The Formal Garden
Tranquil. Tucked-away. Reflective.
The Formal Garden
The Formal Garden at Ford House is a quiet counterpoint to the estate’s open lakefront grounds.
The Formal Garden sits apart from the rest of the estate in the best possible way: tucked away, quiet, and easy to have almost entirely to yourself.
At its center is a reflecting pool, framed by circling paths and low plantings that change with the season. The garden’s enclosure gives it a different character from the open lakefront grounds nearby. Where the shore invites you to look outward toward Lake St. Clair, the Formal Garden turns inward, offering a more contained and contemplative kind of beauty.
Marshall Johnson designed the Formal Garden, and it reflects his approach: a landscape rooted in the natural character of the site, shaped by the relationship between land, water, and light.
The Formal Garden is accessible with any Ford House admission ticket and is open year-round during estate hours. It sits between Josephine’s Playhouse and the Rose Garden along the path southeast from the Gate Lodge.
Take a tour and see the estate for yourself.
Friends of Ford House
Joining Has Its Perks!
An annual Friends of Ford House membership is a great way to enjoy all that Ford House has to offer! Enjoy discounted tickets, pre-sale access, exclusive events, discounts on dining and shopping, and more.
