Private area garden
Join us for a day of fellowship with friends as we explore this charming community just north of Charlotte. We will tour two beautiful private gardens, a historic memorial garden and end with a visit to Little Farm--touring the growing area, learning about the fascinating history of both the farm and the area. Enjoy flowers and garden-related arts and items available for sale from local growers and designers.
Price Per Person: $250/member; $300/non-member
Wing Haven will maintain a waitlist in the event the trip sells out. Non-refundable after Friday, May 23, 2025.
Trip Agenda
7:30 am Coffee and light refreshments, registration
8:00 am Depart Park Road Shopping Center, (4101 Park Road, Charlotte)
8:45 am Tucker Garden
These beautiful gardens – a blend of Carolyn's spirituality and her love for fantasy – cover approximately 10 acres. The stroll through her gardens begins off Hermitage Drive on the Aurora pathway, lined with moss, hostas, wildflowers, ferns and shrubs. The stairs lead you around a formal granite fountain and up to the house. A look to the left allows a view of what appears to be a bell tower which she and her grandchildren suspect is inhabited by a troll (fantasy). Off to the right, but hidden from view is her Secret Place (spiritual) where Lenten Rose grows alongside woodland shade plants, Solomon's Seal and ferns. Many of the ferns have been transplanted from their property adjoining Morrow Mountain State Park in Stanly County. A waterfall and pond were added behind the house in 1992. River rock and slate stepping stones were hauled in by Bob and Carolyn for these projects from the creeks on their property in Stanly County. The pathway by the waterfall leads to the Conservatory where Carolyn and the granddaughters had tea parties. The walk continues to the dripping fountain where frogs jump out of view and bog plants grow. Next is the cypress arbor where stones from Israel are cemented into a wall. A rock garden and night garden are next and by this time the visitor is ready for a rest and only the strong of heart are ready for the walk in the woods to her newest and never complete (where Old Turtle is said to live) behind the Carriage House. In Carolyn's land of fantasy, the newest garden creation is a Hermit House of handmade bricks which are made to look at least 500 years old. The imaginary hermit looks out his front door to see annuals planted into the shape of a large butterfly. (A symbol of the resurrection) Just outside the hermit's door is a huge stone that Bob discovered on their land in Stanly County. The stone has an indention in the shape of a cross. There are many other things to tickle anyone's fancy. It is a peaceful place to spend a few hours. Many who attend, do just that. They sit in the swing and relax and enjoy God's creation.
10:50 am Walk to next garden
11:00 am Morrison Garden
Our home was built in 1974 by Martin and “Puddin” Foil. Puddin was from Charlotte and had strong ties to Wing Haven. She was a master gardener and for over 40 years channeled her vision, passion, and resources into her garden. She employed the best garden designers in the state, and took the garden through many iterations. I believe she was greatly inspired by Elizabeth Lawrence and Elizabeth Clarkson. The birds, particularly the bluebirds, were an important part of her garden. She worked closely with Cornell [University] to track and research bluebirds, which she attracted to the garden by her numerous feeders and live mealworms. In addition to her love of birds, she designed unique spaces to explore horticulture and to showcase her keen eye for design. These include a Japanese garden, woodland garden, herb garden, a walled garden and a rockery. Each was perfectly manicured and cared for under her expert, watchful eye. Since we bought the house in 20017, we have made changes to the garden to make it more manageable. We have removed trees and repurposed some areas that have become shady from mature tree cover. Sadly, most of our boxwoods fell victim to a blight in 2020, and we were forced to remove all of them in the back garden. However, that event, coupled with removing two Pin Oaks, enabled us to transition the walled garden to a formal parterre garden with Hoogendorn Hollies in place of boxwoods. We are constantly working on reviving the garden, one section at a time! Puddin's efforts and vision continue to amaze and inspire me as a gardener. The garden brought her great joy and peace, and it does the same for me and my family.
12 noon Boxed lunch in the garden
12:40 pm Board bus to next garden
Located on Spring Street in downtown Concord, Memorial Garden sits on land purchased in 1804 for the original log-cabin sanctuary of First Presbyterian Church. We will enjoy a docent-led of this historic garden. Although the church buildings have long since moved, the garden continues to be a cherished and beloved part of the congregation’s history and heritage. Stone paths wind throughout the church’s 200-year-old cemetery, guiding visitors up and down gently sloping hillsides past ancient oaks, waterfalls, butterflies, sculpted hollies, and intricately carved white Italian marble markers. The current chapter of Memorial Garden began in 1930, when Mrs. Sallie Phifer Williamson committed herself to restoring the church’s cemetery as a memorial to her mother. Renaming the plot “Memorial Garden,” she faithfully maintained and improved the grounds until her death in 1937. Her son, Marshal Phifer Williamson, continued his mother’s work on the garden until his own death in 1966. Today, the family’s work and dedication continues through a generous trust endowed by Mr. Williamson to support the garden.
2:15 pm Little Farm
While visiting Little Farm, a beautiful flower farm owned by Teri and Tom Jones, we will tour the growing area and learn about the fascinating history of the property. Teri will have a flower bar set up for guests to assemble their own arrangements to take home. Visitors are also welcome to wander the rows and cut their own blooms. We will then relax on the porch overlooking the lake and shop an assortment of garden-related arts and items curated by Teri and other local growers/designers/artists while enjoying Wing Haven snacks and wine.
“My husband and I purchased our farm from the Pharr family in 2016. A large portion of the land is in a conservation trust with Catawba Lands Conservancy, which maintains a segment of its Carolina Thread Trail along the Rocky River right next door. The farm has a rich and varied history including evidence of Native American habitation and has been farmed continuously since the early 1800’s. After gold was discovered directly across the river in 1802, our land was also extensively mined and remains of gold mines and even bootlegger sites can still be found in our woods today. The Pharr’s purchased the property in the mid 20th century as a getaway from life in Charlotte, eventually retiring there. They built 2 unusual homes, in addition to a large barn (now owned by our neighbors) for their children’s equestrian pursuits.
An avid gardener with a background in design work, I decided to experiment with cut flower production during the pandemic. Little Farm Flower Co was born and we’ve been expanding ever since! The bulk of my products (flowers as well as foliage/grasses and other items foraged from field and forest) are sold to a local wholesaler, with a smaller delivery service called Flower Club available for Concord/Davidson area customers.”
4:00 pm Board bus
5:00 pm Return to Park Road Shopping Center
Space is limited. Rain or shine. Wear comfortable shoes and clothes for all types of weather.