Garden Project
Gardens are more than beautiful spaces—they contribute to personal well-being, environmental health, and community connection. Studies have shown that gardening can provide significant physical and mental health benefits. Combining light exercise with time spent outdoors, gardening has been linked to reduced stress, improved self-esteem, healthier heart rate and blood pressure, protection against cognitive decline, and even increased longevity.
At Ruscombe, our gardens serve as living classrooms, wildlife habitats, and places for reflection and learning. Through a variety of gardening projects, we are cultivating spaces that support both people and the natural world.
Medicinal Teaching Garden
Along the sunny southern side of the Mansion, Ruscombe is expanding its Medicinal Teaching Garden. This garden showcases a variety of medicinal plants, each identified with signage that connects visitors to our growing Medicinal Plant Database. Through educational programs and workshops, participants can learn about the history of plant-based medicine and discover how herbs and flowers can be prepared for use in teas, tinctures, ointments, and other traditional remedies.
Many common garden plants have played important roles in the development of modern medicines. The Medicinal Teaching Garden helps visitors explore these connections while learning which medicinal plants are safe and practical for home cultivation.
Native Plants and Rain Gardens
Ruscombe has developed two rain gardens thanks to a generous grant from the Chesapeake Bay Trust to help reduce stormwater runoff. Designed in partnership with Master Gardeners— and with a giant donation of indigenous plants from our friends at The Perennial Farm and other local native plant organizations — these rain gardens create valuable habitats for birds, butterflies, pollinators, beneficial insects, and other wildlife.
Native plants are especially well suited to local growing conditions and generally require less water, fertilizer, pest control, and maintenance than many imported species. By incorporating native plants into our rain gardens, we are supporting biodiversity while demonstrating sustainable gardening practices that can be replicated at home.
Get Involved
Our gardens thrive because of the support of volunteers. We welcome individuals of all experience levels to help with weeding, planting, watering, and general garden care throughout the growing season. Whether you are an experienced gardener or simply interested in learning, there are many ways to contribute.
If you would like to volunteer in the gardens, please complete our volunteer interest form to get started.
Sign up here to volunteer: