The Mid-Atlantic region of the United States has always been ripe for horticulture and agriculture. Between the rich piedmont soil and the rolling hills of Appalachia, there’s an abundance of beautiful landscaping to enjoy in this area. Our fore-families thought so, too!

A Garden Lover’s Mid-Atlantic Adventure

In this section of our Green-Thumb’s Guide to Legendary Gardens, we’re taking you to the extravagant gardens of Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and North Carolina. So pack up your best wide-brimmed hat and download your favorite plant identification app as we embark on a tour of some of the great gardens along the East Coast!

In this guide, we’ll cover:

Stenton House

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The Stenton home, established in 1730, is filled with wall-to-wall history. But it’s the three-acre plot surrounding the home that may pique your interest even more.

While much of the original 511 acres of the Stenton house was reserved for raising food and animal feed, the area surrounding the early Georgian mansion was likely always landscaped with plants from England and Europe. He may have cultivated many of them his nearby greenhouse.

In the early 1900s, Logan’s descendant, Letitia Ellicot Wright, led the revival of the “Colonial Garden” as chair of the museum board’s Garden Committee. Landscape architect John Caspar Wister drew a plan for the grounds in 1911 and completed the project in 1912. In 1913, the garden became the location of the founding of The Garden Club of America. The National Society of the Colonial Dames of America has continued to expand and rejuvenate the garden for visitors seeking a quick escape from the hustle and bustle of Philadelphia’s city streets.

 

 

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Craik-Patton House

Charleston, West Virginia

Wild, Wonderful West Virginia – it’s a state typically equated with untamed natural beauty. But did you realize it’s also home to a historic Greek Revival home owned by not one – but two! – major historical figures?

James Craik, the grandson of George Washington’s personal physician and the first Surgeon General of the Continental Army, settled in the Kanawha Valley to build “Elm Grove” in 1834. Its original name is the perfect indicator of the lush greenery visitors can expect to see at the site. After passing through the hands of Isaac Read, Confederate Colonel George S. Patton I purchased the property in 1856. The house was used by the 36th Virginia Volunteer Infantry during the Civil War.

Today the house has been preserved and restored by the National Society of Colonial Dames of America in the state of West Virginia. The Craik-Patton gardens have undergone a variety of improvements in recent years. If you’re a boxwood lover, you’ll be delighted by the fresh American boxwoods recently installed in front of the home. (Those who know the English boxwood blight will understand!)

Tours of the Craik-Patton House are free to the public, with visiting hours available Monday – Friday, 10 AM – 12 PM, and 1 PM – 4 PM. Did we mention you can celebrate your nuptials here? They’re booked for 2022, but they do have rental availability for 2023!

 

 

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Historic Rosedale

Charlotte, North Carolina

One doesn’t typically equate Charlotte’s NoDa neighborhood, an urban haven for artists and musicians, with the calming feeling of walking through a pristine garden. Yet, Historic Rosedale, located on nine acres off North Tryon Street, does just that.

Rosedale, established in 1815 by Archibald Frew, has always been known for its elegant architecture and vast acreage. At the time of its establishment, the plantation presided over 900 acres of land. Alongside the beautiful home are some of the most well-kept grounds you can find in North Carolina.

Today Rosedale is moving beyond its plantation legacy with grounds and gardens pointedly intended to be enjoyed by all. Those who visit the grounds can expect to be blown away by the wondrous array of trees and native pollinator plants.

 

 

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Burgwin-Wright House & Gardens

Wilmington, North Carolina

The Burgwin-Wright House, established in 1770, provides a beautiful opportunity to admire the juxtaposition of a dark past and a vibrant present. That’s because its foundation is actually the first city jail of Wilmington, built in 1744.

John Burgwin, the home’s original owner, was a prominent merchant, planter, and Treasurer of the Colony. When the Colonial Dames of America in North Carolina purchased the Burgwin-Wright House in 1937, they began extensive work on restoring the interior and exterior of the home.

In 1963, the NSCDA-NC hired Alden Hopkins, a renowned landscape architect from Colonial Williamsburg to revamp the grounds. Inspired by 18th-century European gardens, the grounds now feature parterres, a dipping pool, a kitchen garden, and a psychic garden. In addition, an adjacent parcel of land was purchased in 1967 and an orchard was established.

 

 

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Continue Your Green-Thumb Journey

Botany and horticulture enthusiasts are sure to appreciate these legendary gardens of the Mid-Atlantic, but don’t let being a brown-thumb stop you from enjoying these incredible destinations, too! It’s the perfect way to see how the colonists spent their leisure time.

If you can’t get enough of our colonial gardens, don’t worry. There’s more to see! Check out our GreenThumb’s Guide to Legendary Gardens in New England and Out West!