ELIZA HAYWOOD'S GARDEN

Treasurer John Haywood built Haywood Hall to please his wife, Elizabeth Eagles Asaph Willliams Haywood, and to encourage her to remain in the capital city, of which she was initially none too fond. Eliza, an enthusiastic gardener who especially loved roses, hydrangeas, and bulbs of all kinds, found great joy in the gardens of Haywood Hall.

One of the first trees planted by the Haywoods is the large Brazilian Magnolia in the side yard. Records vary as to whether this was a seed or seedling gift to the Haywoods. In either case, it flourished and its limbs swept the ground until the 1960s when it was trimmed.

Eliza exchanged plants and seedlings with her many friends and relatives. Native holly and azaleas found in swamps around Wilmington, North Carolina, were brought to Raleigh specifically for her garden.

She established a box hedge across the front yard. Eliza planted a Kentucky coffee bean tree, which she loved - near where the present American Legion Building is located. That tree was destroyed in the 1980s but it was later replaced by one that is now to the right of the steps as one approaches the house from the street.

Eliza’s garden was resplendent with color from Baby’s Breath, Candytuft, Butterfly Weed, Coreopsis, Jerusalem Artichoke, Lemon Lily, Lavender, Orris Root, Peonies, Sweet Violets, Sweet William, Yarrow (pink and pearl,) Siberian Iris, Day Lilies, Feverfew, Hops Vine, Sweet Peas, Morning Glories, Foxglove, Aster, Hollyhocks, Phlox, Daisies, Bachelor Buttons, Ragged Robin, and Camellias. It was meandered by yellow Jasmine and pink Columbine, adding to the profusion of blossoms and color.

Following the wisdom of the times, Eliza’s garden was a potager fleuris – for among her flowers, she planted a large herb garden and a kitchen garden. Mrs. Haywood was known far and wide for her culinary expertise, complementing Treasurer Haywood who was known for his constant political soirees when they served many delicacies from Eliza’s gardens. In one extant letter to her mother, Eliza remarks after three weeks of entertaining “Mr. Haywood has gone out to dinner, I can undress and go to bed!”

Eliza planted Crepe Myrtle, both lavender and pink, throughout the property. There were many oaks and maples. She planted hicknut trees, a variety of pecan which bear a sweet nut. There were trees and vines with figs, scuppernong grapes, damson plums, apples and peaches. Jellies and preserves Eliza made from the fruits of her garden delighted Haywood friends and relatives.

Eliza and her daughters, Betsey John and Frances Ann, started a boarding school in Haywood Hall in 1830, which the daughters continued until the 1880s. Although the girls were more concerned with maintaining the property than beautifying the garden, the herbs remained – mints, rosemary, parsley, onion, and varieties of garlic – and were used in cooking.

During the girls’ tenure of residence, Dr. Dick Haywood (son of Sherwood, John’s brother) increased the gardens’ biodiversity by bringing ivy from Kenilworth Castle, upon his return from medical studies in Edinburgh University.

Eliza also had a gazebo built where she enjoyed her gardens and played with her children. When Lucy Ann Williams Haywood and Dr. E. Burke Haywood lived here with their children (1850-1920) Lucy had another gazebo built where the original, which succumbed to age, stood. In the 1890s, she had the family graveyard with nine graves removed to Oakwood Cemetery.

Once again, a Haywood lady took interest in Eliza’s gardens. Soon many floral plantings spread color across the grounds, and the Lady Banks Roses climbed the trellises gracing the entry to Haywood Hall. These roses were originally rooted by Eliza and one was replaced through the years as it aged.

Ernest and Edgar, two other sons of Lucy and E. Burke, Ernest and Edgar, lived here throughout their lives. Ernest encouraged and preserved his mother’s interest – placing the sundial in the front yard, where it remains today – and decorating the house with flowers from the garden, which he had lovingly attended by servants. Their youngest son, Burke, worked his own small vegetable garden in the yard behind the barn – specializing in carrots.

THE GARDENS TODAY

When Ernest died in 1947, he left the property to his great nephew, who did not care to move to Raleigh. Thus, Mary Haywood Fowle Stearns, great granddaughter of John Haywood, purchased it. In 1947 she returned to Raleigh with her husband - moving into Haywood Hall and restoring the house and grounds. Mary and her husband Walter enclosed the west side of the porch, creating a kitchen within the house, and converted the old smokehouse kitchen into a laundry.

Mary added two buckeye trees to the front yard. Although one succumbed to a systemic disease, the other on the left as one approaches the house from the street, is thriving. When Mary lived here, she kept a basket of buckeyes, giving one to every visitor, for a buckeye in the pocket brings good luck!

Mary Stearns had many cutting areas in the garden, along the brick paths and paths of stone. She planted Sweet Betseys, Acuba, and many Chrysanthemums, Zinnias, Marigolds, and Castor Bean plants. Her gardens were beautiful. She was so dedicated to them, it was not unusual to see her working in them at five o'clock in the morning!

In her last nine years, Mary was an invalid. The bank overseeing her property during this period cut back much of the garden. Through the years, pine trees grew in various parts of the yard. By the late 1900s, pine trees were considered a country tree and were removed.

Upon her death, Mary left the property to the National Society of Colonial Dames of America, in the State of North Carolina. In 1977, the gardens were a disaster. Bamboo was overtaking the eastern side of the property, chocolate vines were growing in the trees, and Honeysuckle was choking Eliza’s ancient Crèpe Myrtle.

For a few years, the Dames just cut the grass and weeds. Then in 1983, the HANDS (Home and Neighborhood Development Services) group of the Raleigh Garden Club sponsored reconstruction of Eliza’s Secret Garden. Club members combed the archives of the Southern Historical Collection for information about Haywood Hall gardens, which they shared with landscape architect M. C. Newsom III, designer of the project. The late Vallie Lewis Henderson and her associates worked five years on the restoration before turning it over to the Colonial Dames.

The garden clubs rebuilt and added fences; they erected the third gazebo in the site of Eliza’s original one. While they attempted to move the sundial, which had become too shaded, it was not possible. Its base reaches more than five feet under the ground. Therefore, it remains where Ernest Haywood placed it for his mother, Lucy.

The gardens were restored with easy maintenance in mind, for it is through rental of the house for social events the Dames are able to finance operation of Haywood Hall as a museum.
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A blossom from the
Brazilian Magnolia Tree
planted by
Eliza Haywood early
in the 19th Century


The gardens of
Haywood Hall
are open to the public
all year round.
(click here for a larger image)



A winter's view
of the front and side yard,
from the 2nd floor
front porch
of Haywood Hall
(click here for a larger image)


The heirloom rose
"Lady Banks"
covers the front porch
in late Spring
(click here for a larger image)

The front walk planted
planted for Spring and
Summer
(click here for a larger image)


Eliza Haywood would
have recognized this
newer version of the gazebo
that she had built in the
19th century
(click here for a larger image)