The Garden Council chose well by starting the Spring Garden tour in the heart of downtown Greensboro at the Blandwood Mansion, a National Historic landmark and the former home of NC Governor Motley Morehead (1841-1865). Blandwood is a fully restored and reconstructed Italianate house (the oldest example in the US). I was met by a charming young host who led me on an unexpected private tour of the interior of the mansion and all the wonderful original furnishings. However my main objective was to view the lovely garden designed by Chip Calloway. Letitia's rose garden was extraordinary with over 20 fragrant heritage roses. The garden was anchored by antique urns and arbors. I was surprised it was so quiet on the grounds. Birds were singing and building nest within a block of city traffic and the bustling downtown courthouse. The Kitchen Garden was in a small courtyard between the main house and the offset kitchen. A fragrant herb garden lined the path around the kitchen door (now being used as a gift shop). Each section of the small garden burst with spring flowers in pastel colors; apricot iris 'Beverly Sils', bleeding heart, foxglove, columbine, French hollyhock-Malva, blue wild indigo. A fig tree was under planted with sweet woodruff. The kitchen garden features flowers and herbs indigenous to North Carolina and appropriate to Governor Moreheads time period. writen by Sue Hughes, from a diary entry May 3, 2002.

said rdh63 2008.01.01 at 18:31:52 PST