Mike's Photographs - Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden


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See Notes

14 May 2005

Website (copy and paste link) - http://www.dsbg.org/index.php

Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden is nestled amidst 450 acres of meadows, woodlands and lakefront property in Belmont, North Carolina. Both a botanical garden and a nature center, DSBG is a place where nature and horiticulture blend into one.

A 40-year Master Plan by eminent landscape architect Geoffrey Rausch calls for a world-class garden with walled English garden, conservatory complex, Asian garden, rose pergola, natural wetland, waterfall, Piedmont garden, library and reading garden, home demonstration complex, auditorium and full-service restaurant.

Right now, 110 acres are developed, offering four themed gardens, a dozen fountains, Gift & Garden Shop, Woodland Trail and Visitor Pavilion. Guests are welcomed to the site through the Visitor Pavilion, a striking structure with elegant Tuscan columns, copper roof, and magnificent stained glass dome. Beyond the Pavilion are the four gardens.

The Four Seasons Garden offers year-round interest through plant form, bloom, structure and foliage, with a special emphasis on winter. Plantings feature unusual bloom times, showy fruit, beautiful bark, evergreen foliage and interesting growth habits.

Heirloom plants in the Cottage Garden might have been grown by your grandmother. Many are considered "pass-alongs" and are not readily available in the trade. A mix of both familiar and unusual bulbs, annuals, shrubs, hollyhock and roses cover 8,000 square feet.

Magnificent dancing fountains highlight the Canal Garden features. Palms line the walkway, and the outer beds contain large, leafy plants in vibrant colors. Tropical flora such as elephant's ear, hibiscus, banana, iris, canna, and curcuma add to the summer paradise.

The Perennial Garden is by far the largest, and contains four "rooms" separated by hedges of trees and shrubs. Each section contains a unique blend of artfully arranged shades that contribute to an overall canvas of color. Exquisite fragrances, fountains and waterways add to the relaxing atmosphere and please the senses. 
The Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden site has a long history of use. Originally, Native Americans of the Catawba and Cherokee tribes trapped, fished, hunted and raised families here. Later, the area served as home to early European settlers. In recent years, the garden's were used as pasture for farm animals, although much of the site is covered by mature deciduous woodlands and pine forest.

In 1991, Daniel Jonathan Stowe, a retired Belmont textile executive, donated the land, along with a $14 million endowment to establish a world-class botanical garden. He and his wife, Alene, lifelong nature lovers and gardening enthusiasts, envisioned an escape where visitors could enjoy the beauty and splendor of nature while learning more about gardening, botany, and preservation.

Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden offers many classes, lectures, workshops, and children's programs emphasizing horticulture, botany, gardening, and natural conservation. The facilities are open year round, and are available for special events such as weddings, meetings, parties or retreats.

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