Early photographs of the Williams' property show an open vista with an unobstructed view of the house, the beginnings of landscape, and only a few native trees.
But Dora Williams' interest and proficiency in gardening developed along with her garden until it reached a height of complexity in the 1920s and 1930s.
Her extensive notes on the garden document the garden development over the years, and have allowed the garden to be restored to its original state.

Unlike many public specimen gardens, this garden was (and remains) representative of an early 20th Century residential landscape.
Featuring "outdoor rooms" delineated by rock walls and border plantings and punctuated by ornamental fountains and ponds.

At the same time the garden area served the more utilitarian functions required by the Williams family, such as a vegetable garden, a medicinal plants garden, clothes drying, and composting.
It is attributed to be the only historically preserved landscape in Palo Alto, and one of the few in California.
The Museum of American Heritage is currently preserving the Williams House Garden.
Early photographs of the Williams' property show an open vista with an unobstructed view of the house, the beginnings of landscape, and only a few native trees. But Dora Williams' interest and proficiency in gardening developed along with her garden until it reached a height of complexity in the 1920s and 1930s. Her extensive notes on the garden document the garden development over the years, and have allowed the garden to be restored to its original state.
Unlike many public specimen gardens, this garden was (and remains) representative of an early 20th Century residential landscape. Featuring "outdoor rooms" delineated by rock walls and border plantings and punctuated by ornamental fountains and ponds.
At the same time the garden area served the more utilitarian functions required by the Williams family, such as a vegetable garden, a medicinal plants garden, clothes drying, and composting. It is attributed to be the only historically preserved landscape in Palo Alto, and one of the few in California. The Museum of American Heritage is currently preserving the Williams House Garden.
Museum of American Heritage