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In 1935, the class of 1904 proposed using funds collected in memory of a former classmate to establish a cutting garden. The cutting garden was created at the northern end of what was known then as the Clara Leigh Dwight Garden, which extended south all the way to Pageant Field. In 1952 the entire garden became known simply as the Class of 1904 Garden.

In 1971 the construction of the Art Building decreased the size of the garden by two-thirds. The remaining portion included many of the features that can be seen today and several others have since been added. The 1904 Garden is located adjacent to the Art Building.

Today, a rich array of plants in the Class of 1904 Garden provide an opportunity to appreciate the diversity of the plant world, study pollinator behavior or simply enjoy this beautiful, quiet space.

The Drue Matthews Garden, dedicated to a member of the class of 1935, is located at the southern end of the Talcott Greenhouse, adjacent to the Art Building. The garden features alpine and rock-garden plants, shade plants and a small pond. The site has featured a small garden since the mid-1980s and was revamped to include the rock and alpine garden in the 1990s.

Planting in the Virginia “Timmy” Craig ’31 Rhododendron Garden began in 1999. Extending along the north side of the Art Building, this garden features various species and cultivars of rhododendrons, with shade-loving companion plants, primarily from eastern North America and eastern Asia. Timmy Craig was an avid lover of plants and an active, long-time member of the American Rhododendron Society.

The breathtaking staircase and terrace garden adjacent to the Class of 1904 Garden is named in memory of Anne Pitt Heckel, class of 1934, and Robert Heckel.

The staircase features locally mined Goshen stone steps, terraces and walks interspersed with cascading banks of perennials and dwarf evergreens. The garden was designed by landscape and garden designer Julie Moir Messervy. Messervy's design included massive Goshen stone boulders, which she called “perching stones,” that allow visitors and small classes to sit in the garden.

The terrace at the top of the staircase provides lovely views of the Heckel Staircase, the 1904 Garden, the Virginia “Timmy” Craig Rhododendron Garden and the Talcott Greenhouse in the near distance. The seating wall of the terrace catches the sun most of the day, encouraging visitors to sit a moment and enjoy the garden and the warmth of the sun.