Southeast Region
Tuesday and Wednesday, June 13-14
The Southeast Regional group enjoyed a visit to Charlotte in June.
On Tuesday, June 13, we met up with Tom Nunnenkamp to tour the 2.25 acre MapleWalk Garden he owns and maintains with wife Lib Jones. Together they have established a gorgeous garden, which is in two parts:
The upper garden follows grass paths of Tifgrand bermuda through beautifully maintained beds filled with a wide collection of plants including camellias, dogwoods, conifers and perennials. After passing through a stone arch, one enters the woodland garden. This is where many of the 90+ maples happily reside (including the widest ‘Kiyohime yatsubusa’ I’ve seen), along with ferns, trilliums, and hostas.
Extensive stonework has been done in the upper garden, and boulders were brought in to enhance the steep grade change of the woodland garden.
After touring us through his garden, Tom escorted us to a nearby property, Serenity Garden, another beautiful landscape enhanced by lovely artwork.
While in Charlotte, we were delighted to make contact with a maple aficionado in the area, Brian Pittman, and were graciously welcomed to his garden in Weddington, where he actively gardens 4-6 acres of his 10-acre plot.
Brian and his wife Kathy walked us through the lovely and peaceful woodland garden that surrounds their home, stopping to visit many maples of all sizes. Camellias and other woodland plants complement the extensive landscape.
Although he couldn’t name the number of maples he has, Brian continues to add to his large collection; like so many of us, he had his latest accessions on the driveway waiting to be planted!
The group enjoyed dinner together at Café Monte French Bakery & Bistro in Charlotte’s South Park.
The following morning we visited two Charlotte treasures—Wing Haven Gardens and bird sanctuary, and the preserved home garden of Southeast garden writer Elizabeth Lawrence.