northwest Ohio. It is in this garden where the rare and federally protected Lakeside daisy is seen.
The Appalachian garden represents one of the most biologically diverse areas in the state, the base of the southern Appalachian foothills. In the wild big leaf and umbrella Magnolia trees are only found wild in Jackson and Scioto Counties. They have creamy white blooms, flowering April through the middle of May. Another threatened plant, frequently called hearts-bursting-open-with-love in the Appalachians, finds a protected haven in the state residence. Keeping company is a two-ton Peebles dolomite limestone boulder from Adams County.
Nearby a brick wall blanketed with the southern Ohio, native passionflower is a cranberry bog reclaiming a section of the gardens. Reminiscent of the kettle lakes and Cedarburg Bog in northeastern Ohio, pitcher plants bloom in late May and spring flowering lady slipper orchids live.
The prairie garden is planted in raised beds but takes its influences from the lowland tills plants and interior low plateaus, also called the Bluegrass Region. Like average backyard gardens, it is a work-in-progress. The demonstration depicts how native plants can co-exist with other ornamental plants like the collection of hybrid tea roses donated to the Heritage Gardens.
Backyard Demonstration Gardens
A vineyard, orchard vegetable garden and greenhouses are demonstration gardens found in the backyard of the Heritage Gardens. Notable among the kitchen garden is an apple tree said to be a descendant of John Chapman fame.
In keeping with the mission of the Heritage Gardens to integrate design ideas able to be replicated in the average backyard, a miniature model of a green roof and solar panel are part of the display on environmental sustainability and water preservation techniques.
Relocating Endangered Ohio Plants
Master gardener organizations and garden clubs have been instrumental in relocating rare and endangered plants. Threaten with destruction, the native plants are safely removed and transplanted to the gardens.
Landscape design consultant, Dewy Hollister stated, “The Heritage Gardens were designed to educate visitors, we also want to maintain a record of native plants on the property for future generations.”
Ohio Governor Residence and Garden Tour
Reservations for visiting the Governor Residence are required. The docent-led tours of the interior residence and backyard gardens are held on Tuesdays. Arrangements must be made two weeks in advance by calling 614-644-7644. Individual, as well as, large groups are welcome.
Visitors should come prepared with garden journal and camera to record interesting ideas. Located in Bexley, edged by Alum Creek, it is an historic neighboring suburb of Columbus, Ohio, and just east of Franklin Park Conservatory. The native plantings at the Heritage Gardens are a valuable historical resource.
Permission received for all photos used in this article.
Chris Eirschele - Chris writes on plants grown and gardens explored; she is a member of the Garden Writers Association.
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