Mynelle Gardens
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Mynelle Gardens began as a private garden created by Mynelle Westbrook Hayward in 1926. It was acquired by the City of Jackson, Mississippi in 1973 and is a botanical garden attraction open to the public.
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[edit] History
The 7 acre property was bought in 1921 by Hayward's father, William Westbrook, who built a house there for he and his wife in 1922. This house is called the Westbrook House and both the Westbrook family and Green family moved in this house in 1923. The Green family consisted of Westbrook's daughter Mynelle and her husband Joseph Green.
In 1928, the Greenbrook House was built on the propery for Hayward by her husband, Joseph Green.
In 1936, William Westbrook died and the Greens moved into Westbrook House. They converted the first floor of the Green House into the new location of the Greenbrook Flowers flower shop.
In 1942, Mynelle married Hal Hayword and moved to Evanston, Illinois. When Mynelle and Hal left Jackson, the gardens were virtually abandoned and remained so for a decade.
In 1952, Mynelle and Hayword returned to Jackson and started to reclaim the gardens. They restored the paths and lawns of the old gardens to their original beauty and planted thousands of azaleas, camellias, flowering trees and perennials. Mynelle expanded the original fish pond by creating a series of pools cascading into a large lagoon with an island. Distinct horticultural and aesthetic areas developed as the grounds were enhanced. A sunken garden, Japanese garden, gazebo with a view across the lake, and a wooden pavilion with a swing were added. Wooden bridges were built to link the island to the rest of the gardens. Mynelle collected exotic plants and unique garden fixtures from across the United States and around the world.
In 1953, Mynelle opened the gardens to the public and she continued to enhance them until she sold the property to the City of Jackson in 1973. The City of Jackson acquired the Westbrook property and took over the maintenance of the gardens and houses. Mynelle Gardens and Westbrook House were then made available for tours, meetings, social gatherings and receptions. The City purchased the adjacent property and renovated the existing service station as a visitors center, office and gift shop.
In 1993, Mynelle Gardens and Westbrook House were designated a Jackson Landmark.
[edit] Garden
Mynelle Gardens began as a private garden created by Mynelle Westbrook Hayward in 1926 to supply the Greenbrook Flowers flower shop, a business started by Hayward in an abandoned servant's house on the property.
Today it is a collage of several distinct gardens, including an English bog garden, a medical and herb garden, a rustic garden, an old-fashioned garden and a Japanese garden, all with winding pathways, cascading pools, and distinctive bridges which lead you across the pond to an island. It typifies the southern garden as there are a tremendous variety of azaleas, daylilies, annuals, and perennials in the midst of hundreds of camellias and magnolias. The gardens also contain many other plant species including a number of rare and ancient specimens, some dating from the seventeenth century.
The gardens and related buildings are maintained by the city with the help of community volunteers.
Mynelle Gardens is a wildlife sanctuary and a haven for songbirds.
The Westbrook and Greenbrook houses as well as the gardens are frequently used for weddings and wedding receptions.
[edit] Awards
Mynelle Gardens was named Best Garden or Park in Mississippi by Mississippi Magazine in the publication's "2005 Best of Mississippi" awards.[1]
