Gardens

For over 30 years, the gardens at Fearrington have been welcoming visitors. They meld the informal and unaffected qualities of Fearrington's farm heritage with the charming, romantic landscape details Jenny and R.B. Fitch enjoyed during their travels through the European countryside. The Fitches were particularly inspired by the gardens they discovered at inns that were members of Relais & Chateaux, which The Fearrington House joined in 1988. Read more about the history of the gardens.

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 means our gardens are attractive and engaging throughout the year. If you are visiting the area, be sure to visit other wonderful public gardens in the Triangle.

For more information, view the "In the Gardens" section of our blog CHATTER where we regularly profile noteworthy plants in our gardens and other horticultural happenings. Also visit the May 2010 issue of Our State magazine which showcases our gardens.

The grounds include about 60 garden beds, an herb garden used by the chefs at the Fearrington House Restaurant, and several cutting beds used by our florists in their arrangements.  A dedicated and experienced year-round team of seven maintain the grounds, and they're delighted to answer questions as you explore the gardens.

What are some of the unique qualities of our gardens?

• Most designs incorporate a full range of plant material including annuals, bulbs, perennials, shrubs and trees. This "full spectrum" approach provides a reliable and ever-evolving procession of foliage and flower displays through the seasons.

• Our gardens are maintained using organic methods.

• The gardeners relentlessly experiment with plants in micro-climates - variations in sun, moisture, wind, etc. - to find the best matches.

Fearrington Village is open to visitors seven days a week, year round and visitors are welcome to stroll through our many gardens, unless signage indicates the site is closed for a private event. Personalized group garden tours can be arranged by calling (919) 542-2121.