This formal garden is now more than 50 years old and it became apparent that some drastic renovations were going to be necessary to keep it looking it's best. Various approaches were considered and it was eventually decided to try to retain the 'bones' of the original 1954 garden, but to give it a new look. Overgrown shrubs in the garden's center were blocking the vista of the surrounding farm fields from the house and there was very little seasonal color in the garden. It was generally felt that the garden could be more useful as an area in which the public could be educated on perennial plants native to Delaware and as a gathering place for people awaiting tours of the mansion.