The gardens at Fearrington have been welcoming visitors for nearly 30 years. They meld the informal and unaffected qualities of Fearrington's farm heritage with small-scale, romantic landscape details Jenny and R.B. Fitch enjoyed during their travels through charming European villages. The Fitches were particularly inspired by the gardens they discovered at inns that were members of the Paris-based Relais & Chateaux association, which The Fearrington House joined in 1988.

Fearrington’s gardens celebrate seasons, holidays, and special occasions and they also celebrate North Carolina’s rich horticultural traditions and plant diversity. The mild climate of the Piedmont region allows our gardens to be attractive and interactive throughout the year. While several gardens are formal in nature - including the Knot Garden adjacent to the Fearrington House Restaurant and the White Garden behind the Inn Building - most are relaxed in design such as the Rugosa Bed, Island Bed and Natives Bed, all in the heart of the Village Center.

Read about the history of Fearrington's Gardens>>

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Our Gardening Approach

The more than 50 garden beds in the Village Center are maintained using organic methods and include native plants ranging from bulbs, shrubs, perennials to trees. Among our most popular are Stokes Aster, a long blooming blue perennial that is both hardy and attractive, and native grasses such as Blue-grama Grass and pink muhly grass, both of which are evergreen with interesting seed heads and are pest and deer resistant. We incorporate native hollies like winterberries that have the added benefit of providing a seasonal food source for wildlife such as birds.

When selecting non-native plants, we look for the same benefits we find in natives, such as disease and pest resistance and drought tolerance. We grow many of the herbs and vegetables used at the Fearrington House Restaurant and many of the cut flowers used by our florists in their arrangements.   
 

A Map of Our Gardens

Fearrington Village is open to visitors seven days a week, year round and visitors are welcome to stroll through our many gardens at any time. Personalized group garden tours can be arranged by calling (919) 542-2121.

- CHATTER: A Fearrington Country Journal -
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