Photo by Brie Cohen The historic Mayowod Mansion is surrounded by an abundance of flowers and greenery.

If you go:
Historic Mayowood Mansion and Gardens
• Where: 3720 Mayowood Road SW, Rochester
• When: Tuesdays and Saturdays from May 1 through Oct. 20; tour schedules vary.
• Admission: Adult $12, youth (under 15) $6.
• For public tours of the mansion call (507) 282-9447. The mansion is also available on a rental basis for meetings, seminars and social functions.

Driving up the wooded hillside overlooking the Zumbro River Valley, the lush greenery and bright colors of the flora surrounding the Historic Mayowood Mansion come into view.

The beautifully maintained gardens — which are part of the popular Mayowood Gardens — stand as a witness to the love of nature that the site’s original owners expressed.
Built in 1911 during the Country Life Movement, the mansion and its surroundings were a realization for internationally known Mayo Clinic co-founder Dr. Charles H. Mayo and his wife, Edith, who longed for a country home that would allow their children to experience nature firsthand.

Used for family outings, picnicking and exploration, the site was home to three generations of Mayos.

“Many people assume Dr. Charlie was medicine 24/7, but he wasn’t,” said Jane Yunginger, one of the Master Gardeners at the estate. “He wanted people to be out enjoying themselves, giving them options of things to do like canoeing, swimming and fishing.”

At the time he acquired more than 3,000 acres of surrounding land and supervised eight working farms.

He also had greenhouses built to grow exotic plants and zoological compounds built to put birds, elk, buffalo and Japanese deer.

Almost 100 years later, though no one is living in the mansion, the gardens and the house are still maintained throughout the seasons for visitors that come on tours.

Though much of the historic landscape has changed, there are about 20 volunteer Master Gardeners who work from May through October to keep the gardens vibrant. Master Gardeners become certified through the University of Minnesota Extension Service, Iowa State University Extension Service or, for that matter, most any state’s extension program. Community workers are also involved doing the heavy working and hauling brush away at Mayowood.

Throughout the year, the gardens around the mansion feature many kinds of flowering plants, such as daffodils, peonies, turtlehead and bridal wreaths by Rhea.

The gardeners work to pick out flowers with a wide bloom time that have a variety of colors and textures, Yunginger said. That way the heights of the plants are staggered and there are flowers for most of the warm season.

Influenced by both European and Japanese cultures, the gardens also include features such as a graduated system of seven ponds, a tempietto, a pergola, a teahouse, various statues and sculptures, dragon tooth limestone walls, and a system of concrete and stone steps and walkways.

Yunginger said when she started working at Mayowood in 1995 the gardens around the house had become somewhat neglected.

That fall, however, she and some others were asked to organize a garden tour at the mansion.
So they decided to teach a community education class in the spring of 1996 to revitalize the gardens.

“It was a great way to get the community involved,” Yunginger said. “We took everything out of the gardens and started over entirely.”

Since, the gardeners have worked to revitalize more and more of the landscaping surrounding the mansion.

“This is such a naturally beautiful peaceful spot,” she said. “I think it’s important to maintain this spot because it’s so important to history.”

They have hopes to do even more, Yunginger said, but like many things, it depends on money.
“If we could get it restored, it would be one of the most significant of its time,” she said.
In 1965, the Mayo family donated the home and 10 acres of land to the Olmsted County Historical Society.

Two years later, because of its architectural and historical prominence, Mayowood was declared a Minnesota Historic Site, and in 1970 the mansion and landscape were listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Photo by Brie Cohen The gardens include various statues and a teahouse.

The gardens have also been named to the list of the “Top 10 to 20 Unique Garden Sites in the Country,” according to the Minnesota Public Gardens Web site.

After finding a picture of Charles Mayo surrounded by his grandchildren who were dressed as fairies and brownies, or elves, the committee decided this would be a fitting theme. At the heart of any Mayo family function was an element of education, and the festival continues that purpose. What separates the Mayowood Family Festival from other summer activities is its emphasis on providing outdoor and hands-on learning experiences in an historical setting, thus becoming a fun classroom without walls.

The hillside at Mayowood, its winding ribbon road, the woods and even the courtyard are all places of learning for children and adults of all ages. Imagination and creativity come into play as Joan Woxland guides participants in sculpting an entire fairy village that will be placed in the woodland surrounding Mayowood. Additionally, children may dress up either in bird wings, fairy costumes or in clothing from the period. Adult costumes also are available, and photographer Cat Thisius, will take family photos for $5.

Comb the acreage on a “history hunt” or go on a nature hike with naturalist Kirk Payne. Lectures by Terry and Joyce Grier will help identify birds on the grounds both by sight and sound. A visiting Faerie Queene will regale visitors with tidbits of history and perhaps even sprinkle fairy dust.

Other activities include Birds of Prey from Oxbow Park, fairy gardens to make and take home, hillside water garden tours by Master Gardeners, Revival Dance Group of Rochester performing in costume, Mayowood Mansion tours, and Charles H. Mayo II, also known as “Young Dr. Charlie” visiting with guests, reminiscing about growing up at Mayowood. Additionally, there will be farm animals and animals from Paws and Claws. Daube's Bakery will provide picnic lunches.

Plan to come and make a day of it. The experience is relevant to a child’s life. Instead of seeing the woods as a place filled with trees, they can learn that the forest is a place to take care of and respect and also a place to have fun. They learn that trees shed leaves and if those leaves fill a pond, eventually the leaves turn to compost rich enough to grow a tree to maturity.
Tickets may be purchased before the day of event at a reduced price of $8 for adults, $5 for children ages 4 to 17, and children under 3 are admitted free. Tickets are available at Sargeant’s on Second Street, Hunt Drug at Silver Lake, the History Center and at the Leisure and Lifestyle office at Mayo Clinic. Tickets may be purchased the day of the event at the History Center or at Autumn Ridge Church for $9 for adults and $6 for children ages 4 to 17.
Parking is at Autumn Ridge Church, 3611 Salem Road SW. A shuttle is provided for transportation to the mansion and back.