Knoxville -- Hays Gardens

Located on over ten acres of land, Hays Gardens was installed in 1992 and completed in 2001. The Hays Garden is a large, lakeside property with a variety of gardens, including a rose garden, a cottage garden, and a moon garden. The site was formerly a part of a rock quarry that operated over 80 years ago and large boulders still remain on the property. The house was built in the middle of a hillside that goes down to the lake. In 1992, the owners began the woodland garden, which is located at the side of the house and includes a pond and waterfall from rock outcroppings. In 1996, Chester Brown helped the owners install the half round rose garden and moon garden. A rose covered arbor marks the entrance to the rose garden with walkways lined by boxwood and germander. The moon garden contains white and pale blue flowers. The property includes a guest house with a cottage garden. The cottage garden contains a wide variety of herbs, perennials, and annuals and is anchored by four evergreens. A tall bird house is located at the center and at one end is a rose covered pergola.

Garden features includes arbors, balustrades, benches, birdhouses, boat houses, butterfly gardens, containers, cutting gardens, decks, doorways, driveways, split rail fences, picket fences, garden walks, gates, a lake, ornamental grasses, a pergola, a pond, a waterfall, stepping stones, urns, and sculptures.

Other plantings include hydrangea, azaleas, wildflowers, ferns, roses, crepe myrtles, herbs, and evergreens.

Persons associated with the garden include: Chester Brown, (gardener, 1996-1997)