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The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens is committed to engage and inspire through the arts, gardens and education. A permanent collection of nearly 5,000 works of art on a riverfront campus offers more than 95,000 annual visitors a truly unique experience on the First Coast. Nationally recognized education programs serve adults and children of all abilities.

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Folly in the Cummer Gardens

Jan

13

A folly is a piece of architecture in a garden that is built primarily as decoration, often with no actual purpose.  In the 18th century, English gardens often featured Roman temples, which symbolized classical virtues or ideals.  Other styles often utilized are Chinese temples, ruined abbeys, rustic villages, and mills.  Many gardeners choose to represent a particular country with an iconic piece of architecture, or a piece with a significant symbolic value.

In our Italian Garden, we have a brick wall and folly at the edge of the property.  It holds a small room, about the size of a small closet, with a wrought iron gate in the doorway.  Ours is a folly with no true purpose, but it does add to the charming atmosphere, and effectively separated Mrs. Ninah Cummer’s garden from her sister-in-law Mrs. Clara Cummer’s garden.

Check back to learn more about our gardens every Thursday!

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