Farm & Gardens
The Magnolia Grove
As you leave The Fearrington House Restaurant and head toward the barn, you’ll note on your left, a grove of magnolias grandiflora ‘Glenn St. Mary’. Jenny Fitch planted these classic Southern garden icons in 1980; choosing this cultivar for their smaller and tight leaf habit.
Before our grove, and even before the Fearrington’s time, it has been suggested, a road to Raleigh ran through where these majestic trees flourish today. Recently, a mass planting of a low growing sumac, Rhus aromatic ‘Gro Low’ filled the open space under the magnolia.
As you leave the Magnolia Grove, through the white arbor, you’ll come upon the Knot Garden, with a central fountain. Planted with a combination of Boxwood, Buxus sinica var. insularis, holly, Ilex vomitoria ‘Bordeaux’, and holly, Ilex crenata. maintained with three shearings a year. This garden is a creative attraction viewed while strolling the gardens, dinning in the restaurant, or having a drink on the terrace.
As you continue your tour with the Knot garden on your right, note our specimen tree, Natchez Crape Myrtle, Lagerstroemia indica ‘Natchez’.
’Natchez’ is distinguished by its dark cinnamon-brown, exfoliating bark and by its fragrant, white flowers in summer. Planted in 1981, our specimen ‘Natchez’ is one of the tallest in the state.
Note behind the ‘Natchez’, we have two large Deodar Cedars, Cedrus deodora, along the street-side, near the registration entrance. Planted in 1980, its graceful branches provide structure for autumn and winter flowers arrangements used at the Fearrington House Restaurant. Beautiful cones appear during summer.