Located on the north end of Roanloke Island, the Elizabethan Gardens is a beautiful formal garden that offers a respite from the hectic pace of life. The garden includes an award winning rose garden and Italian statuary that has been dated by the Smithsonian Museum as created between 1300 and 1600.
The Great Lawn in the middle of the gardens is a large open grassy field, perfect for kids to burn off energy if they come with parents.
Patterned after an English formal garden, there is always something in bloom, always some greenery to lift the spirit. The plants and formal layout of the garden, though, are just part of the story, for contained within the paths, trails and buildings are historic artifacts that weave a trail of mystery and intrigue.
The gardens officially opened on August 18, 1960—the birthday of Virginia Dare, the first English child born in the new world.
Along with the amazing and elegant flowers, trees and pathways, there have been some remarkable finds over the years.
One of the things that sets the Elizabethan Gardens apart for just about any other formal garden is the statuary and fountains. Almost all formal gardens have those, but as it turns out, the statuary seems to have been created in 15th century Italy the Farnesi family, one of the most powerful and rich clans in that period of time and known patrons of Michelangelo. It is doubtful if the master created them, but it is interesting that they were commissioned by the same family that sponsored him.
There is also a painting of an aging Queen Elizabeth I that no one recognized as significant until an ECU historian got a glimpse of it in 2008 and it was indeed very significant.
But the statuary and painting aside, the best reason to visit the Elizabethan Gardens is to be outside in a beautiful setting and smell the flowers.
The Outer Banks has so many surprises in store. Begin your journey of discovery in a Brindley Beach Vacations home.