Yew Dell Botanical Gardens

About

Yew Dell at a Glance

Yew Dell is a nationally-recognized center of gardening and sustainable horticulture that offers extensive display gardens, a diverse slate of educational programs, family-oriented community events, ongoing research into new and better garden plants, and a wide range of private event facilities. All of this activity is offered in a unique setting that artfully combines elements of Kentucky's rural heritage with modern, cutting-edge architecture.

Yew Dell offers something for everyone from homeowners and beginning gardeners to green industry professionals, school children and families to hikers, academics in plant and environmental fields and more.

The Setting

The site was the former home, nursery and farm of Kentucky nursery industry leader Theodore Klein and his family. The original 34 acres are adorned with a world-class plant collection displayed in a wide variety of garden styles. Most of the buildings on the property were designed and built by Klein and include unique stone and woodwork, inlaid millstones, hand-made iron work and stone relief carvings. The property covers approximately 60 acres and includes a woodland area with 2 ponds and over a mile of hiking trails.

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Fabulous Gardens

Whether you are interested in formal flower gardens, majestic specimen trees, alpine plant communities or heirloom vegetable gardens, you’ll find something of interest at Yew Dell. Theodore Klein’s original gardens have been rehabilitated and augmented with the newest plant varieties available – many planted before they are even available on the market. New gardens form a canvas for exhibition of varied garden styles and plant varieties. From woodies to perennials, tropicals and annuals, there is something in bloom every month of the year.

A Passion for Plants

Yew Dell staff travel across Kentucky and around the globe to collect new plants for evaluation, research and display in the gardens. The current inventory of some 10,000 plants contains some of the best collections in North America. From winter-blooming hellebores to majestic beeches, magnolias, cold-hardy camellias and more, it is the perfect place to select plants for your own garden. All plants in the collection are continually evaluated to determine the best-performing and most pest-resistant selections for the local climate. Research includes variety trials, breeding of new plant selections and determination of best production/management practices.

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The Buildings

Theodore Klein was a self-taught master craftsman who designed and built most of the buildings on the property. The Cotswolds-styled home (now the administrative offices), the fieldstone castle (the family’s former pool house), extensive stone walls and barns and outbuildings exhibit Klein’s talents and offer a window into family life on a mid-20th century farm and nursery. New elements including the Visitor Center/Garden Shop and main entry gates are the result of an ongoing collaboration between Yew Dell and Louisville’s deLeon and Primmer Architecture Workshop. The rehabilitated Gheens Barn and attached new (2006) Peyton Samuel Head Trust Pavilion represent a combination of Klein’s pragmatic farm/nursery needs and deLeon/Primmer’s modern, cutting-edge architecture. Both the Gheens Barn/Pavilion and the Visitor Center/Garden Shop have earned top design honors from KY-AIA and accolades from architecture/history professionals across the US.

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Education

Classes range from nature walks for children to seasonal plant walks, hands-on gardening workshops, scientific lectures and certification courses for green industry professionals, and all classes stress sustainable gardening practices. Topics covered include garden design, plant selection, garden and plant maintenance (pruning, planting, pest control etc.), vegetable gardening, green roof technology and more. For children and families, Yew Dell offers Nature and Garden Backpacks, scavenger hunts and our Books n Blankets packages for use (free of charge!) on the grounds. Look for our Saturday morning kid programs that are offered spring, summer and fall.

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Community and Cultural Events

Yew Dell’s extensive slate of events offers something for everyone and for every season. The annual Hellebore Day event celebrates these winter-blooming plants that extend the garden season. The annual Plant Sale and Garden Market is the best opportunity in the region to find the newest and coolest garden plants. Yew Dell’s Garden Sculpture show connects regional artists with gardeners and garden designers and each year, attracts thousands to the grounds. Farm to Table dinners on the grounds, the Hummingbird Festival, Boo Dell and our monthly Concert Series offer additional opportunities to enjoy the grounds.

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Yew Dell Green

Yew Dell is committed to doing all we can to keep our environment as clean and green as possible. To that end, we’ve developed this mark to indicate special green initiatives, programs and practices. When you see this symbol, you’ll know the program, plant or practice described is designed to help you stay as green as you can. Look for the Yew Dell Green mark to join our efforts.

Weddings, Special Occasion and Corporate Rental Opportunities

The unique setting, exquisite gardens and varied facilities offer endless possibilities for a wide range of events.

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