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Forget the busyness of North Tryon Street and step into serenity at the newly restored gardens of Historic Rosedale Plantation. A fresh attraction to one of Charlotte's historic houses is blooming and ready for viewing.
"We've taken down a lot of Charlotte's history, and the places we have left are precious," says Agnes Binder Weisiger, the prime mover behind the restoration and expansion of the Rosedale Gardens. The Charlotte resident gave Rosedale $100,000 for the project, then engaged joyfully in its planning and construction.
The result is a new destination three miles from Trade and Tryon streets that is destined to become a place for quiet enjoyment and a venue for outdoor events such as weddings and parties.
Volunteers help
Rosedale was built in 1815, a large frame house set on 911 acres. In those days, farm animals roamed near the house and the gardening was for food. But the start of a pleasure garden came with the planting of a line of English boxwoods that was put in near the house during its early days. Now, the farm animals are gone, but those boxwoods flourish, despite all that's gone on in nearly two centuries.
Starting in the 1920s, a formal garden was designed and planted, with more boxwoods and trees. But rampant wisteria and aggressive bamboo had begun to dominate the scene, even covering large, mature holly trees. Volunteers spent almost three years grubbing out and spraying the invasives, but it was worth it.
The garden's basic structure began to emerge. It just needed work, recalls Rosedale's executive director, Deborah Hunter. The house and grounds now have about nine acres.
Weisiger, who had long been active on the foundation's board, sized up the situation and recalls thinking about a year ago: "We must do a little something...." That turned out to be a restoration and expansion that would give the gardens a fresh purpose.
She and others on the staff and board thought it should become a destination garden: a place a few people could pop into briefly for peace and quiet, or lots of people could visit for outdoor events.
The design was put in the hands of Laurie Durden and Mark Bennett of Charlotte. Because booking events was a key part of creating a destination garden, good drainage was essential for the large, flat lawns that have been planted in plush zoysia that stays green through the warm months and doesn't require irrigation. Planting of trees, shrubs and flowers was done with several goals in mind. Large evergreens on the garden's perimeter will create a sense of enclosure and add to the serenity. Some plants, such as Kousa dogwoods and hydrangeas, were chosen specifically for their bloom in May when Rosedale has annual special events.
Camellias, Southern magnolias, viburnums, cryptomerias, crape myrtles and heirloom irises are some other plants that are distinctive and reliable choices for a Southern garden. A hedge of podocarpus was set out especially to give visitors a look at an evergreen not planted widely here.
Colorful seasonal flowers such as pansies were put into rejuvenated flower beds during the past two weeks, adding to lantana still in bloom. Those flowers were set out in advance of the garden's re-dedication Thursday.
The gardens are dedicated to the memory of Lake Simpson Dickson of Charlotte, an enthusiastic gardener who took an early interest in the restoration years ago and died Jan. 30, at age 112.
And while the gardens are ready for public enjoyment and rental for events, more ideas continue to bubble up. Woodland walks and a winter garden are being planned, and the idea of a garden auxiliary is being contemplated.
Durden says the plant selections and improvements were installed with an eye to the garden's sustainability for the long-term. "We are trying to be mindful of the next generation...so that it doesn't have to be done again," she said.
Even so, the garden will continue to grow and evolve, predicts Weisiger. "I think it looks great, but no garden is ever really finished."
