Upper garden Art & Gardens: Upper Garden

The Upper Garden

In 1903, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Cummer built an English Tudor-style home on the spot where The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens now stands. In 1960, the home was demolished to create the present museum, but the gardens remain for visitors to enjoy.

As a young bride, Mrs. Cummer favored plants from her native Indiana, but as she grew more experienced she found plants that thrive in the Florida climate. To this end, Mr. Cummer gave his wife two pots of Agapanthus plants, also known as Lilies of the Nile, rare specimens at the time. Located in the Upper Garden, the plants have multiplied profusely and their spectacular blue blossoms carpet the garden in May. Other plants in the Upper Garden include mondo grass, camellias, dogwood trees, iron plant, and hydrangeas.