The coastland times with which is combined the pilot and herald of Belhaven and Swan Quarter. [volume] (Manteo, N.C.) 1959-1973, 1960-01-22
UNHAPPY WOMEN
VIEW EROSION OF
THEIR GARDENS
A Great Loss to A Valuable
Coastland Project Comes
From Lack Of Funds

An unfortunate circumstance has
brought unhappiness to the toiling
women of the NC. Garden Clubs
whose pet project is the Eliza
bethan Gardens at old Fort Ra-
leigh, the birthplace of the nation.
A series of strong tides has eroded
the shore line and brought in the
waters edge of Roanoke Sound,
and the ancient and ornate water
gate is about to be lost.
The states garden-club women
themselves have raised and spent
some $150,000 to develop the gar
dens. Its statuary and fountains
were provided by several philan-
throphists. The landcaping and
planting of flowers and shrubs was
financed from the funds that were
raised. The maintenance of the
gardens is financed by receipts
from visitors.
j The waterfront is the problem.
To save it will require an invest
ment of about $4,000. Unless a re-
tanning wall is built along the shore
line, erosion will continue, in a
year the brick columns and fence
will be undermined, and no resist
lance will be offered to the con-
slant wearing AWAY of the sands.
Much work on this garden has
been supervised by Albert @. Bell
a successful nursery man of Roa-
noke Island. The garden occupies
some ten acres Of land adjacent
to Fort Raleigh.
The idea of the Gardens was
conceived by Mrs. Charles Cannon
and Mrs. Inglis Fletcher, both Life
Members of The Garden Club of
North Carolina, and Sir Evelyn
Wrench, founder of the English
Speaking Union. 1t was to be an
appropriate memorial to the Eliza
bethan era, so dominant in our
early culture.
The focal point of the Garden,
near the water, is fountain sur
rounded by ststuary and plants ma
I turai to the area. The fountain,
statues, steps, balustrades and we'll
head We're gifts from the John Hay
Whitney estate in Georgia. Some
of these pieces date beyond the
Elizabethan era. The massive
wrought iron entrance gate S,
hinged from the column set in the
wall of ancient brick, add a true
Elizabethan touch, as does the
gatehouse with its hand-hewn
beams and rough slate roof. The
gates are gift of Mr.. and Mrs.
C. D. Dillon of Washington, D. C..
Some of the pieces of art were
donated by North Carolinians. A
more recent statue of white mar
BILE, and known as virginia Dare, +"
was presented by Paul Green, au-
thor of "The Lost Colony"
i Part of the formal garden, en-
closed by a perforated wall of
antique brick, displays the Knot
Garden, planted with hollies, dog
wood, crepe myrtles in geometric
design. Also in the old English
section is the Mount with its an
cient wellhead and marble benches,
and from here steps lead down to
all parts of the Garden. In the
far corner of the Garden, near the
highway, is a plant nursery, named
the Ruth Coltrane Cannon Nursery,
made possible by the proceeds Of
a tour of Mrs. Cannon's summer
home. Here, through the fine CO.
operation of State College in RAJ
leigh with the invaluable help Of
DIR. Fred Cochran, plants will be
propagated and used for replace
ments and further Identification.
/ Among some of the gifts to the
Garden are marble benches, bird
baths, sun dial, a planting of
rare Lilies by the North Carolina
Lilly Society, gardenias, hollies,
crepe myrtles, and magnolia trees.
The Water Gate, at the foot of the
steps leading from the Terrace, is
the only access from the Garden
to the blue waters of Roanoke
Sound. The fund for the gate was
raised at previous tour when Mrs.
Charles Cannon's home had been
Opened to the public. Also, the por-
trait of Queen Elizabeth I seen in
the gatehouse was a gift of Mrs.
Cannon. The building and planting
lof this Elizabethan Garden has
been and is made possible through
gifts of many Individual members
and garden clubs of The Garden
Club of North Carolina, Inc, and
from friends Of the organization.
It is the combined efforts of many
toward q cherished dream Of a
fitting memorial for the Lost Col
onists.