Rienzi Gardens
Gardens
Designed in the 1950s by noted landscape architect Ralph Ellis Gunn, Rienzi’s gardens are an accomplished combination of formal gardens and natural Texas woodlands. The Garden Club of Houston joined the MFAH in a collaborative effort to restore these gardens according to Gunn’s original design. In 1998, landscape architect Jon Emerson created a master plan for this restoration, and the gardens opened to the public in 1999. Restoration efforts by the MFAH and the Garden Club of Houston continue to this day.
The 4.4-acre property in the Homewoods division of River Oaks is nestled on two sides by steep ravines leading to Buffalo Bayou. Initially heavily wooded, this landform was carved by annual inundations over geologic time. The variation in elevation has resulted in a range of native plant communities, from floodplain species to upland forest trees such as beech and Southern magnolia. Gunn embraced the challenge of celebrating the property’s natural topography while fostering an artistic yet logical garden program in response to the engaging architecture of the Mastersons’ John Staub–designed home.
Today, together with members of the Rienzi staff, the Garden Club of Houston beautifully maintains the gardens. Seasonal plants and flowers bloom throughout the year, and springtime guests are welcomed by a particularly delightful palette of colors.
Admission to Rienzi’s gardens is free. A welcome escape from the noise of the city, the lush green spaces house a plethora of wildlife and plant species.
The Gardens at Rienzi / Download a PDF of the 2-page map and guide to the gardens
► Rienzi’s gardens are open for self-guided visits every day of the week: Monday–Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Sunday, 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Admission to the gardens is free.
► Explore with the audio guide: You need only a cell phone and the Rienzi map to discover the gardens’ natural beauty. When you arrive, call 281.968.4377 to begin your tour.
The Garden Club of Houston and Rienzi: A Partnership
Rienzi’s gardens have been a project of the Garden Club of Houston since 1998. The GCH has funded, and continues to fund, many restoration projects for the gardens. The club also funded and participated in an audio guide for visitors as well as a printed visitor guide and map to the gardens.
Members of the GCH help to care for the Rienzi grounds via various activities and plantings, and they provide floral arrangements for special Rienzi events. The house is decorated for the holidays by the GCH with Christmas trees that feature needlepoint ornaments stitched by members.
The GCH and MFAH also partner to present Florescence, a biennial Garden Club of America major flower show.