One of my favorite things to do for my birthday and Father’s Day, is to visit farmers markets, nurseries and botanical or historic gardens.
In this article, we share two historic gardens, one new place, and the other nearby and familiar.
Historic gardens – Bethabara Park, North Carolina and Burke’s Garden, Virginia, aka “God’s Thumb”. Take your bike to Burke’s for a LOVELY 13 mile ride around the perimeter.
Bethabara Park, North Carolina
Founded in 1753 by a band of Moravians, Bethabara (“House of Passage”) started as a small village that by the 1760s had expanded into a bustling trade center. Eventually, other towns grew larger and Bethabara diminished in size and importance but remained a vital agricultural community into the 20th Century.
The Bethabara Community Gardens site is the only known, well-documented colonial community garden in America.
We walked the perimeter of the reconstructed Community Garden. Noting the raised beds and the many different varieties planted in the long rows. Sunflowers, okra, cabbage, squash, and loads of zinnias.
The nearby medicinal garden included comfrey, betony, angelica, and echinacea. The Moravians of Bethabara had a recipe of herbs for almost any ailment.
Burke’s Garden, Virginia
Two days later, we were bicycling through the mountain bound community of Burkes Garden, VA. Sometimes called “God’s Thumbprint” the crater-like valley is a geologic wonder with an intriguing history.
Quiet, quaint, remote and refreshingly non-touristy, it’s been a top lister for places to visit for me for quite sometime.
There are two Amish general store type places there that cater to visitors with simple meals, snacks, and souvenirs. There’s also a bed and breakfast “Parsonage” that welcomes over-night travelers.
The scenery is lovely and the mountain that rings the entire valley is like a natural bulwark. The farms, fields, and vistas were amazing. It’s said the limestone enriched soil is ideal for growing pastures and grazing.
While on our 13-mile bike tour, we saw a number of home gardens flourishing. Word is the topsoil there is not only rich but 3 feet deep in some places.
Burke’s Garden is primarily a cattle and field crop community. It’s said the limestone enriched soil is ideal for growing pastures and grazing. This is how it came to be called “Burke’s Garden”
We thoroughly enjoyed our visit. Meeting Mattie the cheerful owner of “Matties Place” and the bike ride were definite highlights. As our daughter described the scenery:
“The place is like being in a snowglobe without the snow. It was so peaceful, calm, and like it’s own little world away from the world.”
G. Coleman Alderson is an entrepreneur, land manager, investor, gardener, and author of the novel, Mountain Whispers: Days Without Sun. Coleman holds an MS from Penn State where his thesis centered on horticulture, park planning, design, and maintenance. He’s a member of the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society and a licensed building contractor for 27 years. “But nothing surpasses my 40 years of lessons from the field and garden. And in the garden, as in life, it’s always interesting because those lessons never end!” Coleman Alderson