Maymont Park

= History Habitats Horticulture =

Maymont is a 100 acre (400,000 m²) Victorian estate located at 2201 Shields Lake Drive, Richmond, Virginia. It contains Maymont Mansion, a historic house museum, an arboretum, formal gardens, native wildlife exhibits, nature center, carriage collection, and petting zoo known as "The Maymont Children's Farm".

In 1893, Major James H. Dooley, a wealthy Richmond lawyer and philanthropist, and his wife, Sallie, completed their elaborate Gilded Age estate on a site high above the James River. According to their wishes, after their death, Maymont was left to the people of Richmond. Over the next 75 years, additional attractions were added.

The Dooley Noted Society is the young professional group that supports Maymont through cultivation of volunteer, social and fund raising activities.

The Gardens

The Japanese gardens located at Maymont are well tended and cared for and consist of a koi pond as well as a large waterfall coming down from the terrace. There is an extensive rose garden ending in a large waterfall located on a terrace below the manor. The roses are partially shaded by a wisteria covered pergola.

The arboretum dates from the early 20th century, and contains more than 200 species of trees and woody plants. It includes a number of "exotic champions" including a "Cedrus atlantica", "Cryptomeria japonica", "Parrotia persica", and "Tilia europea".

Maymont's gardens are popular for outdoor weddings focused around the Italian garden, the Japanese gardens, the waterfalls, or other numerous gazebos located throughout the grounds.

The Animals of Maymont

In addition to the farm animals that it keeps in the Children's Farm, Maymont is the permanent home of several animals that are native to the Commonwealth. Many of these have been severely injured and are otherwise unable to fend for themselves in the wild, while a few were given to the park after becoming nuisances in neighboring localities. These animals include several birds of prey including the bald eagle, bobcats, black bears and foxes. Visitors are also able to see white-tailed deer, elk, peacocks and American bison that have been adopted by the park and are featured in habitats around the park.

See also

* List of botanical gardens in the United States

External links

* [http://www.maymont.org/ The Maymont Foundation]
* [http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/travel/richmond/index.html/ Richmond, Virginia, a National Park Service Discover Our Shared Heritage Travel Itinerary]
*Imagery:
**Overhead Imagery on [http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=37.534794,-77.477624&spn=0.004764,0.011802&t=h&om=1 Google Maps]
**Overhead Imagery on [http://local.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&cp=37.539397~-77.488486&style=h&lvl=14&scene=3392132 Microsoft Live Local]
**Close-Up Overhead Imagery on [http://local.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&cp=q7p2yh8j964b&style=o&lvl=1&scene=3392711 Microsoft Live Local "Bird's Eye View"]