Spread out just in front of the Eleutherian Mills house on the du Pont family estate, the Eleuthère Irénée (E.I.) du Pont Garden is a testament to the unity of form and function.
In addition to the breathtaking array of flowers that bloom each spring and summer, the garden and nearby orchard also yield vegetables, herbs, and fruit. Once, the harvest from these would have filled the dinner table of the du Pont family, while cut flowers in elegant vases would have adorned the house itself.
Even now, however, the gardens are productive: pastel-colored larkspur, bold nasturtium, and cheerful sunflowers (to name just a few) still decorate the house's interior. Meanwhile, 2021 saw the beginning of a fruitful (pun intended) collaboration between Hagley and nearby Wilmington Brew Works, in which cherries, peaches, and apples from the du Pont orchard were used to create a special cider line called "The Fruits of the Eleutherian Mills."
Historical Horticulture, Modern Botanical Peace
In many ways, the E.I. du Pont garden symbolizes the collision and synergy of Old World and New World tastes and customs that has defined the United States' culture heritage since the country's birth several hundred years ago.
In addition to indigenous American plants, the garden contained a variety of plants that E.I. du Pont himself ordered all the way from France. The European influence was further visible in the border of dwarf fruit trees surrounding the garden. The trees were cultivated according to the en quenouille method, an intricate pruning and shaping practice that would have ultimately yielded conical trees. The French-inspired design of the garden, which included parterres and intersecting paths, would also have added to the sophisticated, elegant atmosphere.
It's said that du Pont found another use for the garden, too: when he hired new workers, he would first station them to work in the garden before giving them an assignment in the powder mills. Horticulture requires patience and hard work, and observing his employees in the garden allowed du Pont to get a sense of the type of workers they were before they were allowed into the potentially dangerous work environment of the mills.
Now, the garden offers a peaceful oasis to Hagley's visitors. Thanks to careful archaeological excavations and landscape architecture, the gardens have been successfully restored to what they would have looked like between 1803 and1834, under the careful ministrations of E.I. du Pont himself. What's more, the wide variety of plants in the garden means that it's worth visiting during any season. In the summer, birdsong and butterflies nicely complement the effusion of colorful blooms; in winter, the stark beauty of the bare fruit trees invite reflection, while the seedlings growing in the nearby greenhouses (installed in the 1920s-30s by Louise du Pont Crowninshield) hint at the coming of spring. On the whole, the garden is not only a horticultural masterpiece, but also a tribute to the power of historical preservation.
The mission of Hagley Museum and Library is to foster innovation and inspiration through our historical collections. Located on the site of E.I. du Pont's gunpowder works, Hagley's offerings include a library dedicated to the study of American business and technology, a unique patent model collection, and the restored historical mill and workers' community, as well as the home and gardens of the du Pont family. Hagley also hosts a variety of events intended to educate and engage the wider community. Plan your visit today, or consider donating to support our work!