Have a need for organic fertilizer or horse manure? If so, Mill Pond Garden (MPG) might be just the place for you! But there’s so much more to this small, delightful botanical garden. Designed to highlight seasonal flora and year-round fauna, it sits on three-quarters of an acre nestled in a residential neighborhood just north of the intersection of Route 9 and Coastal Highway on Melloy Court in Lewes.
According to its website, Mill Pond Garden’s mission is to “delight, inspire, and educate visitors about gardens and plants for our region, and to host abundant wildlife.” It is a certified Wildlife Habitat Award recipient from the National Wildlife Federation. The website also features flowers appropriate to each season. The garden is home to a variety of birds, including bald eagles, ospreys, cormorants, gulls, ducks, geese, swans, great blue herons, and green herons.
Beavers, otters, foxes, rabbits, reptiles, and turtles also inhabit the garden. Three separate garden areas, a children’s Gnome House Garden, and an abundance of native plants mixed with select ornamental varieties round out the magic of Mill Pond. Seasonal flowers are highlighted on the garden’s website, along with other helpful information about local plant life.
MPG has a relaxed, casual feel—and if it seems like someone’s front yard, that’s because it is. Property owner Michael Zajic has a long history in horticulture. He is the former horticultural supervisor of Brookside Gardens in Maryland, the creator of a nationally recognized private garden in Washington, D.C., and a designer of multiple gardens throughout Maryland.
Zajic believes strongly in the importance of accessible green spaces: “It is my personal belief that every community should have a botanical garden within a 15-minute drive, just as we have schools, churches, hospitals, and libraries close by. This garden emphasizes a holistic approach, including biological and native plant diversity as well as ornamental beauty for enjoyment and inspiration.”
Mill Pond Garden offers special days—called Open Days—when visitors can tour this delightful gem for a nominal fee of $15 per carload. Otherwise, private visits are $60 per carload, which can come out to about $10–$12 per person for a chance to meander among beautiful, peaceful surroundings—truly “nature’s best.”
Open Days are self-guided tours, with tickets typically offered about ten days in advance, depending on the weather forecast. Horticulturists are usually on hand to answer questions. Tickets are “rain or shine,” and there are no refunds.
Private visits are also self-guided, half-hour tours. While the cost is higher, it’s still a great value: $60 per car admits up to six people. Reservations are required two days in advance by emailing [email protected]. Once confirmed, visitors may come any day that isn’t already reserved. Visiting hours are 9 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
MPG is a nonprofit operation supported by a part-time staff and dedicated volunteers. It relies on donations and revenue from its fifteen Open Days each year, as well as bus and group tours (by appointment) and its use as a venue for weddings and special events.
By Mary Jo Tarallo, Resident Journalist
Mary Jo Tarallo spent much of her career in public relations with various non-profits and spent 40 years involved with the ski industry as a journalist, public relations director for a national trade association and as executive director of the Learn to Ski and Snowboard initiative. Prior to her ski industry involvement she worked for the Maryland International Center in Baltimore and United Way of Central Maryland. She won a Gold Award for TV programming for a United Way simulcast that starred Oprah Winfrey. She has been cited for her work by numerous organizations. Mary Jo grew up in Baltimore, attended the University of Maryland and Towson University, lived in Washington, DC for 21 years and has been a full time resident of Rehoboth Beach and Milton since May 2019.
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