William and Mary Adams Memorial Garden

Adams Garden – College of William and Mary

The Adams Garden is a special secret garden in the heart of downtown Williamsburg. It’s a great place to relax and enjoy a contemplative moment on a busy day. Fun place to have a little picnic lunch when the weather is nice.

You can find the Adams Garden next to Sorority Court at the corner of Richmond Road and N. Boundary Street. It was dedicated in November 1986 in memory of Gregory S. Adams, William and Mary College graduate class of ’81, more than 200 donors have contributed to its creation.

WATCH A Video On The Adams Garden in Downtown 

In addition to a great variety of azaleas, the garden also contains many tropical and semi-tropical plants, Approximately 5,000 different kinds of flowering bulbs are planted in the garden. Madelynn Watkinson is credited with the success of the garden; she started weeding it, as a volunteer, in 1986.

“We ask that this be hallowed ground, set aside from the wider College campus. We pray for your sons and daughters who will come home at the last, at the end of their days, to a place where they have been happy. We pray for all who will come home to be laid to rest here, as to our mother’s home once more, to the home of alma mater, the College of William and Mary.”

– Reverand John Maxwell Kerr, Episcopal Campus Minister Bruton Parish Church

I am somewhat embarrassed to say that I was not aware until recently that this memorial garden is also the final resting place for W&M alumni (and immediate family) that have requested their ashes be placed in the garden. There are plaques throughout memorializing those that have made that choice.

For those eligible, that would like to pre-plan interment arrangements more information is available on the William and Mary College site.