Thomas Jefferson Gardens and Welcome Center should be the first stop when visiting the area.

Greene County’s “Front Door”,

as

The Heritage Garden can be found surrounding the Thomas Jefferson statue. This garden features plants that have been around for generations and have been generously donated by Greene County residents.

Heritage Garden

The west garden of perennials includes beautiful red roses, lilies and many other varieties that provide wonderful, vibrant color to the gardens. We encourage our visitors to take time to stop and smell the roses!! That’s what you do in a garden!!

West Gardens

The raised beds of heirloom vegetables and flowers would have been a favorite of Jefferson. He did his own testing with seedlings just because he was curious! Hundreds of pounds of produce from this garden are given to the Greene county food pantry annually.

Vegetable Garden

Thomas Jefferson loved children so a children’s garden was important to include. Plants appealing to children such as lamb’s ear, sensitive plant, pig squeak and hen and chickens and a ginko tree can be found in this garden. 

Children's Garden

The Farmers' garden includes heritage seeds and crops that are genetically linked to Jefferson's era (1800’s). It also includes plants that would have been planted by farmers in Greene County, Iowa in 1917 or earlier. The plants seem different than what we have now as they were not hybrid varieties and weren’t grown with the benefit of modern chemical fertilizer and pest control.  

Farmers' Garden

Thomas Jefferson asked Lewis and Clark to record not only geography but also the soil, animals and vegetation as they traveled. Because of this we have an idea of what the “prairie” looked like in their time. We have tried to represent what they would have seen. Over 40 varieties and 700 individual plants were planted in this area.  

Prairie Gardens

at the Gardens

must-see Features

Click around on the map to see what else you can find at the gardens!

Found at the Gardens

Other Treasures

As an educational and cultural site, the Gardens honor Jefferson’s role in the Louisiana Purchase which expanded the United States and his support and encouragement of the Lewis and Clark expedition through the Midwest.

Louisiana Purchase Map

In 2011 artist, Jon Hair, was commissioned to create a statue of the third President of the United States to be placed in Jefferson, Iowa. The gardens were developed as a home for this creative piece of art. 

More information on Jon Hair can be found at www.jonhair.com.

Thomas Jefferson Sculpture

Thomas Jefferson was fascinated by clocks. At Jefferson’s home at Monticello, he had a clock on the first floor that ran to the basement using weights and pulleys. Our 14-foot clock, visible from the Lincoln Highway, was a gift to the gardens.  

Clock

Thomas Jefferson was the primary author of the Declaration of Independence. The quotes displayed in the garden represent those most dear to the gardens’ benefactor, Wallace Teagarden.

Quotes from Declaration of Independence

The Thomas Jefferson Gardens of Greene County flies a replica of the flag that was used when Jefferson was president from 1801-1809. It features 15 stripes and 15 stars representing each state of the union during Jefferson’s presidency.

Flag

The moldboard plow was built by a local artisan; a true period master cabinet maker. Blueprints for the plow were developed in the 1700’s by Thomas Jefferson. The plow incorporates walnut wood from Monticello, Jefferson's home plantation.  

Plow

As a representation of Jefferson’s love for education and the value he placed on reading, a free lending library replicating Monticello was designed by a local artisan. We welcome additions to the library from the community; especially children’s books. 

Little Free Library

Jefferson was a musician and wanted his children to play instruments. The gardens feature outdoor musical instruments that visitors of all ages are encouraged to play and enjoy. These instruments complement the sounds of the Mahanay Memorial Carillon found in the city’s iconic bell tower.

Musical Instruments

The Pavilion is designed in the Federalist architecture style of Monticello, Jefferson's home in Virginia. The Pavilion and the Arbor may be used for small weddings, concerts and other celebrations.  

Pavilion

Thomas Jefferson was interested in grape production and experimented with different varieties. The grapevines, located near the raised vegetable beds, provide a lovely functional backdrop for the gardens.

Grapevine

The arbor was built by another local artisan creating a shady place to rest and enjoy the gardens. Covered with clematis, the structure is built from reclaimed barn boards from around the county.

Arbor

Unique Goebel porcelain statues are on display in the Welcome Center. A limited edition collection, the statues represent important milestones in the early development of the United States including Paul Revere’s ride, the signing of the Declaration of Independence, ploughing the prairie and the development of the west and others.  

Collection of Historic Porcelain Statuary

Living Waters

Unique Goebel porcelain statues are on display in the Welcome Center. A limited edition collection, the statues represent important milestones in the early development of the United States including Paul Revere’s ride, the signing of the Declaration of Independence, ploughing the prairie and the development of the west and others.  

Collection of Historic Porcelain Statuary

The arbor was built by another local artisan creating a shady place to rest and enjoy the gardens. Covered with clematis, the structure is built from reclaimed barn boards from around the county.

Arbor

Thomas Jefferson was interested in grape production and experimented with different varieties. The grapevines, located near the raised vegetable beds, provide a lovely functional backdrop for the gardens.

Grapevine

The Pavilion is designed in the Federalist architecture style of Monticello, Jefferson's home in Virginia. The Pavilion and the Arbor may be used for small weddings, concerts and other celebrations.  

Pavilion

Jefferson was a musician and wanted his children to play instruments. The gardens feature outdoor musical instruments that visitors of all ages are encouraged to play and enjoy. These instruments complement the sounds of the Mahanay Memorial Carillon found in the city’s iconic bell tower.

Musical Instruments

As a representation of Jefferson’s love for education and the value he placed on reading, a free lending library replicating Monticello was designed by a local artisan. We welcome additions to the library from the community; especially children’s books. 

Little Free Library

The moldboard plow was built by a local artisan; a true period master cabinet maker. Blueprints for the plow were developed in the 1700’s by Thomas Jefferson. The plow incorporates walnut wood from Monticello, Jefferson's home plantation.  

Plow

The Thomas Jefferson Gardens of Greene County flies a replica of the flag that was used when Jefferson was president from 1801-1809. It features 15 stripes and 15 stars representing each state of the union during Jefferson’s presidency.

Flag

Thomas Jefferson was the primary author of the Declaration of Independence. The quotes displayed in the garden represent those most dear to the gardens’ benefactor, Wallace Teagarden.

Quotes from Declaration of Independence

Thomas Jefferson was fascinated by clocks. At Jefferson’s home at Monticello, he had a clock on the first floor that ran to the basement using weights and pulleys. Our 14-foot clock, visible from the Lincoln Highway, was a gift to the gardens.  

Clock

As an educational and cultural site, the Gardens honor Jefferson’s role in the Louisiana Purchase which expanded the United States and his support and encouragement of the Lewis and Clark expedition through the Midwest.

Louisiana Purchase Map

In 2011 artist, Jon Hair, was commissioned to create a statue of the third President of the United States to be placed in Jefferson, Iowa. The gardens were developed as a home for this creative piece of art. 

More information on Jon Hair can be found at www.jonhair.com.

Thomas Jefferson Sculpture

Learn how Thomas Jefferson and Lewis & Clark connect to the mission behind the gardens.

History of the gardens

of the gardens
History