Since 1964, when it designed and planted an 18^th-Century herb garden at the former site, Stony Brook Garden Club of Princeton has been involved with the gardens at Rockingham, including researching, funding, establishing and maintaining the current site’s utilitarian kitchen garden.

The design attempts to reflect what Mrs. Berrien would have needed for her own family on a day-to-day basis—not only in growing season but also for the long winter months ahead. The garden is fenced with rectangular beds (often raised), planted primarily with vegetables. However, herbs and flowers with culinary and medicinal purposes also are included.

Visitors have been drawn to the Rockingham garden’s simplicity and lush vegetation. The garden has come back more beautiful and plentiful each spring and summer. Beans climb the “teepee”, and the herbs and perennials are bursting with foliage. Roses climb the fence with abundance.

The garden also hosts the beginning of the site’s orchard—an apple tree sapling hand grown by long time garden club member and Rockingham supporter, Adra Fairman. Outside the fence is a newly planted Hawthorn tree, purchased with a donation from the Children of the American Revolution. In Colonial days thorns from the trees were used to pin women’s clothing. The Stony Brook Garden Club is most appreciative of the funds the club has raised and for the significant financial contribution from the New Jersey Committee of the Garden Club of America.

A laminated guide to the garden with many interesting facts about the plants and their uses is available for visitors’ use and is located in the wooden box near the staff entrance to the mansion. The guide provides good reading while waiting for a tour or strolling in the garden.

AWARDS GIVEN TO GARDEN CLUB

At the annual meeting of the Garden Club of America in Denver in May 2006, the Public Relations Committee Award was presented to the Stony Brook Garden Club of Princeton for its dedication on behalf of Rockingham, for research and restoration of the kitchen garden. The Stony Brook Garden Club also received a Certificate of Appreciation from the National Garden Club Inc. in 2005.