The gardens at Tryon Palace in New Bern, North Carolina, are a remarkable blend of colonial history and mid-20th-century landscape design, crafted by landscape architect Morley Jeffers Williams. Covering over 16 acres, these restored gardens were designed in the 1950s and embody the formal “colonial revival” style inspired by 18th-century British gardens.
Williams, an archaeologist and landscape architect, drew on his experience from historic sites like Mount Vernon and Monticello, along with his academic roles at Harvard and North Carolina State Universities. Collaborating with his architect wife, Nathalia Uhlman, he created elegant parterres, vibrant flowerbeds, and serene pathways with limited archaeological evidence of the originals.
Highlights include the Latham and Carraway gardens, featuring clipped hedges and seasonal blooms, along with the Kitchen Garden packed with heirloom vegetables and the tranquil Wilderness Garden with native plants. Williams’ designs prioritize visual appeal while inviting visitors to explore a lush, historically inspired landscape that reflects the grandeur of the period. Each corner of the gardens tells a story of colonial craftsmanship and natural beauty, offering a peaceful retreat for reflection and immersion in history.
The images below are clickable, allowing you to view more pictures and a YouTube video of each garden. We also have a quick list view available in a table format if that is more your style. Happy adventuring!
Table of Contents
Carraway Garden
🌸 Named in honor of Gertrude Carraway, the first director of the Tryon Palace Restoration.
🌼 Located behind the Waystation, featuring a formal parterre design.
🌳 Dwarf yaupon hollies serve as hedge borders.
🌱 Enhanced by a mix of modern and historic plants for vibrant seasonal displays, refreshed three times a year.
🌷 Neatly clipped hedges and patterned pathways create a serene ambiance.
Commission House Garden
🌿 Late Victorian-style garden reminiscent of 19th-century Southern homes.
🌼 Features “old-fashioned” plants like magnolias, camellias, azaleas, and gardenias.
✨ Plants were exotic imports from the late 1800s.
🌳 Lush perennial and shrub beds showcase the aesthetic of the period.
🎉 Serves as a picturesque backdrop for events.
🏛️ Located across the street from the Tryon Palace main entrance.
Dot Tyler Garden
🌿 It honors Mrs. James “Dot” Tyler, a dedicated member of the Tryon Palace Garden Committee.
🏡 The garden is situated in the 19th-century side yard of the Jones House.
🌸 It features a design inspired by mid-19th-century gardens in New Bern, combining modern and historical elements.
🌻 The garden showcases vibrant flower beds and plants reflecting Southern gardening traditions.
💍 It serves as a popular venue for intimate ceremonies and receptions.
♻️ The design promotes sustainable, pollinator-friendly practices while capturing the historical essence of the region.
🍃 It creates a serene and inviting atmosphere with distant views of Tryon Palace.
Green Garden
🏛️ It represents 18th-century landscape design.
🎨 The garden features geometric parterres, gravel pathways, and vibrant seasonal plantings.
✨ It reflects a formal English colonial style.
🌼 The garden was redesigned into a knot garden in 2018.
♻️ This design creates the illusion of an endless cycle.
📸 It serves as both a living museum and a tranquil oasis.
🌱 The garden showcases the horticultural artistry and elegance of the era.
Hawks Allée
🌳 The Hawks Allée at Tryon Palace is named after architect John Hawks, who designed the original Palace.
🌸 This beautiful garden was established in 1961, after the Latham Garden was completed and the Palace was reconstructed in 1959.
📏 The Allée is located at the endpoint of an axis that extends from the west door of the Stable Office through the Latham Garden.
🎭 The area features four marble statues representing the seasons and a terra cotta statue donated by Mr. and Mrs. Henry Francis DuPont, descendants of John Hawks.
❌ During our visit in 2025, we noticed that the terra cotta statue (except for its feet) was missing.
🌼 Since 2017, the garden has turned into a vibrant pollinator prairie, blooming for ten months with perennials like purple coneflower, milkweed, and black-eyed Susans.
🐝 This transformation has created a welcoming space for both wildlife and visitors.
Kellenberger Garden
🌿 The Kellenberger Garden at Tryon Palace in New Bern, North Carolina, is a charming walled “privy garden” that reflects the colonial era.
🌺 It honors the contributions of May Gordon Latham Kellenberger and her husband, John, to the Palace’s restoration.
🌱 Designed by landscape architect Morley Jeffers Williams in the 1950s, the garden showcases the Colonial Revival style.
🎨 The garden features a harmonious mix of heirloom and modern plants, including marigolds and celosia, arranged to create a vibrant, stained-glass color effect.
🌸 Renovated in 2019, the garden focuses on year-round blooms, particularly highlighting Mrs. Kellenberger’s favorite pink flowers while maintaining historical authenticity and visual appeal.
Kitchen Garden
🌿 The Kitchen Garden is a recreated 18th-century garden that reflects the colonial era’s blend of practicality and elegance.
🌱 Covering about one acre, it features raised beds, gravel paths, and a symmetrical layout inspired by English and French gardening traditions.
🥦 The garden grows a variety of heirloom vegetables, herbs, and fruits, including cabbage, carrots, thyme, and espalier fruit trees.
🍽️ These plants were historically used to supply the kitchen of the Governor’s Palace during Royal Governor William Tryon’s time in the 1770s.
📚 The garden is maintained using period-appropriate techniques and serves as a historical exhibit and educational resource, highlighting colonial horticulture and sustainable practices for visitors year-round.
Latham Garden
🌳 The Latham Garden showcases the elegance of 18th-century English gardens.
🌺 It is named after Maude Moore Latham, who contributed significantly to the palace’s restoration in the 1950s.
🌿 The garden covers two acres and features meticulously manicured parterres and vibrant seasonal blooms.
⛲ A central fountain serves as the focal point of the garden, adding to its charm.
🧱 Enclosed by brick walls and lush hedges, it offers a tranquil retreat that blends formal design with natural beauty.
🕰️ The garden provides visitors with a glimpse into the grandeur of the palace’s colonial era.
Pleached Allée
🌳 The Pleached Allée is a stunning feature of the palace’s 16-acre gardens.
🌿 Designed by landscape architect Morley Jeffers Williams in the 1950s, it reflects a colonial revival style inspired by 18th-century British gardens.
🌱 The pathway is lined with yaupon holly (Ilex vomitoria) and showcases the art of pleaching, where branches create a tunnel-like canopy.
🌊 Extending from the Green Garden toward the Trent River, the Allée offers a shaded and tranquil experience for visitors.
🌸 Its arching branches and seasonal beauty make it a favorite spot for leisurely strolls and bridal photography, enhancing Tryon Palace’s historic charm.
South Lawn
🌳 The South Lawn boasts breathtaking views of the palace’s architecture alongside the tranquil Trent River.
🎉 This spacious lawn is often used for public events, historical reenactments, and seasonal festivals, making it a welcoming area for visitors.
🌼 Surrounded by beautiful gardens and lined with native trees, the South Lawn serves as an elegant entrance to the historic 18th-century governor’s mansion.
🏛️ Its open design showcases colonial landscaping, enhancing the experience of visiting this iconic heritage site.
Stanly House Garden
🌳 The Stanly House Garden features a formal “Town Garden” design that reflects 18th-century aesthetics.
🏛️ Established in 1967, the garden complements the historic Georgian architecture of the Stanly House, which was relocated in 1966.
🌿 The garden showcases brick walkways bordered by boxwood hedges, a distinctive element of Georgian design that enhances the house’s appearance.
🏡 It includes two reproduction summer houses inspired by an 1862 drawing, providing shaded retreats for visitors.
💧 The garden is adorned with heirloom camellias, a fountain surrounded by water lilies, and a variety of wetland plants.
☀️ Despite the hot and humid summers of the region, the boxwood hedges thrive, contributing to the garden’s elegant layout.
Stoney Garden
🌿 The Stoney Garden is located on Pollock Street near the Carraway Garden at Tryon Palace.
🌼 It offers a delightful look into 19th-century horticulture in New Bern.
🏡 Established in the late 1990s, the garden honors Mary Kistler Stoney, a founding member of the Tryon Palace Commission.
💰 The garden was funded by her family, highlighting their commitment to preserving local history.
🌹 It features old-fashioned perennials and antique roses, reflecting varieties from Lavinia Cole Roberts’ 19th-century garden inventory.
☀️ In 2020, surrounding hollies were cut back to increase sunlight and improve perennial diversity.
🌸 These efforts ensure the garden remains vibrant and beautiful for future generations.
Wilderness Garden
🌿 The Wilderness Garden contrasts beautifully with the formal gardens, showcasing the area’s natural beauty.
🌼 This garden covers part of the 16 acres of designed gardens, featuring native plants and trees, such as wildflowers and shrubs.
🦋 Designed to mirror the region’s untamed flora, it provides a diverse habitat for local wildlife and pollinators.
🌳 Maintained in the Colonial Revival style by landscape architect Morley Jeffers Williams in the 1950s, it offers a tranquil retreat.
🌍 The Wilderness Garden invites visitors to explore North Carolina’s natural heritage while blending historical authenticity with ecological richness.