| |
|
The 55th Annual Azalea Garden Tour
"Gardens from the River
to the Sea"
April 11-13, 2008 in Wilmington, NC
Garden Announcement
& Special Preview |
|
|
Click on any photo thumbnail to see a larger photo. |
(1)
The Governor Dudley Mansion
|
Pickett Garden:
The extensively renovated gardens of North Carolina's first elected governor
provide a spectacular setting for this year's Ribbon Cutting
Ceremony. Overlooking the Cape Fear River, this stately mansion was
built in 1825 for Governor Edward B. Dudley. The exquisite Federal
architecture of the mansion is complemented by the symmetrical
design of the garden spaces. Expansive walled gardens feature
towering oaks, majestic fountains, and delightful statuary, along
with an impressive array of flourishing plantings. Crape myrtles
entwined with fairy lights frame beds of roses, Encore azaleas, and
arborvitaes contribute to the overall enchantment of this grand
historic estate. |
|
| Built in 1884, this clapboard home
boasts a front porch lined with podocarpus hedge. Feathery Japanese
maples accent the corners of the home, with cherry trees and sable
palms enhancing its design. A wrapped veranda on the side of the
house is paralleled by a row of dogwoods and an under-story of
ferns. Old crape myrtles with their exfoliating trunks lend their
shade and add to the natural beauty of the property. Overlooking the
grass lawn and children's play area, a gazebo offers inviting
outdoor seating. Whimsical touches to the garden show the owners'
creativity and offer an interesting adventure for visitors.
|
(2) McClain Garden
|
|
|
(3) Durham Garden
|
Twined with jasmine and framed by
pruned pittosporum and yaupon hedges, the front porch of this 1897
residence offers a grand welcome. Boxwoods line the entrance path;
large crape myrtles, Encore azaleas and a birdbath grace the front
corner garden. A bordered stone path leads to the shaded back garden
filled with Daphne odora, Japanese maples, ferns, gardenias, fatsia,
and azaleas. Note the distinctive potting shed wrapped in jasmine
and the peaceful outdoor dining area. Sheared arborvitae
provides vertical accents to this jewel of a garden in the Historic
District. |
|
| Visitors enter this memorial garden
through a Gate House designed to reflect the Gothic architecture of
the historic church. Created as an Eagle Scout project, the
middle of the garden is planted in the form of a Jerusalem cross
with a crape myrtle planted by Woodrow Wilson's mother at the
center. Within the cross and the surrounding area are many plants
mentioned in the Bible, along with their scriptural references.
Among the numerous plantings are mint, ivy, myrtle, palm, crown of
thorns, grape vine, pomegranate and tamarisk. A tiered fountain and
sitting areas complete the serenity of the garden. The
church's detailed information sheet is available at the entrance.
|
(4)
The
Biblical Garden,
First Presbyterian Church
|
|
|
(5) Carter Garden
|
Impressive dogwoods and ancient oaks
with spreading arms welcome visitors as they approach this stately
home. In the back, Formosa and Encore azaleas frame an
expansive view of the golf course. Colorful beds of annuals add to
the overall graciousness of this southern garden. Yoshino
cherry trees and a rim of pittosporum surround the large patio and
create an enticing outdoor living space. Note the wisteria trained
as a standard and the appealing pergola covered with roses and
grapes.
|
|
| A garden adventure awaits visitors at
this distinguished home in Forest Hills. Mature camellias and
Formosa azaleas provide a colorful backdrop for this lovely terraced
estate. The first tier of the garden boasts a Koi pond and a water
lily pond, surrounded with hostas and aspidistra. The middle terrace
provides the perfect spot for a graceful three-tiered fountain, as
well as an inviting outdoor fireplace and sitting area. The lower
level hosts beautiful old crape myrtles and oaks. New discoveries
wait to delight visitors around every corner, all reflections of the
owners' love of gardening.
|
(6)
Eason
Garden
|
|
|
(7)
Whitehurst
Garden
|
This garden, owned by an artist and
master gardener, is truly a masterpiece. Knock-Out roses, combined
with boxwood, pittosporum, camellias and holly, greet the visitor.
The rear of the house is bordered by Indian Hawthorne and punctuated
by large gardenias. Encore azaleas provide color to the garden from
spring until fall. The joy of this property is the many whimsical
touches created by the artist, such as a painted wheelbarrow,
birdhouses and hanging door arrangements. Look for
family headstones incorporated into the garden along the pathway
next to the guesthouse.
|
|
| Large Yoshino cherry and lacy crape
myrtle trees are featured in the garden of this attractive Low
country home. Beds of azaleas provide a profusion of springtime
color. The delightful back patio is decorated with interesting
pots filled with a medley of plants. Created with a miniature
Japanese maple at its center, a pondless waterfall is surrounded by
prolific plantings. The sound of the water feature is music to the
ear and relaxation for the body. Yews and azaleas adorn a private
stone patio for the perfect finish to this tranquil Landfall garden.
|
(8)
Blacher Garden
|
|
|
(9) Salter Garden
|
Magnificent oaks greet visitors to this
French Chateau-style home built on the grounds of “The
Bungalow,” Pembroke Jones's elegant hunting lodge. Established
dogwoods and Japanese maples add to the welcoming allure. A hidden
treasure awaits in an alcove by the kitchen window: a charming
fountain surrounded by aspidistra and holly ferns. An enticing patio
on the right side of the house steps down to a large stone terrace
and sweeping vistas of the Intracoastal Waterway. The lawn is
banked with color from Formosa azaleas, hydrangeas, roses, crape
myrtles, and camellias. The historic coquina terracing from the
Jones's era is creatively preserved and integrated into this
distinctive garden.
|
|
| Designed by Jefferson Memorial
architect John Russell Pope, the Temple of Love was once a focal
point for notables who came to hunt with Pope's father-in-law,
Pembroke Jones. An example of a formal English garden, the space
includes beautiful parterre areas filled with roses and guarded at
the four corners with sheared hollies. Informal sweeps of azaleas,
loropetalum, aspidistra, abelia, fatsia and variegated ligustrum are
punctuated with sheared yaupon hedges. Dogwood and cherry
trees provide canopies of color to this beautiful garden.
|
(10) The Temple Gardens
|
|
|
(11) Holding Garden
|
Boxwood hedge mimics the graceful curve
of the front entry and balcony of this elegant Charleston style
home. A large Yoshino cherry flows over the brick wall
and sheared hollies accent the steps. Visitors are guided to the
lovely side gardens through restful greens of holly ferns, camellias
and gardenias. The panoramic view of the Intracoastal Waterway is
gracefully framed with ferns, roses, azaleas and daylilies.
Jasmine-laced porch balustrades complete this exquisite springtime
picture.
|
|
| Filled with over 100,000 azaleas,
statuary, and camellias, this magnificent 67-acre quintessential
southern garden includes the 460-year-old Airlie Oak and ten acres
of fresh water lakes. This historic garden offers a valuable
cultural and ecological component to the area and has delighted
visitors for over 100 years. Originally developed as a private
estate under the ownership of Sarah Green Jones, the gardens have
been owned and operated by New Hanover County since 1999. Visit
www.airliegardens.org for
more information.
|
Airlie
Gardens
300
Airlie Road
(Saturday
only
with
ticket)
|
|
|
