If you love nature and North Carolina, you will want to visit the three public gardens of Greensboro. Stay over night at one of the hotels in Greensboro, in order to take your time and see the Bicentennial Garden, the Greensboro Arboretum, the Bog Garden. (Thank goodness for the hotel directory!) If you stay long enough in 2010, you may also see a fourth garden, the Gateway Gardens, which began construction in May of 2009. All four gardens are sponsored by Greensboro Beautiful in connection with the Greensboro Parks & Recreation Department, dedicated to creating a place of for the senses to enjoy, with contributions to the environment and the people of Greensboro.
The Tanger Family Bicentennial Garden was established in 1976, commemorating the bicentennial of the United States. It’s a destination spot now for the entire Piedmont Triad area. There are shrubs and ground covers, as well as annuals and perennials. There’s canopy trees and flowering trees, too. It’s a great spot in which to be married, as well, considering that it also contains a Wedding Gazebo. You’ll find here a man-made stream which recirculates and provides movement and sound, as well as a Sensory Garden. The Arboretum contains a number of outstanding plants to enjoy and study. It’s situated on 17 acres and features twelve plant collections as well as fountains, an arbor, a gazebo, bridges, and benches. The collection includes a conifer collection (cone-bearing plants), a groundcover collection (low growing, spreading plants), and the William R. Findley Sun Shrub Collection (plants which do well in full sunlight.
The Bog Garden may be found in the middle of the city, and unlike the other gardens, resembles a nature preserve. There’s an elevated wooden walkway that allows visitors to see this wetland, containing a variety of local birds and plants. This boardwalk is surrounded by trees and ferns and shrubs, many of which were the result of volunteer rescues from construction sites. At the Starmount Farms Lake Overlook, you’ll be able to find migrating birds, or the local turtles, ducks, and geese.
On your next trip to North Carolina look out for the fourth garden, the Gateway Garden which should open in 2010. The first phase was begun in May of 2009 and is located about one half mile from Business 85 and the I-40 near Barber Park. The city of Greensboro has been planning this garden for over ten years and should represent everything learned from four decades of building gardens. The master plan includes eleven acres on which you will find the Michel Family Children’s Garden, the Greensboro Heritage Garden, a Japanese Garden, a Rain Garden, a Rose Garden, a Visitors Center, and a walking trails that lead into the White Oak Forest.
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