Today, the gardens are maintained in memory of Mary Sharp. Originally intended to screen parking areas and provide borders around the Brandywine River Museum, these demonstration gardens use wildflowers, trees and shrubs in landscaped areas. Plants are selected to provide a succession of bloom from early spring through the first killing frost. A unique feature of the gardens is the rainwater detention basin located between the two paved parking areas. It provides a wetland habitat for several species of wildflower and serves as a model for controlling river pollution from parking lot runoff.
Volunteers play a major role in planting and maintenance.
Seed collected by the volunteers is made available to research laboratories, highway beautification and habitat restoration projects, public and private gardens, universities, and commercial nurseries, as well as to the public through the Brandywine River Museum Shop. Seed is also used for the Conservancy's wildflower and native plant propagation program. Buds rise from clasping leaves and develop into white, star-like flowers which open only on sunny days. The roots contain an orange-red sap, once used as an insect repellent, sore throat remedy, cough syrup and red dye. Its clusters of bell-like flowers start as pink buds which transform as they open and mature into pale blue blossoms.