If you are visiting in the Tallahassee area, or if you live close by and would like to take a trip back in time, it might be nice for you to pay a visit to Goodwood Museum & Gardens. The Museum is located about 7 minutes driving time from the heart of downtown Tallahassee.
Goodwood Museum and Gardens
1600 Miccosukee Road
Tallahassee, Florida
As you drive into the front entrance of Goodwood Museum & Gardens,
you do feel as though you have stepped back in time.
In the below photo notice the beautiful climbing roses on the fence to the right. This is one of the roses that is propagated and sold by volunteers working tirelessly to raise funds at Goodwood Museum & Gardens. We are proud to have been fortunate enough to have purchased some of these beautiful "heirloom" Goodwood roses at the yearly "Rose Sale."
Goodwood is currently located on 16 acres of land.
This beautiful antebellum home was built between 1837 and 1840 and was originally part of a 2,400 cotton and corn plantation. Goodwood is considered one of the finest antebellum plantation homes ever built in this region. All of the furnishings and art work are original to the home.
The Goodwood Gazing Globe
Since the 13th century, there have been gazing globes similar to the one seen in these photos. According to Mr. Google the first records of gazing globes show that they were hand-made by Italian artisans, who crafted them out of mouth-blown glass.
The story goes that many kings in Europe requested gazing globes for their gardens, because they were thought to bring prosperity and good luck. Some kings placed several of them throughout their gardens for even more good luck.
In the early days gazing globes became a status symbol signifying wealth and success.
The Goodwood House was originally built between 1837 and 1840 by Hardy Croom of North Carolina, who planned to live in the home upon its completion. You will be disappointed to hear that sadly, Hardy, his wife, and three children perished after the steamship carrying them from North Carolina to Florida sank. Hardy Croom's brother, Bryan inherited the property and completed construction of the main house.
Inside tours of the Goodwood home are available. For the schedule please click on the below link:
Five more families would reside in this home over time, but it was widow Fanny Tiers who is most responsible for the way the plantation appears to visitors today.
Mrs. Tiers lived in the home from 1911 to 1925 and renovated the exterior of the home.
Mrs. Tiers also built guest cottages where her winter visitors would stay.
She also added a tennis court, skating rink and swimming pool for her guests to enjoy while visiting the plantation.
Goodwood is one of Tallahassee's most well preserved historical sites.
I very much enjoyed walking around the beautiful grounds of Goodwood with my camera, taking in the amazing majestic oaks and sprawling lawn. If you use your imagination you truly feel as if you have stepped back in time, and are seeing Old Florida with all of its splendor and old Southern charm.
The plants and flowers you see as you meander around the grounds are "heirloom." No plants are used that appeared after 1929.
The above photo was taken during an earlier visit to the gardens. The west lawn of the plantation is filled with daffodils, and I was there hoping to see them all in bloom. But, as you can see, only a few were blooming that day.
In the below photo, off in the distance, you can see one of the charming old out-buildings associated with the property at Goodwood. I don't know what this particular building was originally used for, but it is now "Fanny's Garden Cafe." The Cafe is open Tuesday through Friday from 11:00 - 2:00 for lunch. My husband and I have enjoyed lunch there several times and it has been a real delicious lunch-time treat.
Fanny's Cafe
If you wish to see the lunchtime menu, you can click on the link below.
Trees on the lawn out in front of the Cafe.
Some of the trees on the lawn in front of the main house.
This is another amazingly beautiful tree out in front of the Jubilee Cottage on the plantation.
Jubilee Cottage
Our Garden Club Circle occasionally has our meeting and brunch in this charming little cottage.
There are several out-buildings on the plantation and I did not photograph all of them. In the below photo you will see the recently completed "Carriage House." As I understand it, this is the area where the stables were originally located and where the horses were kept for use on the plantation.
The "Carriage House" Conference Center is a wonderful addition to Tallahassee. So far it has been used for wedding receptions, meetings, antique shows and other events.
In the below photo you will see the plant nursery and propagation area, which is located way out back of the property. There are so many volunteers working to make "heirloom" plants available to the Tallahassee community and to raise funds for the museum. There are also so many more Tallahassee folks working as volunteers in other areas of Goodwood, and they are so very much appreciated.
Goodwood periodically has a plant sale and a rose sale
and all in the community are invited to attend.
Below is a photo that shows some Goodwood roses we were fortunate enough to have been able to purchase at the Goodwood Rose Sale which is held in the Spring each year. The largest rose is about 5 or 6 years old.
Looking on down the fence line there are a couple more recently purchased Goodwood roses. I really like the fact that these roses were originally cuttings from very old roses from the Goodwood Gardens.
Well! I hope you enjoyed coming along with me as I strolled around the gardens of Goodwood this afternoon. I know you felt like you stepped back in time just like I did.
It is always fun trying to capture the beauty all around with my camera and I am so glad you came along.
On a personal note ~ We will be traveling up to Washington, D.C. for my husband to attend a meeting, and then we will take our time traveling back home sightseeing around a little bit. So-o-o-o, we will be gone a week or so. Hopefully I will be able to capture some pretty pictures along the way.
I Loved the tour of Goodwood, Pat, especially seeing it through your lens. Those mossy oaks are truly magnificent.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes to you and your husband for a wonderful week in Washington. I know you're going to capture lots of great pictures while you're there, and probably even more along your journey. I look forward to seeing them all.
Have fun and stay safe!