A Love Triangle, Plus 1
The Triangle is a horticultural hot bed. We have weather to garden year round, the plant selections to make the new gardener happy, as well as the plant nerd excited. We also have world-class arboretum to provide inspiration and present suggestions as to what can grow in our area.
Visitors come to see our local arboretum from all over the world, and it’s love at first sight. We are a love triangle, plus 1. Have you see what others are raving about: The JC Raulston Arboretum, in Raleigh, Sarah P. Duke Gardens, Durham, The North Carolina Botanical Garden in Chapel Hill, and the Cape Fear Botanical Garden in Fayetteville.
Each of these four public gardens is unique and worth a visit. Have you been in love lately?
The JC Raulston Arboretum, Raleigh, NC
Mission… is to introduce, display, and promote plants that diversify the American landscape, thereby benefiting our communities economically, environmentally, and aesthetically, as well as provide educational experiences to the general public, students of all ages, and the green industry.
The JC Raulston Arboretum sits on 10 acres of land, on the “other side of the tracks.” at North Carolina State University. Named in honor of its late director, Dr. J. C. Raulston, the JCRA was founded in 1976.
The JCRA was developed as a living laboratory within the Department of Horticulture Science at NC State University. An arboretum the Triangle is fortunate to have. The JC Raulston Arboretum is a nationally acclaimed garden with one of the largest and most diverse collections of landscape plants for home garden use in the Southeast. There are nearly 5,000 different kinds of plants collected from around the world. In short, it’s a research facility; but in reality, it’s a garden to stroll in, alone or with a friend, to study plants, and to get a good feel the diversity of plants we can grow in our area. Kids are even welcome to participate in many of the children’s programs. You will often find photographers shooting subjects from brides to the butterflies. It’s an exciting place to visit.
Open
The JC Raulston grounds are open every day of the year, except for the first Sunday in May when they hold their annual Gala in the Garden fundraiser.
Located at 4415 Beryl Road, Raleigh, North Carolina. There is no charge for admission or parking.
The North Carolina Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill, NC
Mission… to inspire understanding, appreciation, and conservation of plants in gardens and natural areas and to advance a sustainable relationship between people and nature.
The North Carolina Botanical Garden comprises more than 1,000 acres, including 10 acres of display gardens and a number of natural areas in the Piedmont of North Carolina. The focus at the UNC Botanical Garden is that of natural habitats to interpret the plants and vegetation of North Carolina landscapes with respect to conservation.
By setting a conservation example, the North Carolina Botanical Garden also went beyond conservation gardens to include an education center that has received Platinum level LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification.
One of my favorite times to visits is the UNC Botanical Gardens is during the fall annual sculpture tour, an outdoor exhibition of exciting garden art made by North Carolina artists or those with ties to NC. These sculptures are for sale, and the proceeds help support the arboretum’s ongoing education efforts.
Open
100 Old Mason Farm Road, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Weekday Hours: 8:00 AM-5:00PM Monday through Friday, year-round.
Weekend Hours: Saturday 9:00 AM-5:00PM; Sunday, 1:00 AM-5:00PM
Please call for holiday hours.UNC Botanic Gardens are generally closed for Thanksgiving, a week during the winter holidays, and on Martin Luther King Jr. day.
Sarah P. Duke Gardens, Durham, NC
Vision... Sarah P. Duke Gardens is a premier public garden. Our living collections promote knowledge of the vital connections between people and plants, fostering an appreciation of the natural world, environmental awareness and sustainable practices. It is an indispensable and lasting feature of life at Duke University, accessible to all, providing outreach and respite to a diverse and vibrant local community and visitors from around the world.
Sarah P. Duke Gardens is the Grande Dame of our area gardens. Founded in 1934 Duke Gardens has recently been named one of the top 10 public gardens in the United States. This distinction was well deserved, and a crowning moment for the Triangle area as a whole.
Duke Gardens is a 55-acre public botanic garden on the campus of Duke University. One visit and you can see why this garden received such a distinction. A place of beauty, that is also dedicated to learning, inspiration, and enjoyment through excellence in horticulture.
A great strolling garden that features four distinct gardens, each with its own focus and flavor: the Historic Garden, including the popular Terrace Gardens, dedicated in 1939; theH.L. Blomquist Garden of Native Plants, a representation of the flora of the southeastern United States; the W.L. Culbertson Asiatic Arboretum, devoted to plants of eastern Asia; and the Doris Duke Center Gardens, including the new Charlotte Brody Discovery Garden.
Pack a lunch and spend the day. There are five miles of allées, walks, and pathways throughout the Gardens, and many shaded benches. There are also rolling hills and open areas to lay a blanket and read a book.
Open
420 Anderson St, Durham, North Carolina
The grounds of Duke Gardens are open 365 days a year from 8:00 AM-dusk.
Duke University charges $1 per half hour for parking,
Cape Fear Botanical Garden
Mission… Enrichment, inspiration and enjoyment of nature;
The collection, culture and aesthetic display of plants;
Encouragement of environmental stewardship;
Conservation, education and research;
The preservation of our agricultural heritage; and
Engagement and involvement of the community.536 N. Eastern Blvd, Fayetteville, North Carolina
I’ve been in Raleigh just a little longer than this garden has been in existence, and I am embarrassed to admit this, but before this story assignment, I’d only half-hardily visited Cape Fear Botanical Garden on a cold January day several years ago. Just recently I visited this garden again (in the fall), and had no idea so much was going on! Cape Fear Botanical Garden is within an easy day-trip-reach, and since my early fall visit, I’ve been back twice! Who knew?
Cape Fear Botanical Garden is located on seventy-eight acres nestled between the Cape Fear River and Cross Creek just two miles from downtown Fayetteville.
Founded in 1989, the garden now boasts more than 2,000 varieties of ornamental plants and it has several specialty gardens, including Camellia, Daylily, and Hosta gardens.
If you haven’t been lately, there is a a new visitors center (The Wyatt Visitors Pavilion Complex) designed to open wide from the veranda for a full view into the gardens beyond. I stood on the veranda to take it in the view. Breath taking. There is a beautiful arbor leading into the cultivated gardens towards a fountain and shade garden. The gardens were comfortably toured within two hours. Time left over to go downtown Fayetteville for lunch.
Open
Fee: $10 per adult, $5 per student
Monday through Saturday 10:00 AM-5:00 PM
Sunday 12:00 PM-5:00 PM
Hours may change during holidays and inclement weather. We offer extended hours for groups by special arrangement.
The Garden is closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
Be sure to inquire with each arboretum about rental facilities, education programs, and volunteer opportunities; it’s a great way to get involved with the local gardening community.
MORE RALEIGH GARDENS
ELLEN MORDECAI GARDEN
1 Mimosa Street.
Mordecai Historic Park
Raleigh, NC 27604
919.857.4364
Free admission. Hours: Daily, sunrise-sunset
Just down the street from Krispy Kreme is another historic garden next to the Mordecai neighborhood. The garden was recreated from first-hand descriptions of the Mordecai kitchen garden in the 1830s. It contains vegetables, herbs, and flowers that were grown through the 19th century and is arranged in squares of raised beds. Lessons can be learned from the simple and charming garden design. Complete your visit with history by taking in a tour of the buildings, as well.
HAYWOOD HALL HOUSE AND GARDENS
211 New Bern Pl.
Raleigh, NC 27601
919.832.8357
Free admission; donations accepted. Hours: Thurs., 10:30am-1:30pm (Mar.-Dec.)
HISTORIC OAK VIEW PARK
4028 Carya Drive, Raleigh, NC 27610
9190.250.1013
Free admission. Open Monday – Saturday 8:30am-5:00pm Sunday 1:00am- -5:00pm
Jaycee Park Daylily Garden
A visit to Historic Oak View Park garden will have you stepping back in time. Originally founded in the 1830s and once encompassing more than 900 acres, Historic Oak View County Park is a historic farmstead listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Along with five century-and-a-half old buildings, there is a kitchen garden surrounded by a picket fence to keep out the family livestock. In addition to the kitchen garden filled with useful and flavorful herbs, visitors are welcomed to stroll through the pecan grove, the fruit orchard, and you will even see cotton growing in the field. Why not pack a picnic and make a day of it. Be sure to bring your finishing pole too since there is fishing is allowed in the pond.
JOEL LANE MUSEUM HOUSE AND GARDENS
728 W. Hargett Street.
Raleigh, NC 27693
919.833.3431
Free admission of gardens. For museum house there is a fee: $5 for adults, $4 for seniors, $3 for students, free for children under 6. Tour Hours: Wed.-Fri., 10am-2pm; Sat., 1-4pm. Last tour begins one hour before closing.
JOSLIN GARDENS – City of Raleigh Park and Recreation
2431 West Lake Drive
Raleigh, NC 27609
Open one day a year, typically in May. Look for announcement
JUNIPER LEVEL BOTANIC GARDEN
Plant Delights Nursery, Inc.
9241 Sauls Road
Raleigh, NC 27603
919.772.4794
Free admission. Check webiste for winter, spring, summer, and fall open garden dates.
Montrose
Martha Franck Frangrance Garden
NC MUSEUM OF ART
2110 Blue Ridge Road
Raleigh, NC 27607-6494
919.839-6262
Free admission along the park grounds. The Museum Park is open daily, including holidays, from dawn to dusk.
The NC Museum of Art is a place where art meets nature. On a recent visit to the to the museum park grounds to see the garden art, I noticed families gathering, sharing a meal on the picnic tables, enjoying the sunshine as they admired the art. The museum buildings are surrounded with gardens throughout the 160 acres of fields, woodlands, and creeks creating interesting pairings of art with plants.
One of my favorite gardens is the water lilies in Cantor Court (on the left side as you are entering near the Roxy Paine stainless steel tree sculpture.) These lilies are considered Living Art at the NCMA with conservators to help keep them beautiful and blooming.
RALEIGH MUNICIPAL ROSE GARDEN
301 Pogue Street, Raleigh, NC 27607
919.821.4579
My first experience visiting this garden was when photographer Elizabeth Galecke recommended it as the setting for our family photos. Since then, I’ve walked the gardens alone, had picnics, and even had garden club meetings there when we needed a built-in program with a place to gather.
The Raleigh Municipal Rose Garden, part of the Raleigh Little Theathre, is a historical garden featuring 1,200 roses of 60 different varieties blooming from late May until autumn. Plus, there are seasonal flowers, including bulbs, annuals, trees, and shrubs, other great offerings to complement the roses.
SANDHILLS
3395 Airport Road
Pinehurst, NC 28374
910.695.3882
Free admission. Dawn to Sunset
The Sandhills Horticultural Gardens cover thirty-two acres. The gardens contain 14 themed gardens from rose and conifer gardens to fruits and veggies, and woodland and wetland trails. The gardens are maintained by the students in the Sandhills Community College Landscape Gardening Program. Setting within its unique natural environment of the North Carolina Sandhills, you will find collections of plants both familiar and unusual, all presented in specially designed garden landscapes.
One of my favorite gardens at the Sandhills Horticultural Gardens is the Ebersol Holly Collection which is the largest on the East Coast. Both their American and Chinese collections do very well in our Zone 7b area.
WRAL GARDENS
http://www.wral-gardens.com/
2619 Western Blvd, Raleigh, NC 27606
919.821.8699
For years I would drive by the WRAL-TV 5 television studios, on my way to the JC Raulston Arboretum, but I never stopped in to see the azalea gardens the TV studio was so famous for. Located in the back of the studios (with public access) plan to visit mid-March to mid-May when the azaleas are peaking. But don’t stop there. These gardens showcase a full range of flowering and non-flowering plants typical in Southern landscape, including dogwoods, rhododendrons, and hydrangeas.
The WRAL Azalea Gardens were created by the Capitol Broadcasting Company founder AJ Fletcher created in 1959, three years after WRAL-TV went on air in Raleigh. Fletcher loved azaleas and finding new varieties to enjoy, so he decided to share that passion with the general public. He personally oversaw the installation of a thousand azaleas on the 5-acre property to create the gardens!
WITHERSPOON ROSE CULTURE
3312 Watkins Road, Durham, NC 27707
919.489.4446
Free admission. Hours: Monday through Saturday 9:00 am-5pm (Best show mid-May through first frost)
Helen