Gardens in Central Vermont

A native of Stafford, Justin Morrill entered politics in 1854 and served in the United States House of Representatives and Senate for nearly 44 years. His homestead is a prime example of Gothic Revival architecture. Visitors may take self-guided tours of the gardens during daylight hours at no cost, with the help of outdoor interpretive signs, including images and maps.
Morrill’s own designs for the gardens follow the principles of the romantic landscape movement in America. Walkers will find serpentine walkways, arabesque beds planted with colorful annuals, and historic trees like the Magnolia kobus and Norway spruce. The kitchen garden has perennials, herbs, roses, dwarf fruit trees, and vegetables. Many of the original plantings made by Morrill survive.

The Path of Life is a public sculpture garden that tells the story of the great circle of life. Eighteen works of art symbolize the human journey from birth to death. The garden is located on 14 acres of trails, wildflower fields, and open spaces on the bank of the Connecticut River. The garden is the creation of Terry McDonnell, whose model for the garden was The Life of Man, a Japanese garden in Kildare, Ireland. Among the objects that McDonnell has assembled for the garden are hemlock trees that compose the maze of Adventure, a large granite Buddha for Contemplation, and a five-piece, 25-foot-tall, band representing Creativity, made from driftwood from California’s Russian River. Fun for adults and kids. Path of Life Garden is on property adjacent to Great River Outfitters and managed by GRO.