The Elizabethan Gardens: A Walk Back in Time

No trip to the Outer Banks should exclude The Elizabethan Gardens in Manteo, North Carolina. The gardens are next to Fort Raleigh National historic Site on Hwy 64 coming onto Roanoke Island from the mainland. A self-guided tour of the grounds begins as you enter the Great Gate, a replica of 16^th century orangery, which houses the gift shop. As you pay for your ticket you will be given a map and your hostess will give you a run down of what to look for along the trails.

The shade of live oak trees will cool the hottest summer days, one of these oaks, The Ancient Oak, was alive in 1585 when the first colonist landed on Roanoke Island.  As you stroll from garden to garden you will see the Queen’s Tea Garden features a variety of roses, Shakespeare’s Herb Garden contains culinary and medicinal herbs which were commonly used by the colonists, The President’s Walk is lined with camellias, azaleas, and perennials and honors past presidents of the Garden Club of North Carolina.

The Sunken Garden is at the center of the grounds. It is walled by formal plantings of shrubbery, with stepped leading down to the intricate paths. Crepe myrtle trees and statues of Greek gods surround an Italian Renaissance Fountain, the focal point of this beautiful and tranquil garden.

To one side of the sunken garden a path leads to the statue of Virginia Dare, carved by American sculptress, Maria Louisa Lander. Virginia Dare was the first English child born in the New World, and granddaughter of John White, governor of the colony.

The Elizabethan Gardens offers lessons in history as well as those in botany. Special programs are offered throughout the year, and it is open year round except for Thanksgiving and Christmas day. The gift shop sells home and garden décor, books, herbs, perennials and flowering shrubs. The gardens can also be rented for weddings and special meetings.

The Elizabethan Gardens

252-473-3234

1411 National Park Drive

Manteo, NC 27954

www.elizabethangardens.org