The journey forward

John Humes made some provisions for the garden in his estate plans, but by the late 1980s, it became clear that the garden needed to raise funds and secure management to remain open to the public. In 1990, Morrell and the Humes family began working with the Garden Conservancy, establishing a formal management agreement, which continues to this day.

In 1996, a matching grant from the Japan World Commemorative Fund made possible the restoration of the pond and waterfall and construction of a wall along Oyster Bay Road. A 2010 grant from the Gerry Charitable Trust is allowing the restoration of the teahouse that the Humes imported in the early 1960’s for the site.

The garden has seen more than 50,000 visitors, offers classes and exhibitions focusing on traditional Japanese arts, and conducts tours and tea ceremony demonstrations.