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Amstel House Gardens Dutch
House
Gardens Colonial Revival Garden In the mid-20th century, when the New Castle Historical Society acquired the Dutch house and grounds, plans were made to make a Colonial Revival garden. A distinctive smoke house was built in 1939, a gift from the Colonial Dames of Delaware - the first step to addressing the interpretation of the garden space. A knot garden (parterres) and pear orchard were the first plantings. In 1952 the Homsey architects designed a country-formal space with walkways, fences, notable plants, herb pots and a perennial bed. Today,
the Colonial Revival garden boasts a mature Magnolia grandiflora, Bull
Boy, a Homestead elm, 17th century
York and Lancaster roses, and a bed
of yellow and red perennials and annuals. Dutch Kitchen Garden In
2011 a unique Dutch-inspired Kitchen Garden was installed in the
Colonial Revival knot garden. The research of culinary author Peter
Rose, author of The Sensible Cook,
inspired our designer to create a kitchen garden appropriate to the
era and space that had been defined by the original Homsey design.
The new garden is woven into the knot garden, just inside of
the garden gate. Nearby
are two raised beds that exhibit root vegetables, colorful herbs and
surprise plants. For more information about the Kitchen Garden, visit our designer's Dutch House Kitchen Garden Blog. Arasapha Native Plant Garden Wonder
at the year-round beauty of this self-contained oasis of North
American native plants, mostly from the Mid-Atlantic region, in a colonial
space. The Arasapha
Native Plant Garden is a reflection of our evolving passion for
knowledge and our awareness of the importance of our gardening
methods impact on the health of our planet. Share
in the exploration of our historical relationships with the
remarkable collection of trees, shrubs, perennials and ground covers
sited in diverse micro-climates. For a detailed look at this garden
visit our designer's Find inspiration for an infusion of native plants in your garden! Enjoying The Gardens The Gardens at the Amstel House and the Dutch House are open daily, from sunrise to sunset, to enjoy at your leisure. Benches are available in each garden and the public is invited to pick a favorite spot to read or perhaps enjoy a restful lunch. There are no trash receptacles to spoil the views so please take any trash with you when you leave. Tours Individual Tours Brief tours are included with regular admission to the Amstel House and Dutch Houses, but guests are encouraged to spend more time in the gardens on their own after visiting the houses. Printed materials will be available in each of the gardens to assist you. Group Tours Guided group tours are available of all three gardens. Guided tours of the gardens may be combined with guided tours of the houses for a complete and memorable experience. You may choose one of the following options:
To make reservations for garden and house tours please contact the New Castle Historical Society at 302-322-2794.
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An
outing to New Castle is a gardener’s delight, with its historic
Green, host of private and public gardens, and Battery Park along
the Delaware River. Among these public gardens are the grounds of
New Castle Historical Society’s historic sites.
