Charming public gardens at Fearrington Village
While touring Fearrington Village near Chapel Hill, North Carolina, earlier this month, I was charmed by the lovely landscaping—not just the gardens surrounding Fearrington House Inn but the pocket-sized, colorful gardens found alongside the shops and restaurants in the village center.
This toad lily blackberry lily Pardancanda norrisii (!) was blooming in a narrow sidewalk garden near Roost, the beer garden.
Nearby, a white picket fence supported a rambling morning glory vine.
On this early morning, the midnight blue flowers were dusted with pollen—perhaps from a visiting bee?
Sunny flowers in hues of yellow and orange just make you feel happy, don’t they?
Helenium
Canna
Jewels of Opar, with fruits that resemble tiny, colored beads, stands out against the moody, near-black leaves of ‘Black Pearl’ ornamental pepper.
‘Black Pearl’ looks gorgeous with a chartreuse-and-wine-colored coleus too.
In a corner garden by the bookstore, I spotted these fat, unfurled buds…
…and a tissuey, linen-colored flower on the same plant. “Hey, that looks like cotton,” I exclaimed, remembering when Trisha Shirey introduced me to the hibiscus-like flowers in the gardens at Lake Austin Spa.
Yep, there’s the cotton!
Against a white stuccoed wall, an unusual espalier of trifoliate orange turned my head. At its feet, fragrant prostrate rosemary was blooming.
Green fruit and the curved talons—an eye-catching display
I also admired this large concrete trough that had been turned into a raised pond, with plants that enjoy having wet feet set in the water atop piles of bricks.
A relaxed frog, spouting an arc of water, enjoyed his own perch along the rim.
I hope you’ve enjoyed the virtual visit to Fearrington Village! For a look back at the romantic gardens surrounding Fearrington House Inn, click here. To see charming Fearrington Village and its Oreo cows and goats, click here.
All material © 2006-2012 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
I think that Toadlily is a Blackberry lily. Whatever it is I love that color!!! Love the cotton too….the white tuffs of cotton are great.
Thanks for the correction on the lily, Janet! Neither is a plant that I’m very familiar with (obviously). —Pam
Those are such pretty vignettes. The form of the trifolate orange really jumps against the white wall. It does look like a beautiful place to visit.
It is, Shirley. You can’t spend all day there, but you can spend an enjoyable 2 or 3 hours. —Pam
I also thought that was a Blackberry Lily too, I have never seen a purple one, gorgeous. Love the Grandpa Ott’s Morning Glory, an old time favorite of many people. What are the unfurled buds? They remind me of Althea aka Rose of Sharon. I wonder what type of Citrus fruit that is, love how they have it trained against the wall. Cute relaxed frog..
Thanks for the blackberry lily ID, Darla! I’ve corrected my post. The unfurled bud is on the cotton plant (see following pics), and the espaliered citrus, as I mentioned in my post, is a trifoliate orange. —Pam
I can imagine how the oranges would look all orangy colored on that wall. Very striking. Love all of these flowers. I have never seen cotton blooming. It is very pretty.
Cotton has a hibiscus-like appearance in bloom—very pretty indeed. —Pam
I’ve never seen a Blackberry Lily that wonderful color. I wonder if it’s a Pardancanda norrisii. Which ever one it is, lovely is the word. Lovely garden, too…your closeups made me smile.
Thanks for the suggested ID, Gail. I’ll just keep changing it in my post. 🙂 I’m glad to have such knowledgeable readers! —Pam
I have to find out what that Toad Lily is…that color is outstanding…and I will always have a soft spot for Morning Glories…especially those deep purple ones 🙂
The current reader consensus, Scott, is that the “toad lily” is actually Pardancanda norrisii. —Pam
I think Gail is right, Darla and I were half right as Pardancanda norrisii is a cross between Blackberry lily (Belamcanda chinesis) and Pardanthopsis dichotoma. I hadn’t seen Belamcanda chinesis in that color…but I love it!!
Thanks for the confirmation, Janet. I’m glad to have all of your input on that one, as it was foreign to me. —Pam
Thank for the memory freshener!
Glad you enjoyed, Les. —Pam
Wow! These posts about your dad’s garden and Fearrington Village have me wanting to move! You should get a cut of their sales! Should I tell them that Pam Penick sent me?
Absolutely, Outlaw. I believe my cut is 10%. 😉 —Pam
Seeing all that color today made me smile – dreaming of fall color Pam!!!!! I LOVE the new picture you put on your page – you look beautiful and natural…like your garden. 🙂 Have a great weekend!
Why, thank you, Heather! Hope you have a lovely weekend too. —Pam
It’s interesting when we get away from our own gardens a little bit and see others’ how magical they appear. Through fresh eyes (and a talented photographer’s lens) the plants, colors, foliage, and structure just pop! And then we’re renewed with a new appreciation for our own gardens. Well done, Pam. The cotton as an ornamental is sweet!
I’m glad you enjoyed the tour, PP. Like you, I find fresh inspiration from my travels and love to see other gardens, even those whose plants I can never hope to grow myself. —Pam
It is just as beautiful in summer as spring. I love the plant & color combinations. I want that frog!
They really did a nice job with their annual combos, I thought. And isn’t that frog the most relaxed little fellow? —Pam
That is one beautiful flower Pardancanda Norrisii, the colour is gorgeous, you do take nice photo’s.