Balboa Park, San Diego
Montrose, Hillsborough, NC. On a cold day in late February, we left Wilmington and headed up I-40 toward Raleigh and the Triangle. I had read on the new blog of Frances Mayes, author of the Under the Tuscan Sun series, about a garden called Montrose in Hillsborough, NC, just outside of Durham. Frances Mayes had moved to Hillsborough in recent years and befriended the owner of Montrose, Nancy Goodwin.
Nancy wrote a book, Montrose: Life in a Garden, which I ordered and read while in Wilmington. Then I got a wild hair to go see it, so I called her up and made an appointment.
Woodland garden at Montrose, Hillsborough, NC
The weather got progressively worse as we drove into the Raleigh area—it began to snow and I started to fret that we wouldn’t be able to see any of the early bulbs blooming, etc., etc. Just on the other side of Raleigh, the snow magically disappeared. We arrived at the Montrose gate promptly at 10 am, met by our hostess who was swinging open the gate. I was so excited to get into the garden I almost hit her! She said that the three of us had the garden all to ourselves that morning, and it was an enchanting walk through a lovely, late-winter blooming garden. I will never forget that morning at Montrose. www.triangleland.org/news/articles/properties/montrose_gardens.shtml
Pearl Fryar’s Garden, Bishopville, SC
A few years ago, I went to the movies and watched A Man Named Pearl, a documentary about a man in Bishopville, SC, who created wonderful topiaries on the grounds of his home. I loved it and had always wanted to ride down and see it.
A few of the topiaries at Pearl Fryar’s Topiary Garden, Bishopville, SC
We left Wilmington—this time on a gloriously sunny morning—and drove about three hours west to Florence, SC, then along I-20 a bit to Bishopville. It is a small cotton farming town, and after getting lost several times because I am stubborn as a mule, we finally made it to Mr. Pearl’s house. There he was, standing in the front yard holding court. A couple from Maine had stopped on their way to Florida, and another pair was visiting from a bit closer, I believe. I just have to say that Bishopville is about an hour west of I-95, so the Maine couple really wanted to come visit
Mr. Pearl’s garden!
And it is totally worth a visit. Topiaries (the art of creating sculptures from trees and shrubs) in every size and form imaginable are scattered throughout Mr. Pearl’s garden. It is magical and awesome. What a gift! Mr. Pearl is an artist, and it was such a treat to walk around with him and listen to him talk about his garden and life. He had to leave us to go on a trip…I want to go back sometime when he is there and we can talk to him some more. http://www.fryarstopiaries.com/
What a treat it was to see all these gardens, and I came away with many new ideas.
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