By the pond, look and listen for wildlife. Here you may be greeted by a great blue heron, one of over 115 species of birds identified in the garden over the years. Living in the ponds are a variety of small fish, turtles and frogs. Like all the lakes in Maryland this miniature one was formed by humans.

In the 1960s, this garden site was a flat cinder lot. With construction of the Tawes State Office Building in the early 1970’s came the ponds, earth mounds, pathways and initial plantings. By 1975, a garden committee had produced a plan for a barrier free botanical garden featuring natural plant associations of Maryland. The Friends of Helen Avalynne Tawes Garden still works to preserve the intent of the garden while keeping up with changing conditions.

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