Oaklawn Garden
Encyclopedia
Oaklawn Garden, also known as Oaklawn Gardens, is a botanical garden
, park
and museum
located at 7831 Old Poplar Pike in Germantown
, Tennessee
, USA
. A historic residential home, erected by the original landowner in 1854, is situated on the property.
Floral attractions on the 20 acres (8 ha) property consist of daffodils, azaleas and other native flowers. About 2 acre (0.809372 ha) of Oaklawn Garden are dedicated to the cultivation of more than 300 varieties of daffodils, an effort that was started in 1924. Boxwood
, oak
, birch
and other species of indigenous
trees and shrubs represent the woody plant
s in the botanical garden and park. Oaklawn Garden is also home to smaller species of native wildlife.
Historic items relevant to local cultural history, as well as railroad and local traffic
history are on display in the museum exhibit of Oaklawn Garden. The museum segment consists of an outdoor collection and an indoor exhibit. The outdoor collection was started around 1975 and is integrated into the botanical garden and park. The indoor exhibit was started circa 1987 and is housed in a former florist shop which was built at Oaklawn Garden in 1957.
In 2009, the botanical garden, park and museum are privately owned but open to the public.
The property owner, Harry Cloyes and his wife Becky, donated the property to city of Germantown to keep it as a public park, garden and history museum of Germantown.
For years when azaleas in full bloom, normally the first two weeks of April, the garden has become a local attraction to take family pictures including wedding pictures.
The Oaklawn Garden is free and open to the public, but donations are welcome.
, park
and museum
was purchased by Fritz Hussy and Mamie Cloyes and named Oaklawn Garden in 1918. Included in the purchase of the property was the 1854 residential home. The cultivation of daffodils was started by Mamie Cloyes in 1924.
A botanical garden, park and museum of historical items was established on the property by Harry Cloyes, son of Mamie Cloyes, and his wife Becky. The outdoor collection at Oaklawn Garden was started around 1975 with items donated by the City of Germantown, railroad companies as well as local schools, businesses and individuals. The indoor segment of the museum is situated in a separate building which was erected in 1957 as a florist shop to sell flowers grown at Oaklawn Garden. The building served its original purpose until circa 1987. Since then, the building was used to house the indoor part of the collection of historical items.
The botanical garden and park at Oaklawn Garden are home to a variety of flora
and smaller wildlife in a park-like setting. Prominent in the flora
of Oaklawn Garden are different varieties of native daffodils, azaleas and other native flowers. About 2 acre (0.809372 ha) of the property are dedicated to the cultivation of daffodils of which more than 300 varieties are present at Oaklawn Garden in 2009. The woody plants at the botanical garden and park are represented by boxwood
, oak
and birch
as well as other indigenous
shrubs and trees. Many trees are equipped with markers to identify the species. The fauna
of Oaklawn Garden includes different species of native birds and smaller wildlife, including squirrels.
Historical items from Germantown's past are on display in the outdoor museum collection. The items of the outdoor collection are numbered and can be identified in a self-guided tour with help of the museum brochure. Outdoor exhibits include a 1942 fire truck of the Germantown Fire Department and the first Germantown jail
, consisting of just one jail cell. A Southern Railway boxcar
built in 1889 or 1891, a Norfolk and Western Railway
1944 caboose
, historic pumps, farm equipment, traffic lights, traffic signs and historic street lights as well as displaced gravestones are also part of the outdoor display. The outdoor collection consists of nearly eighty items. The indoor exhibition is located in a building formerly used as a florist shop and showcases historical items with relevance to local history and local folk life.
In 2009, the botanical garden, park and museum at Oaklawn Garden are located on private property but open to the public. Limited parking is available and the admission to the botanical garden, park and museum is free. A museum brochure outlining the history of the property and interpreting the numbered exhibits of the outdoor and indoor collection in a self-guided tour is available at no charge.
Botanical garden
A botanical garden The terms botanic and botanical, and garden or gardens are used more-or-less interchangeably, although the word botanic is generally reserved for the earlier, more traditional gardens. is a well-tended area displaying a wide range of plants labelled with their botanical names...
, park
Park
A park is a protected area, in its natural or semi-natural state, or planted, and set aside for human recreation and enjoyment, or for the protection of wildlife or natural habitats. It may consist of rocks, soil, water, flora and fauna and grass areas. Many parks are legally protected by...
and museum
Museum
A museum is an institution that cares for a collection of artifacts and other objects of scientific, artistic, cultural, or historical importance and makes them available for public viewing through exhibits that may be permanent or temporary. Most large museums are located in major cities...
located at 7831 Old Poplar Pike in Germantown
Germantown, Tennessee
Germantown is a city in Shelby County, Tennessee. The population was 38,844 at the 2010 census.Germantown is a suburb of Memphis, bordering it to the east. Germantown's economy is dominated by the retail and commercial service sectors; there is no heavy industry in Germantown...
, Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. A historic residential home, erected by the original landowner in 1854, is situated on the property.
Floral attractions on the 20 acres (8 ha) property consist of daffodils, azaleas and other native flowers. About 2 acre (0.809372 ha) of Oaklawn Garden are dedicated to the cultivation of more than 300 varieties of daffodils, an effort that was started in 1924. Boxwood
Buxus
Buxus is a genus of about 70 species in the family Buxaceae. Common names include box or boxwood ....
, oak
Oak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...
, birch
Birch
Birch is a tree or shrub of the genus Betula , in the family Betulaceae, closely related to the beech/oak family, Fagaceae. The Betula genus contains 30–60 known taxa...
and other species of indigenous
Indigenous (ecology)
In biogeography, a species is defined as native to a given region or ecosystem if its presence in that region is the result of only natural processes, with no human intervention. Every natural organism has its own natural range of distribution in which it is regarded as native...
trees and shrubs represent the woody plant
Woody plant
A woody plant is a plant that uses wood as its structural tissue. These are typically perennial plants whose stems and larger roots are reinforced with wood produced adjacent to the vascular tissues. The main stem, larger branches, and roots of these plants are usually covered by a layer of...
s in the botanical garden and park. Oaklawn Garden is also home to smaller species of native wildlife.
Historic items relevant to local cultural history, as well as railroad and local traffic
Traffic
Traffic on roads may consist of pedestrians, ridden or herded animals, vehicles, streetcars and other conveyances, either singly or together, while using the public way for purposes of travel...
history are on display in the museum exhibit of Oaklawn Garden. The museum segment consists of an outdoor collection and an indoor exhibit. The outdoor collection was started around 1975 and is integrated into the botanical garden and park. The indoor exhibit was started circa 1987 and is housed in a former florist shop which was built at Oaklawn Garden in 1957.
In 2009, the botanical garden, park and museum are privately owned but open to the public.
The property owner, Harry Cloyes and his wife Becky, donated the property to city of Germantown to keep it as a public park, garden and history museum of Germantown.
For years when azaleas in full bloom, normally the first two weeks of April, the garden has become a local attraction to take family pictures including wedding pictures.
The Oaklawn Garden is free and open to the public, but donations are welcome.
History
The residential homestead situated on the property was built by William Carter in 1854. The original property consisted of 493 acres (199.5 ha) of land which was owned by Carter and was subdivided in 1872. A 20 acres (8 ha) parcel that would later become home of the botanical gardenBotanical garden
A botanical garden The terms botanic and botanical, and garden or gardens are used more-or-less interchangeably, although the word botanic is generally reserved for the earlier, more traditional gardens. is a well-tended area displaying a wide range of plants labelled with their botanical names...
, park
Park
A park is a protected area, in its natural or semi-natural state, or planted, and set aside for human recreation and enjoyment, or for the protection of wildlife or natural habitats. It may consist of rocks, soil, water, flora and fauna and grass areas. Many parks are legally protected by...
and museum
Museum
A museum is an institution that cares for a collection of artifacts and other objects of scientific, artistic, cultural, or historical importance and makes them available for public viewing through exhibits that may be permanent or temporary. Most large museums are located in major cities...
was purchased by Fritz Hussy and Mamie Cloyes and named Oaklawn Garden in 1918. Included in the purchase of the property was the 1854 residential home. The cultivation of daffodils was started by Mamie Cloyes in 1924.
A botanical garden, park and museum of historical items was established on the property by Harry Cloyes, son of Mamie Cloyes, and his wife Becky. The outdoor collection at Oaklawn Garden was started around 1975 with items donated by the City of Germantown, railroad companies as well as local schools, businesses and individuals. The indoor segment of the museum is situated in a separate building which was erected in 1957 as a florist shop to sell flowers grown at Oaklawn Garden. The building served its original purpose until circa 1987. Since then, the building was used to house the indoor part of the collection of historical items.
Park and museum
Flora
Flora is the plant life occurring in a particular region or time, generally the naturally occurring or indigenous—native plant life. The corresponding term for animals is fauna.-Etymology:...
and smaller wildlife in a park-like setting. Prominent in the flora
Flora
Flora is the plant life occurring in a particular region or time, generally the naturally occurring or indigenous—native plant life. The corresponding term for animals is fauna.-Etymology:...
of Oaklawn Garden are different varieties of native daffodils, azaleas and other native flowers. About 2 acre (0.809372 ha) of the property are dedicated to the cultivation of daffodils of which more than 300 varieties are present at Oaklawn Garden in 2009. The woody plants at the botanical garden and park are represented by boxwood
Buxus
Buxus is a genus of about 70 species in the family Buxaceae. Common names include box or boxwood ....
, oak
Oak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...
and birch
Birch
Birch is a tree or shrub of the genus Betula , in the family Betulaceae, closely related to the beech/oak family, Fagaceae. The Betula genus contains 30–60 known taxa...
as well as other indigenous
Indigenous (ecology)
In biogeography, a species is defined as native to a given region or ecosystem if its presence in that region is the result of only natural processes, with no human intervention. Every natural organism has its own natural range of distribution in which it is regarded as native...
shrubs and trees. Many trees are equipped with markers to identify the species. The fauna
Fauna
Fauna or faunæ is all of the animal life of any particular region or time. The corresponding term for plants is flora.Zoologists and paleontologists use fauna to refer to a typical collection of animals found in a specific time or place, e.g. the "Sonoran Desert fauna" or the "Burgess shale fauna"...
of Oaklawn Garden includes different species of native birds and smaller wildlife, including squirrels.
Historical items from Germantown's past are on display in the outdoor museum collection. The items of the outdoor collection are numbered and can be identified in a self-guided tour with help of the museum brochure. Outdoor exhibits include a 1942 fire truck of the Germantown Fire Department and the first Germantown jail
Jail
A jail is a short-term detention facility in the United States and Canada.Jail may also refer to:In entertainment:*Jail , a 1966 Malayalam movie*Jail , a 2009 Bollywood movie...
, consisting of just one jail cell. A Southern Railway boxcar
Boxcar
A boxcar is a railroad car that is enclosed and generally used to carry general freight. The boxcar, while not the simplest freight car design, is probably the most versatile, since it can carry most loads...
built in 1889 or 1891, a Norfolk and Western Railway
Norfolk and Western Railway
The Norfolk and Western Railway , a US class I railroad, was formed by more than 200 railroad mergers between 1838 and 1982. It had headquarters in Roanoke, Virginia for most of its 150 year existence....
1944 caboose
Caboose
A caboose is a manned North American rail transport vehicle coupled at the end of a freight train. Although cabooses were once used on nearly every freight train, their use has declined and they are seldom seen on trains, except on locals and smaller railroads.-Function:The caboose provided the...
, historic pumps, farm equipment, traffic lights, traffic signs and historic street lights as well as displaced gravestones are also part of the outdoor display. The outdoor collection consists of nearly eighty items. The indoor exhibition is located in a building formerly used as a florist shop and showcases historical items with relevance to local history and local folk life.
In 2009, the botanical garden, park and museum at Oaklawn Garden are located on private property but open to the public. Limited parking is available and the admission to the botanical garden, park and museum is free. A museum brochure outlining the history of the property and interpreting the numbered exhibits of the outdoor and indoor collection in a self-guided tour is available at no charge.
See also
- List of botanical gardens in Tennessee
- List of museums in Tennessee