CRESTWOOD, Ky. (July 2004) – Yew Dell Gardens, the former 33-acre home, gardens and arboretum of the late commercial nurseryman Theodore Klein in Oldham County, held its opening gala June 11 with a public open house held June 13.

Photo by Don Ward Yew Dell Gardens director Paul Cappiello (center) talks with Oldham Co. Judge-Executive Mary Ellen Kinser (left), her husband Jim and Yew Dell president Mary Rounsavall.

More than 200 people attended the Friday evening garden tour and auction. THey also toured the newly restored house, castle, log cabin and tobacco barn, while viewing the conceptual plans for the Gheens Bank Barn. With a $75,000 grant from the Gheens Foundation, the historic barn will be transformed into a state-of-the-art education center. It will serve as a cultural and educational resource for people of all ages across the region by hosting workshops, symposia, special events, lectures, workshops and corporate retreats.
Yew Dell’s unique collection of rare garden plants, display gardens and unique architectural features has been designated as only one of 13 special preservation projects by the Garden Conservancy, a national group dedicated to recognizing America's exceptional gardens.

Photo by Don Ward Yew Dell Gardens president Mary Rounsavall (right) greets Wave 3-TV "Weekend Gardener" Cindi Sullivan and husband Steve Sullivan.

Yew Dell contain more than 1,000 rare specimen trees and shrubs, including some Klein personally introduced to the nursery trade. Themed gardens scattered throughout the property include settings for roses, dwarf conifers and an English-style walled garden among others. A small stone castle, a 1800s log cabin, a rare bank barn, a tobacco barn, bermed greenhouses, and Klein’s Cotswalds-style home grace the grounds.
When completed, the gardens and buildings will be a major educational and plant research center for Kentucky and the Midwest. Executive Director Paul E. Cappiello has already begun the task of restoring the many unique gardens and beginning programs to develop, test and evaluate plant varieties best suited for use in the central United States to turn Yew Dell into a major horticultural display, education and research center for the region.

Photo by Don Ward Guests tour the gardens at Yew Dell Gardens' grand opening.

More opportunities are available to visit the gardens. Yew Dell will welcome visitors from 10 a.m. until noon the second Saturday of each month except January while the gardens are recreated, and will soon announce much more extensive hours as the gardens near completion.

• For more information, visit www.yewdellgardens.org or call (502) 241-4788.