Airlie Gardens

Airlie Gardens · 10-04-2009, 07:42 PM

Well, I've been on about a two month hiatus from woodworking. I'd like to work on a few things, but right now our warehouse is stacked full of our customers' contents and I don't think it would go over well if I covered them with sawdust.

BUT, that hasn't stopped us from having some fun doing other stuff.

Today, we went to Airlie Gardens. If you haven't visited there, you definitely should the next time you're in Wilmington. I'm not well-traveled by any means, but this is the most beautiful place I've been to date.

Anyway, here are a few pictures.....

A 400+ year old live oak

Not sure how efficient that would be in board feet, but I couldn't ever imagine cutting this tree down.

The sawed off root system of an overturned tree, right by the dock on Bradley Creek.

Us

A couple of swans doing their thing

An egret hanging out in the marsh

And then there is this place. This is a three-dimensional representation of a piece by the artist Minnie Evans, who was the gate keeper at Airlie Gardens for 27 years. It is made out of various empty bottles (man, where was I when they needed those

) and concrete. There are also a few welded sculptures that are very impressive and also supposed to represent her work.

This is a tree in the center of the piece. It was welded by someone with A LOT of talent.

My first butterfly shot.

This tree smiled at us.

Here I am in front of some dueling water falls. I love the 3-D design.

And this is probably my favorite part. There is a long, concrete pergola that leads down to the pond. Absolutely breathtaking.

It reminds me of the garden scenes in the Godfather movies.

What you didn't see is me setting the 10 second timer, sprinting 20 yards and coming to a skidding hault right next to Christy, just in time to get the picture.

Finally, here we are in front of the pond, at the end of the pergola.

We only saw half of the gardens today and we were there for 3 hours. It is about 10 1/2 acres if I remember correctly. If you are into photography or nature, this place is like heaven. I think I could spend days on end shooting pictures in this place. I hope you all enjoyed this and if you're ever down here, let me know, we'd love to show you around.

Mike Davis · 10-04-2009, 08:04 PM

Hey, cool pictures!

I sent you a Delta saw guide and rails via either Rob or Robert. I'm sure they will let you know who it is and you can pick it up some where near Raleigh.

Trent Mason · 10-04-2009, 08:07 PM

Originally Posted by Mike Davis

Hey, cool pictures!

I sent you a Delta saw guide and rails via either Rob or Robert. I'm sure they will let you know who it is and you can pick it up some where near Raleigh.

Thanks Mike! And yes, I heard from Rob. I was in Raleigh briefly yesterday and he was out of town, but I'll be through there again soon.

PChristy · 10-04-2009, 08:24 PM

Trent, thanks for sharing these wonderful pictures - that one of the butterfly is a fantastic shot -

Gotcha6 · 10-04-2009, 08:34 PM

Beautiful pics. LOML & I'll have to look that one up next time down to the coast. For anyone else in this area that doesn't know it, Brookgreen Gardens @ Myrtle Beach is also a great place to visit. The garden is filled with bronze sculptures commissioned or cast by the original Owner Anna Hyatt Huntington. Huntington Beach State Park nearby is also worth the time. We are fortunate here in the Carolinas to have many tranquil parks & places like this around to visit.

Trent Mason · 10-04-2009, 08:51 PM

Phillip, the pictures don't do it any justice. I'm glad you like the one of the butterfly. I was pretty proud of that one. Those little flying boogers are a pain to keep up with while staring through the viewfinder.

Dennis, thanks for sharing the details about Brookgreen Gardens. We've been watching bits on PBS lately about the beginnings of the National Park system and the folks that dedicated themselves to preserving such beautiful places. We definitely need to give a hats off to the folks that work to preserve the beautiful places that we get to see in our areas, and also the folks that volunteer to keep these places looking as great as they do.

:notwo rthy:

McRabbet · 10-04-2009, 09:37 PM

Beautiful day, beautiful pictures and two beautiful people -- aren't you glad you didn't make sawdust today?

Trent Mason · 10-04-2009, 10:09 PM

Beautiful day, beautiful pictures and two beautiful people -- aren't you glad you didn't make sawdust today?

Thanks so much Rob! The picture you took of us at the NCWWer picnic is framed and graces our dresser

:notwo rthy:

DaveO · 10-04-2009, 10:52 PM

Awesome pictures Trent. It's a good thing Christy was in most of them with you, or you might have busted your camera. I don't know if you know but our own Jim M. is the director of Airlie Gardens. One of my wife's BF got married there several years ago...it's a great place for a wedding.

Dave

toolferone · 10-04-2009, 11:31 PM

Very nice photos, yes even the ones with you in them! Speaking of being in the neighborhood, I will be doing a tool sale show at Tools Plus on Friday and Saturday. You all need to come by and see me. Friday 9 - 4 and Saturday until 1

m.

mikeacg · 10-05-2009, 07:51 AM

Trent,

I've been in Wilmington at least 20 years and haven't made it to Airlie yet. Now I know I have to see it! Thanks for the pics and the incentive.

Tom,

Is it Sawdust Days time again? I look forward to meeting you!

skeeter · 10-05-2009, 10:39 AM

Mike, you need to make it a point to go. As Trent said, it's awesome. Really beautiful anytime, but Spring is unreal. Carry plenty of film (sorry, I should say memory sticks).

Trent, great shots, even the ones you're in!!!

dino drosas · 10-05-2009, 12:39 PM

FYI Jim McDaniel who is the garden director is also a member of North Carolina Woodworker. I met him over a year ago when he came to MB and bought a Hegner Scroll Saw from me. You are all right about Airlie being a beautiful place. On the other hand you have to see Brookgreen Gardens when you visit Myrtle Beach. Spring is best when all is in bloom. Not only is the landscaping breathtaking but it houses the largest outdoor collection of sculpture by American artists in the world. Talk about a place to score many brownie points with significant other.

tommyt654 · 10-05-2009, 06:26 PM

Gawd, I love those pics, I have not been there since 1962. I used to live in Wilmington when it was just a little town on the Cape Fear river. Try to go during the Azalea Festival if possible, the gardens are in full bloom then and incredible as I can recall. I have always wanted to go back there to retire,but I,m sure it has changed in the 40+ yrs since I have been there. Used to be you could go to either Carolina or Wrightsville beach and look left and right and the only thing you would see was a pier and a few surfishermen. I bet I still know a few hidden blackwater ponds where Venus Flytraps grow that have yet to be pilfered by thieves but then again 40 yrs is a long time. Interesting fact for those who do not know, this region between Myrtle Beach and upper Wilmington is the only area in the world where the Venus Flytraps can be found. As a kid we used to follow the old meteorite shower trails, or ditches back to the dark red rust colored ponds to dig them up and bring home. The original bug zapper !. Its a fantastic area and Airlie Gardens are stunning in their Old World Beauty, Thanks again for the pics I,m sure you had a great time, now get some chicken legs and go feed the gators off the U.S.S North Carolina

Jim M. · 10-05-2009, 10:11 PM

Trent,
Thanks for the kind words about Airlie. Sorry I was not around to give the nickel tour, LOML and I just got back from vacation. I'm glad you and Christy had such a good time.

Some cool facts:

Airlie was started by the Jones family around 1900, they were the origin of the phrase "keeping up the Joneses"
The Airlie Oak is the North Carolina Champion Live Oak, largest known to date in NC and is 468 years old. The others around "her" are 350, 300, 235 respectively and believed to be seedlings from the beauty (we had them all dated by a Forester who specializes in estimating age two years ago)
The Bottle House has over 4000 bottles in it, most from the Wrightsville Beach recycling dumpsters.
Minnie, the gate keeper for many years, sold her canvas art work at the gate over 50 years ago for a quarter...they now sell for as much as $500K!!!
The tree by the Pier blew down in a Hurricane in 1946, we moved the dock over a few feet to save the tree for kids. I wanted them to see what a tree would look like from underneath.

The coolest though... hearing how much someone you loves the work you do! Thanks for making my day, what a great post to see especially just getting back from some time off. Many thanks, Jim