Stillwater’s sunken garden is a hidden gem in need of repair, garden club members say

One of downtown Stillwater's hidden gems is a small city-owned garden and fountain on Second Street, across from the Lowell Inn. It's called the Henry Clay Farmer Sunken Garden and Fountain, and it's a popular site for wedding and prom photos.

Members of the Trillium Chapter of the Perennial Garden Club of Stillwater operate and maintain the garden, which was designed and built in the early 1930s, but club members say it needs some TLC. The fountain hasn't been turned on, the pond's water feature isn't working, and some of the stone stairs leading down to the garden are crumbling, members say.

On Monday evening, the Trillium Chapter of the Perennial Garden Club is holding a garden party – which is open to all – to raise awareness and interest in the garden. They’ve invited city officials to attend and hope that they’ll soon sign off on restoration plans for the garden.

"So many people have a stake in this garden – adjoining businesses, community members who use the garden for prom and wedding photos, people who stop by for a peaceful resting place," said Becci Dawson Cox, the coordinator of the garden gathering. "We are hoping people will gather, familiarize themselves with the site, enjoy some refreshments and exchange ideas for the garden's planned renovation."

Shawn Sanders, director of public works, said Wednesday that city crews will be working on turning on the fountain and repairing the pond's water feature. He also said city officials are looking at applying for a grant to help cover the cost of the stonework.

"It's a little pocket park in the downtown that not many people know about," Sanders said. "It's an asset to our city, and we’re aware that it needs some work. We’re looking forward to working with the Trillium Group to get the restoration completed."

Club members visit the park at least once a week to work in the garden. On Wednesday, Dawson Cox swept maple seedlings from the garden while fellow club member Chris Nelson planted annuals in pots at the bottom of the stairs.

"It's a mixture of annuals, including Picasso purple petunia, bandana pink lantana, orchid geranium and blue Victoria salvia and a trailer," Nelson said, as she dug in the soil. "This is sweet-potato vine."

The garden, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, was built at the site of a natural spring, according to National Park Service records.

"There is a rusticated limestone drinking fountain at the sidewalk level around 12 feet wide and 4 feet 10 inches tall with a bronze plaque stating 1937 — dedicated by the Board of Water Commissioners of the City of Stillwater in memory of Henry Clay Farmer, 1858-1914," records say. "The sunken rock garden is symmetrical in arrangement and has two curved stone stairways leading down below street grade."

The limestone rock used for the drinking fountain came from buildings in Stillwater that were torn down in the 1930s, Dawson Cox said. The fossil rocks in the garden came from Red Wing.

The garden party will be 5:30 to 6:45 p.m. Monday at the Sunken Garden. RSVPs are requested.

Club members also are holding a plant sale from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday at 601 W. Olive St. Proceeds go toward maintenance and beautification of the Sunken Garden and for scholarships for environmental studies, horticulture and ecology students.

For more information and to RSVP to the garden party, contact Dawson Cox at [email protected].

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