Sherry Nedens

Gardens

Nearly four acres of gardens for exploration and relaxation

When Nathan and Jessie Kimberly Paine began planning their new home in the mid-1920’s, they envisioned not just a house, but an elaborate setting in the style of an English country estate. Once the family’s cow pasture, the vacant Algoma Boulevard property had several majestic oak trees that Nathan admired. As he envisioned a house carved out of the woods, he oversaw the additional planting of five hundred trees – mostly evergreens – that triple-ringed the property to create a secluded glade.

When the estate opened to the public in 1948, it was called the Paine Art Center and Arboretum. However, over time the original landscape design waned as aging, diseased, and damaged trees needed to be removed. The grounds evolved into a series of interconnected gardens reminiscent of English country estates, with botanical and sculptural focal points leading to various areas, plants in unexpected places, and surprising combinations. While the original landscape has evolved, Nathan and Jessie’s pride in their English heritage continues to be reflected in the estate.

A large planter bursts with plants while tiered gardens in the background are in full bloom.

Phil Weston

The Ceremony Garden features an oval shape with a pergola and changing florals in spring and summer.

Eric Reischl

The sun shines over the back façade of the mansion and Great Lawn in springtime.

Eric Reischl

The façade of the mansion overlooking the White Garden has magnolia trees with white blooms in spring.

Eric Reischl

The Rose Garden features a central reflecting pool surrounded by a variety of perennials.

Eric Reischl

Children play with mushroom-shaped marimbas amid greenery and tress in the Children’s Garden.

Mirrorless Productions

An aerial view of the Contemporary Garden in early August, featuring grasses, anemones, and perennials.

Phil Weston

The Formal Garden fountain overlooking displays of orange, purple, and yellow flowers.

Jim Koepnick

Plants in the Herb Garden next to the Carriage House begin to grow in early spring.

Eric Reischl

North Courtyard Garden

Just north of the mansion, the North Courtyard Garden welcomes visitors to the estate. It features a humongous planter with changing botanical displays and surrounds the area with tiered garden beds filled with familiar flowers, perennials, grasses, and shrubs. Benches invite one to rest while enjoying views of the mansion, architecture, and gardens in all directions.

Ceremony Garden

On the estate’s northern side, this oval garden designed especially for weddings features an outer border with an array of plants and perennials. The inner border changes each year to showcase spring flowers and plants, then summer annuals for the remainder of the garden season. The pergola with Tuscan columns is a romantic backdrop for marriage ceremonies.

Great Lawn

Behind the mansion, the Great Lawn offers a breathtaking view of the mansion’s architecture. Not simply a yard, it includes borders with a wide variety of trees and shrubs accented by spring bulbs, perennials, and ground covers. A stone walkway creates a dramatic path to and from the mansion. The Great Lawn is a wonderful spot for reading, playing music, or simply enjoying a beautiful day.

White Garden

The White Garden is a traditional Victorian style, monochromatic garden located between the mansion and Great Lawn. It features white, gray, and silver foliage, which helps to keep the garden bright into the evening. This design style is often called a “moon garden” because it catches the moonlight. The magnolia trees welcome one to wander, and the largest ginkgo tree on the estate towers above the loggia, where visitors are welcome to the patio tables for reading, picnicking, and enjoying company.

Rose Garden

The Paines were especially fond of roses, which have long been used in English heraldry, and gave them prominence in their plans. Located east of the Great Lawn, the Rose Garden is complemented by a variety of perennials and a central reflecting pool. A “hallway” of Arborvitae hedges surrounds the “room” of roses, and the façade of the Courtyard Garage provides an impressive backdrop. Benches offer an invitation to stop and enjoy the aromatic roses for a while.

Children’s Garden

The Children’s Garden on the south side of the estate offers a space for families to explore nature and play in a botanical setting, with a circular stage, picnic tables, a cabin, and musical mushroom-shaped marimbas. “Roman Head” by Wisconsin artist Leo Smith is visible from various vantage points.

Contemporary Garden

The Contemporary Garden highlights plants with brilliant blue, yellow, and white colors along with grasses and masses of plants with texture. A meandering pathway winds through the grasses and perennials, as well as the sculpture “Bloom” by artist Kim Cridler. Adirondack chairs offer a relaxing spot among the sights and sounds. This garden is located east of the Ceremony Garden and next to the Formal Garden.

The Formal Garden

Constructed in 2017 on the easternmost side of the estate, the Formal Garden presents a spectacular tulip display in the spring, a major annual display in the summer, and a frost-hardy display in the fall. The design is inspired by the romance of English country estates while complementing the character of the historic property. As the only sunken garden, it offers a serene setting that taps into the senses. The symmetrical garden features fountains, sculptures, stone architectural elements, pergolas, and a variety of planting beds. It was designed by award-winning, internationally recognized landscape architect Doug Hoerr of Chicago.

Herb Garden

Immediately west of the Carriage House, the Herb Garden near the gates is designed as a peasant-style garden with a variety of edible, medicinal, and culinary plants on display. The sensory garden features perennial and annual herbs as well as vegetables.

Support the Paine

The Paine is a nonprofit organization that relies upon the generosity of people and organizations for support. When you make a donation to the Paine, you can designate your gift to support caring for the gardens and annual plantings, as well as to honor a special person, occasion, or entity.

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