The Gardens

A serene spa room features three upholstered beige armchairs with white cushions, each accompanied by a small round table holding a potted plant. Foot baths and comfortable white stools are positioned in front of each chair, all set on a hardwood floor. Fearrington Village

The Fearrington Gardens

Close-up of a tree branch with clusters of small, pink buds and a few blooming white and pink flowers. The leaves are a bright green, creating a vivid contrast against the soft colors of the buds and blossoms. The background is blurred. Fearrington Village

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A celebration of colors, textures, and scents

With a gentle hilltop, dotted with wooden farm structures, mature specimen trees, and open pastures the Fitches began crafting a Village Center where guests could relax and enjoy the gorgeous natural landscape, the gardens created by Jenny, and the local birds and other wildlife that inhabited the area.

The inspiration of the Fearrington Village Center was the melding of the small North Carolina towns of R.B. and Jenny’s childhood, plus the intimate villages of England they so frequently visited. The dream was to offer such an escape—a destination Village surrounded by manicured public gardens and open spaces.

In 1980 when the Fearrington House Restaurant opened, Jenny began designing and installing our gardens by planting hundreds of daffodils behind the restaurant. What you see today is Jenny’s legacy. The gardens are an integral part of the life at Fearrington, and it all began with a dream. The grounds include about 60 garden beds connected by brick pathways and lawns, an herb garden used by the chefs at The Fearrington House Restaurant, raised cutting beds for use in floral designs, a culinary garden and several greenhouses. Today, Fearrington Village is a certified Bird Friendly Habitat by the New Hope Audubon Society. Migratory and resident birds bring life and movement to the many lovely garden spaces.

Fearrington Village is open to visitors year round. Visitors are welcome to stroll through our gardens. Feel free to ask questions or just say hi to our gardeners, marked by their colorful Fearrington Gardens shirts. Please note however that sites may be closed for private events especially on weekends.

A person wearing a brown jacket and beige skirt is standing on a garden path, examining a plant. They are holding a beige bag and are surrounded by lush greenery and various shrubs. The person has short hair and is wearing glasses and casual shoes. Fearrington Village — Jenny Fitch, circa 1980

Explore the gardens

A tranquil garden pathway with red brick flooring is lined with leafy green plants. White wooden pergolas with climbing vines create a shaded walkway, leading towards a white picket fence in the distance. The bright sunlight enhances the lush greenery. Fearrington Village

Jenny’s Garden

Located next to The Fearrington House Inn, Jenny’s Garden is one of Fearrington’s more iconic spots. On weekends you may even see chairs set for an intimate wedding in the center of the gardens.

The white arbor of Jenny’s Garden is a memorable sight to behold, and was built by local craftsman Frank Childress to Jenny’s specifications. The artistic fountain in the center of the design, crafted by artist, Wayne Trapp, echoes the belted colors of our mascot cows and serves as a focal point within the beds.

The planting style has changed over the years. In Jenny’s time, the scent of roses filled the air. Now, colorful flowers, foliage, and vines take advantage of the full sun, and enliven the structure.

A well-maintained garden with raised wooden beds filled with colorful flowers and plants. A narrow grass pathway runs down the center, flanked by additional flower beds. In the background, trees and shrubs form a lush, green backdrop against a wooden bench. Fearrington Village

The Cutting Garden

The Cutting Garden is located along the road behind The Fearrington House Inn. Affectionately known as Jenny’s stick garden, Jenny planted this well used cutting garden in the 1980s. The name evolved because if there was a flower, and Jenny had a need, only a stick remained. With the early start to spring, the beds are filled to bursting with daffodils and other early spring bloomers.

Today, the Cutting Garden is maintained by a longtime Fearrington staff gardener, and the flowers and foliage fill table arrangements, refreshing flowers throughout the Village, filling in special orders, and wedding floral arrangements.

There is a bench at the back of the Cutting Garden situated with a perfect view. In the springtime, the garden is often populated with pollinators and beautiful butterflies. Sit a spell and enjoy the bright colors!

Beautiful backyard with a well-manicured garden and a white house in the background. Vibrant tulips and various plants surround a stone pathway leading to the house. A white bench is placed near the middle, under a leafless tree, with a blue sky overhead. Fearrington Village

The Courtyard Garden

Anyone who has stayed at The Fearrington House Inn has likely enjoyed the serene calmness of the Courtyard Garden. With inn rooms tucked around this quiet space punctuated only by the sound of water, this garden is a guest favorite.

During R.B. and Jenny’s travels, an old hitching post was found in an antique shop, and Jenny had it made into a fountain focal point for the Courtyard Garden. This garden is a quiet oasis with four boxwood parterres filled with Carolina Cherry laurel, Prunus Carolinia on the north side along the entrance to the Garden House, and Possumhaw, Ilex Decidua on the South side, along the entrance to the Sun Room. Jenny loved winter interest trees and shrubs, especially those with little pops of colored winter berries.

The Courtyard Garden welcomes visitors, while the Garden House and the Sun Terrace on each side of the courtyard are reserved for our Inn Guests’ enjoyment.

A serene garden scene featuring a wooden fence covered with climbing plants, and a garden bed with various blooming flowers in the foreground. Beyond the fence are lush green trees and bushes, under a partly cloudy sky. Fearrington Village

The Vegetable & Herb Gardens

Fearrington Village has its own on-site vegetable garden to provide fresh produce for The Fearrington House Restaurant.

“More and more people are interested in where their food comes from, how it’s grown and how it gets from the ground to their plate,” said Executive Chef Colin Bedford. “As a chef, we love the interest because it highlights the work that goes into each individual ingredient and then how much overall effort goes into the final product.”

Fearrington also has a separate herb garden, and is a collaboration between our chefs and gardening team. The Herb Garden was the first of many garden areas created by Jenny Fitch. Today, the garden is managed by the culinary gardener for inclusion in award winning dinning dishes.

Sit a spell in the nearby Adirondack chairs – maybe with a glass of wine from The Fearrington House Restaurant bar in hand – and enjoy peaceful views all around.

Aerial view of a formal garden with intricate maze-like green hedges arranged in a symmetrical pattern around a central circular area with a birdbath. A curved red brick pathway borders the garden, with a white wooden pergola visible on the left side. Fearrington Village

The Knot Garden

If your head is down when you walk past the east facade of The Fearrington House Restaurant, you might miss this formal feature planned by Jenny Fitch in the 1980s. The knot garden grew from her love of formal European gardens, and has served as a picturesque backdrop to diners as well as to newlyweds.

Planted with a combination of Korean Boxwood, Yaupon Holly, and Carissa Holly, the shape is maintained with three shearings a year. This garden can be enjoyed while strolling the gardens, dining in the restaurant, or having a drink on the terrace.

A tranquil scene featuring two white wooden benches on grass facing a serene pond. The calm water reflects the vibrant green trees and a partly cloudy blue sky above. The idyllic setting suggests a peaceful, sunny day in a park or garden. Fearrington Village

Camden Park

Designed by landscape architect Chip Calloway, Camden Park features a variety of native trees and shrubs, and is anchored by two ponds connected by a terraced creek. The park is home to our beloved concrete sheep and features benches from to enjoy the beautiful views.

The tightly knit neighborhoods of East and West Camden Park flanks the 17-acre park set on former farm fields. A native wildflower meadow provides habitat for birds, and walking paths wind in a figure 8 pattern through the park. It’s a favorite spot for dog walkers!

Camden Park is dedicated in memory of Jenny Fitch, who passed away when the park was completed in 1995, and is often referred to as Jenny’s Park.

A stone fountain with abstract sculptures stands in a garden. The central structure features two round holes, with water flowing from it and surrounding smaller stone pillars into a circular basin. Lush greenery and flowering plants are in the background. Fearrington Village

A small bird is perched on the edge of a stone birdbath topped with a decorative finial in a lush garden setting. The background features greenery and a tree with purple leaves. Fearrington Village

Audubon Certified

Fitch Creations, Inc. is proud to share Fearrington Village has been a certified Bird Friendly Habitat by the New Hope Audubon Society since 2015.

The New Hope Audubon Society noted that Fearrington has installed native plants wherever possible, numerous bird-houses for bluebirds, brown-headed nuthatches, screech owls, and barn owls, as well as pollinator gardens using native host and nectar plants. Additionally, Fearrington established pond and water features, providing many different safe havens for our feathery friends.

Our Bee Program

In 2013, Fearrington Village’s honey bee program began with five local bee hives, and the simple goal of producing nectar flow the following year. Fearrington’s hives are part of a collective effort, but a simple one. We aim to restore and focus on the health of the land in order for the bees to thrive.

A beekeeper in protective gear and gloves tends to a beehive. He is inspecting a frame covered with bees, holding it up to examine closely. The background shows greenery and part of a white structure. Fearrington Village