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3540 Thomasville Road
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| 1923 | Maclay began establishing his formal gardens. |
| 1953 | The State of Florida acquired the gardens from Mrs. Maclay. |
| January 1 - April 30 | Maclay House is open to the public. |
| Mid March | Peak blooming season. Numerous special events take place, including guided garden tours, classes on ornamental plant care, and other offerings. Call ahead for upcoming events. |
These beautiful ornamental gardens and grounds provide dramatic insight into why Tallahassee calls itself the city "where spring begins." The estate dates from the 1920s when wealthy New York financier Alfred B. Maclay purchased the land as his winter retreat. Instead of developing it for hunting, as did many of his compatriots, Maclay established beautiful gardens which reach their peak January through April each year. Twenty-eight acres form one of Florida's four ornamental gardens. Maclay features many exotic and rare flora, as well as the historic hunting lodge. The entire estate encompasses close to 1,200 acres, enabling visitors to also hike the Big Pine Nature Trail, go fishing, swimming and boating, or take a picnic and enjoy the scenic vista overlooking Lake Hall. Five miles of biking, hiking, and horse riding trails surround pristine Lake Overstreet and an adjacent ravine system.
The property associated with Maclay was part of the Lafayette Land Grant, given by the US government to the Marquis de Lafayette for his assistance with the Revolutionary War. Lafayette never visited Tallahassee, and sold off his land.
In antebellum times, this land was part of Andalusia Plantation. Emile Dubois, a Frenchman who established a vineyard on the property, purchased twenty-seven acres in 1882. By 1890, the land produced 4,000 gallons of wine a year. Mr. Dubois sold the land after Leon County voted to go dry in 1904.
Chicago insurance entrepreneur Col. John H. Law began amassing land in the area in 1905, and established a quail hunting estate he called Lac-Cal after the first initial of each of his six children's names. He built a hunting lodge in 1906, holding parties that lasted several days.
In 1923, New York financier Alfred B. Maclay purchased the 1,935 acre Lac-Cal quail hunting plantation and adjoining land. He created a 3,760 acre estate he called Killearn after his ancestral village in Scotland.
The Maclays remodeled Col. Law's 1906 hunting lodge between 1923-1925. They painted it a burnt sienna color Mrs. Maclay called "Georgia Clay." They also established the expansive lawn in front of the house.
Mr. Maclay began designing his ornamental gardens in 1923, and hired gardener Fred J. Ferrel in 1925 to implement his plans. Mr. Ferrel continued to garden at Maclay until his retirement in 1973.
Maclay was greatly inspired by the English country garden in his designs. Features he incorporated include a formal Walled Garden, begun in 1923 and completed in 1935. The Reflecting Pool was developed next and finished in 1944. The Secret Garden, with wrought iron bench and table, was designed as a private, quiet place for Maclay to work. The final historic element of the garden was the pond designed to reflect azaleas to the south.
After Maclay's death in 1944, his widow continued to maintain the gardens according to his plans. After opening the gardens to the public and trying to make them self-sustaining, she donated 307 acres, including the 28 acres of ornamental gardens, to the State of Florida in 1953.
Maclay State Gardens is one of four ornamental gardens in Florida. It features approximately 150 varieties of camellias, 50 of azaleas, and over 160 other varieties of exotic flora. Rare species include the Chapman rhododendron and the Torreya tree. Maclay Gardens also contains the "Aunt Jetty" camellia. This camellia was the first brought to Tallahassee, and the first to be planted at Maclay Gardens. It is thought to be over 150 years old.
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