Explore A Little-Known Arboretum In This Small North Carolina Country Town
By Carolyn Harmon|Published September 20, 2023
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Carolyn Harmon
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Under Brown Mountain Lights the Beast of Blandenboro wanders this magical land where lighthouses shine on kingdoms only accessible by ferries. A Lost Colony of legends and pirates revealed in historical sites and majestic mountains with views that make us weep. The home of handmade sculptures and scrumptious cuisine. North Carolina leaves this long-time writer and artist breathless with endless surprises, including the unlikely warmth a winter walk on the beach can bring.
Some days call for a stroll through a little-known arboretum in North Carolina. Sitting in the historic downtown area of Tarboro, the Blount-Bridgers Arboretum is available for exploring during any season. And more than one interesting business is located on the lovely grounds. The Blount-Bridgers House, built by Thomas Blount in 1808, is an art gallery, a museum for local history, and home of the Tarboro Arts Council. Such a beautiful structure needs landscaping, which has been managed by the Blount-Bridgers Garden Committee since the late 1980s. Let’s take a peek at the unforgettable arboretum in this small North Carolina country town.
Whatever the season, we always find a warm welcome at the Blount-Bridgers Arboretum.
In the early 1990s, an archaeological survey of the grounds uncovered a garden house, an office, a cat cemetery, a kitchen, a cistern, and the location of a brick-making operation.
These gardeners know their stuff as specific plants, trees, and bulbs from the period are chosen, including some sourced from other historic sites in the area.
The kitchen garden is planted right outside of the Pender Museum, built about 1810, which offers an authentic example of a kitchen garden from that time period.
