In 2026, you’ll see an amazing change begin in the Formal Garden.
Designed in the early 20th century by landscape architect O.C. Simonds with the oversight of Brucemore matriarch Irene Douglas, the Formal Garden was a colorful and flourishing feature of the estate that was unfortunately decimated by the 2020 derecho storm. The garden will return to its historic intent this year and next as an oasis of flowers surrounded by tall hedges, a naturalistic fence, and a grape arbor sure to delight visitors, neighbors, and friends. The project will reflect:
- The design and implementation of the gardens as they existed from 1925 to 1935.
- The site as an attraction for tours, arts performances, and community events.
- The organization’s capacity for ongoing maintenance after the project is complete.
- The realities of climate change and its impact on the viability of specific plants.
- The identity of the garden as a living, evolving element of the estate.
We are particularly grateful to early investors in this project, including Rich and Candy Altorfer, the Cedar Rapids Garden Club, neighbors, and friends. Preservation projects across the site are supported by donations and grants to the Preservation Fund. Preservation work, as always, continues across the estate at Brucemore! Preservation of the buildings and landscape is vital to ensuring the estate remains vibrant and open for our generation and the next.
Learn how you can bring our expertise to your own gardens at home by watching Brucemore’s online series A Day in the Life of a Garden.
