The coastland times with which is combined the pilot and herald of Belhaven and Swan Quarter. [volume] (Manteo, N.C.) 1959-1973, 1959-12-11
RELENTLESS NATURE
THREATENS GARDENS

How often something unexpected
clouds the joy of unselfish achieve
ment, as in the case of the Eliza
bethan Gardens on Roanoke Island,
given to the people by generous
follow citizens and philanthropists
here and there. RELENTLESS nature
has now brought a new threat and
it's going to take a few thousands
to stop the erosion that has under
mined the fence along Roanoke
Sound, and is now eating at the
foundations of the massive water
gate one of the most fascinating
features of this most interesting
attraction. :.
When one reviews in recollection
the dedicated effort of the women
of the Garden Clubs of this state
to establish this garden at the
birthplace of English civilization
in the new world, it seems use
lessly cruel of nature to force it's
tides so relentlessly along the
shore and thus take away the
sands. There may have been a
slight error in judgement in the
location of the fence and the gate,
but it is now too precious to lose.
AS the caretaker recently told
Mrs. Inglis Fletcher, the novelist
who has been loyal and active i'll
the garden movement: Everybody
who comes seems to enjoy the gar
dens, and even the homefolks now
speak highly of Them" The gar
dens have become famous in this
state. They abound with wealth
of shrubbery, walks, statuary and
flowers to charm and delight our
many SINNER, and winter tourists
as well.
When one views the calamity
that has come upon the gardens
through natures violence, it
grieves the heart that so little help
is at hand to repair the damage.
They are authentic reproductions
of early English garlens, and they
are valuable to the Fort Raleigh
historical site, and the Lost Colony,
situated adjacent to the Fort Ra-
leigh site, as they are.
The Autumn beauty of the Mat
tamusheet Country is fading away
fast. The yellows and red of the
foliage endures longer than in the
mountains, but they will soon be
gone. The variety of scenery along
U. S. 264 is unexcelled at Autumn
time in this part of the state. The
abundance of nature is doubly man.
ifest in the harvest season.
In late afternoon the sun, or at
night time the moon, upon the lake,
rivers and creeks provide the most
matchless coloring and witcdlery
reflected by waters anywhere in
our coastland. White homes CLEAN
through trees now naked and aus
tere; wild geese sail high above
the fields with wild clamor; oyster
ing and fishing boats drift slowly
to their docks beside the highways.
The chatter of the colored help
going home for the day from the
shocking of oysters or the picking
of crabs prevails amid these even
ing scenes. At Fairfield and Will
kerson's creek one must often wait
while sleek yachts crawl carefully
through the drawspans of these In
land waterway bridges, bound
south to warmer lands.
One may wait and dream of gay
adventure until the gong sounds
all is clear. And then the journey
continues past the homes of happy
people, of good neighbors, of fami-
lies whose habitations now indi-
cate they have been touched by
the wand of progress. Life and
color and increasing spirit abound
in this land where natures beauty
inspire, and mans industry drives
toward community progress.