Willard Memorial Chapel's gardens are modeled after the gardens in place when the chapel was still part of a functioning seminary.

The Cayuga County Women's Republican Club has maintained the historically authentic grounds since 1999 as one of its civics program. Based upon historical research, the grounds are designed to replicate what visitors would have seen during the era of the Auburn Theological Seminary before it relocated to New York City in 1939.

To celebrate the flowers and the donations that make the plantings possible, the club will host a Victorian Garden Party this Sunday that is free and open to the public. Fancy cookies, iced tea and lemonade will be served in the chapel's community room. Joan Haff will play the chapel's organ at three 20-minute mini concerts.

“We enjoy doing something that is very historical,” said Jean Wright, the project chairperson. “The Tiffany windows in the chapel are enough to want to save ... Before there was nothing in the gardens when it was purchased in 1992.”

Since 1999, the group has expanded the gardens on the chapel's grounds. Cherry trees were planted in 1999, and black locust trees will be planted later this year.

The focal point of the garden is a trellis that is a replica of one that was originally on the seminary grounds, Wright said. The trellis was erected in 2002.

The club has also installed a garden bed with yellow roses and purple flowering bushes around the flagpole in the front of Willard Chapel. The flagpole was moved from the home of former Congressman, state Senator and Auburn Mayor Theodore Pomeroy.

Last year, a memorial garden was planted around a memorial plaque installed in 2002 to commemorate the century anniversary of the installation of the chapel's cornerstone.

The annuals are still perky in the June heat. Red geraniums and yellow mums are fresher in June than August, so the club is holding the event earlier than past years, Wright said.

The club's garden committee also includes Helen Burke, Peg Diehl, Marilyn Fandrich, Dorothy Keough and Ellie McLane.

The club's fundraising makes it possible to pay for Ross Landscaping to plant the garden every year and to pay Timothy Hilton to maintain the garden, Wright said.

“We just want (donors) to see where their money is going. I have great pleasure in seeing it flourish,” Wright said.

Staff writer Amaris Elliott-Engel can be reached at

253-5311 ext. 282 or at amaris.elliot-engel@lee.net

If you go

What: Victorian Garden Party

When: 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday

Where: Willard Chapel, 17 Nelson St., Auburn

Cost: Free