A Visit to the Gardens
by Ariyanna Smith
A gravel path swoops down a steep hill to the main entrance of the Susie Harwood Garden, where a smooth dirt trail replaces the rocky path. A four-foot tall sky blue hydrangea plant in full bloom greets guests at the entrance, luring them further into the garden with its beauty. A patch of pink, heart-shaped flowers look so bright they could be glowing. Metal name tags of the plants jut up from the dark soil; the pink flowers are called Caladiums. From here, the garden turns into a maze of facts and color awaiting discovery.
The gardens are split into three separate sections: The Susie Harwood Garden, The Van Landingham Glen and The McMillan Greenhouse. The Glen is the oldest of the three, founded in 1966 by UNC Charlotte’s founder, Bonnie E. Cone, and Herbert Hechenbleikner, a biology professor. There are tributes to these pioneers inside the woodland. Cone’s ashes are buried within the woods and a small log cabin near the north entrance is dedicated to Hechenbleikner.
Large ferns line the paths in the Glen. Cardinals fly from tree to tree above while squirrels forage on the ground below. Beams of light shine down on the trails, between the canopies of treetops. The area is almost entirely composed of trees and plant species native to the Charlotte region. The striking, violet Rhododendrons are the only exception, which were introduced to The Glen during its formation. There are several hammock stands, benches and picnic tables scattered throughout this garden.
The Harwood Garden is composed of several small exhibits stitched together with rambling flower beds. It is located on the other side of the gravel path. The first major section is the Water Garden which houses aquatic plants nurtured by the expansive pond located in the center of the garden. A Bigleaf Magnolia can be spotted in the area, a rare tree with deep green leaves 10 inches in length. A lean, stone bench rests on an incline above the pond offering a view of the water and the surrounding vegetation. This is one of Director Jeff Gillman’s favorite places in the Gardens.
The soothing swoosh of the waterfall isn’t the only thing that draws him to this spot. Gillman is a horticulturist who is more interested in the people who visit the garden than the plants. He explains that he enjoys watching visitors interact with the gardens and seeing which plants they are attracted to and how they react to certain arrangements. Referring to his favorite areas in the gardens, he says, “there are places where I can sit and see what’s going on. I like to just sit and watch people move through… I really enjoy those places.” His personal mission is to strengthen the relationship between people and plants. According to the gardens’ website, its mission is to “Inspire a love for plants and nature through programming, classes, and botanical displays.” The two goals are certainly compatible. He and his team have come up with a variety of ways to accomplish this mission. He says slyly, “sometimes you have to hide the plant in there, it’s not always about putting it right in front of a person.”
Programming and educational courses are instrumental. Staff members teach courses on a range of topics including native plant studies and gardening for adult learners. For the younger crowd, upcoming events like, “Stories in the Woods” and the “Carnivorous Carnival” intend to spark children’s interest in plants. Social media, along with a regularly updated podcast called “The Plants We Eat,” keep the community engaged on a digital platform.
A narrow wooden bridge connects the Water garden to the third section, the Asian Gardens. The winding dirt path is replaced by square rock slabs embedded in the ground. The cluttered rows of plants and vines disappear beyond the Moon Gate, a circular stone structure. A sign at the entrance of the garden states, “the Asian Gardens are an expression of ancient beliefs about the nature of the world and the human place in this world.” This area mimics the style of Chinese, Japanese and Korean gardens by evoking yin and yang through the use of vegetation, stone and water. Large, grey sculptures made from stacked boulders are juxtaposed with the lively, lime-colored leaves of a Japanese Bonsai tree. Small, tan rocks are crammed together in a meandering pattern to mimic a river running through the display. Harmony is the guiding principle; trees and stones are presented as complementary elements instead of opposites. This portion of the garden is a community favorite.
In the summer months, the number of visitors to the gardens fluctuates without the steady flow of students on campus. Michael Grogan is one of the few people browsing the Harwood garden on this quiet Tuesday afternoon. He spent the majority of his visit snapping photos of the rock sculptures in the Asian Garden. He says his favorite area is the gazebo because, “It allows me to view everything from an elevated vantage point.” This is his first visit to the gardens in 27 years. He attended UNC Charlotte in 1988, but an illness forced him to drop out during his senior year in 1992. He finally returned to school this summer and decided to take a stroll through the gardens in between his classes, curious about how it has changed. He struggles to find the words to explain his feelings, overwhelmed by the growth. He manages to compliment the design of the trails saying, “They make the gardens feel less confined.”
While Grogan reflects on the past, Gillman is across the street in the Greenhouse classroom writing grants to secure the gardens’ future. “Money is the biggest issue,” he says, “We have a very small operating budget.” Fortunately, his staff knows how to do a lot with a little. Two new projects are currently in development. The Polly Rogers Memorial Sensory Garden will be an interactive garden geared toward children with autism. The garden is named after Polly Rogers, a UNC Charlotte student and aspiring special education teacher who died last spring. The second project is the Heritage Trail, a showcase of crops grown in the Carolinas from the pre-European era to present day. The Urban Institute and Dr. Ashli Stokes from the communications studies department are teaming up with the gardens’ staff to create this exhibit. There is no official opening date for either project yet.
The Glen and the Harwood Garden include relics of the university’s past and showcase a burning desire to brighten the future. A trip to the lush gardens is a must for anyone visiting the campus.