Every May, George and I take our beach vacation to Ocean Isle, NC (north of Myrtle Beach). In 2007 while in North Carolina, we drove north to the Wilmington area to visit the Orton Plantation and Gardens. This historic landscape was designed around the 1735 mansion and colonial rice fields overlooking the Cape Fear River. There are walking trails all around the plantation. Since George and I love beautiful flowers, we were excited to see the gardens. I chose 13 pictures to share--and will divide them into two posts. We think that you will find Orton Plantation Gardens a wonderful place to visit if you are ever in that area. In order to find out more about Orton, click HERE. The picture above is the gorgeous mansion. Below are five more pictures.
Above, the beautiful road to the mansion
Yipes---Who is our first visitor while driving toward the mansion?? Think he's a friendly one??????
Above, you can see our first glimpse of the gorgeous gardens!
Oh how I love Impatiens!!!
This last picture above shows more of the beautiful, well-maintained gardens and the walking trails!!! (More to come tomorrow!)
48 comments:
Such goregous pictures. I especially love the one with the trees and the road.
You two go to some fantastic places. Very nice.
Reminds me a good bit of Savannah too. Beautiful old plantations preserved and well cared for so that you can take a trip back in time.
The tree-lined road to the mansion really takes you back in time - so very pretty!
Makes me long for summer and flowers. Looks like a beautiful place to vacation.
I didn't know that gators were found so far north.
What a beautiful place! Thanks for sharing your photos.
Beautiful. Live oaks are one of my favorite trees!
Can do without the "un-friendly" gator! The gardens look just amazing, great post Betsy!!
I always love these tree lined drives into the southern mansions.
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Lovely!
What a pretty place. I would love visit there someday.
Thanks for the tour, Betsy! Would like to be there someday - beautiful photos!
Those are beautiful pictures Betsy. I love the last one showing those manicured gardens and hedges. This looks like a nice place to visit.
We'll probably never get there so it was nice to visit via you! Loved the tree lined drive.
that so reminds me of our trip to Charleston this year, and yes I too saw those eyes peeking out of the water!!! Between me and you, I think dh was more frightened than me!!!!LOL
Gill in Canada
Drop back by.......Award!
Wow - that's quite the spread! Do you know what kind of trees those are along the road in - just splendid!!
What a beautiful plantation, and still so well cared for. I love the arch of branches over the road. The deer below are pretty cute, too.
I love that last shot...what a wonderful looking place!
I understood you girlie!!!
Smiles!!!
That is just breathtaking Betsy. Gorgeous.
I recognize that look the gator is giving you...NO, he is not friendly...only hungry. :)
The garden and walking trees look like such a peaceful and beautiful place to walk!
Very nice, Betsy. No I don't think that gator (or croc) is friendly.
Just beautiful, Betsy. Thank you for sharing those pictures with us today.
I am from Tennessee also. I live near Nashville. My husband and I used to own a lot in Fairfield Glade, but we sold it several years ago. They never developed the area where our lot was, so we practically had to give the lot away.
Betty
Thank you for your kind comments.
I know by your photos and lovely words that you are a gentle woman with a warm soul. The adoration you have for life is outstanding and you seem to spread such joy around the blogs with your comments, I can read it here everytime I visit.
Many hugs to you...
I will visit again when I recover a little more.
Take care.
Betsy, thanks for visiting me today.
I wanted to let you know that I tried to add your blog to my sidebar, but I could never get it to take. If you notice on my sidebar I have blogs that I like to visit, and this is a way to remind me. But I couldn't add your's to it. I'm wondering why. Do you have any ideas?
I put in http://betsyintennessee.blogspot.com
Correction: I put
http://betsyfromtennessee.blogspot.com
We also go to Myrtle Beach :) but not the part where you were. I'd love to wander thru that garden!
Isn't it funny how their backroads are all sand?!
That is a spectacular place,by the looks of your photos.
Blessings,Ruth
Oh, Betsy, these are wonderful...I especially love that tree in the first photo and the tree lined road to the mansion.
Fantastic photos, Betsy! I love the one with the tree branches over the road. Love the impatiens flowers too. Thanks for sharing these. :D
OMGosh Betsy, I love these photos, but especially the 2nd one - I absolutely love it when trees hang over the road in a canopy - it's just so appealing to me! Fantastic shots & can't wait to see the rest!
Thank you also for visiting & commenting on my post. You got there quick too, I just hit post & started reading & you had already left a message. I'm thinking you may have missed some adjustments, so you might want to take a 2nd look.
Those are the best places, part historical, part horticultural, and often some nature mixed in. The funny thing is that looks like a modest home compared to some of the mega mansions they've been building along the gulf in Naples.
Kallen--I love those Live Oak trees. There are many plantations in the south which have those tree-lined drives into the plantation. Yes, we do get to see many beautiful places... BUT--there's so much more to see.
Jayne--Yes, this plantation is very similar to others on the east coast --and also in FlL and Texas. Have you seen Oak Alley plantation near New Orleans??? Gorgeous--or at least it used to be before Katrina!
Mildred--Love the Live Oaks surrounding the road too!!!!
Connie-- Yes, it does make me excited about our upcoming NC trip in May!!!!
Sally--Oh Yes, those gators are in the marshes along the east coast... Since that plantation used to be a rice plantation, there is alot of water around it.
Pat--Thanks!!! You should visit that plantation someday.
Woody---I love Live Oaks also. My brother used to live in St. Augustine, FL and he had live oaks in his yard. Talk about gorgeous!!!
Darla----Aw--I thought he was just welcoming us to the plantation... Ha!
Leedra--Those are Live Oaks---and so beautiful. I've seen them along the entrances of at least 3 plantations through the years.
Thanks Cedar... You should visit it someday!!!
Pigeon-- I hope you do get to visit this area someday.
Diane--Hopefully, you can make a trip to the east coast someday to visit this area.
Susie--Oh --me too!!! I loved seeing those manicured gardens and hedges. Unbelievable... Wait til tomorrow's pictures to see more!!!
Cicero--Oh you never know!!! Maybe someday you'll get down this way... I hope so!!! The tree-lined drive are Live Oak trees.
Gill-- Yes, this area (being north of Charleston and Savannah) is very similar along the coast. Those gators are in the marshes all around those areas. I wasn't afraid since we were in the car!!! ha
Darla---Thanks . I got it---and posted it on my sidebar!!!! I'll blog about it soon.
Deb--Yes, those are Live Oak trees. Aren't they gorgeous???
Thanks Janie for visiting my blog. Hope you come back soon. I checked out your beautiful blog. WOW!!!.. The tree-lined road consists of Live Oak trees.
Mary--I love that last picture also. The well-manicured gardens were exceptional. Wait til tomorrow... I'll post more!
Darla-- Thanks Friend!!!!
Suzanne--Aw--do you mean he isn't welcoming us to the plantation???? Hmmmm---I thought he was !!! LOL
Shelley--Those big trees are Live Oaks. Aren't they fabulous??? Hope you get your 'puter fixed..
Diane-- Oh My Goodness---I thought that gator was our welcoming committee..HA!
HI Betty--Welcome to my blog. Come back anytime. I checked yours out--and loved it!!! LOTS of people owned lots in FFG --and either lost them or sold them due to the areas not being developed. There's still many lots for sale up here even in the developed areas.
Michele-- I told my hubby recently that you have one of the best photo blogs I've ever seen. I had no idea of your physical problems until recently. My love and prayers are with you. God Bless!!!
Betty---I think you figured it out but I am betsyfromtennessee --not betsyintennessee.
Hi Phyllis--George used to live in Little River (north of North Myrtle Beach). We used to go to North Myrtle Beach--but have moved farther north --to get away from all of the tourists!!! ha.. We still drive into Myrtle to walk and eat at Barefoot Landing.. The only sand road was the drive into the plantation through the Live Oaks. It was gorgeous!!! Hope you get there someday
Hi Ruth--Orton is a beautiful plantation. I hope you and Jake can visit there someday.
Barb---There is a picture of the chapel (JUST for YOU) in tomorrow's blog. They say that they have weddings in that chapel every weekend. I can imagine getting married there. Wow!!!! Congrats on 2 yrs. of your blog!!!!!
Rose--Those are Live Oak trees. Aren't they beautiful? Glad you enjoyed the pictures.
Daisy--Those trees are Live Oaks. They are so beautiful--when you drive through them!!!
Tricia--Everyone loves those Live Oak trees. When driving down that road, it is wonderful to see those trees all around us--and over us!!! I re-checked your blog--but did see it the first time!!!!
Bob--These old plantations probably aren't nearly as big or as expensive as some of the mansions being built these days. BUT---I still love the old plantations and their gorgeous grounds.
Ooohhh, spring/summer, HURRY UP!!!
I love those old trees that usually line these entrances to plantations.
What a beautiful place! I love the plantation house and the oak lined road. Reminds me of Savannah or Mobile.
Betsy: I would stay away from the pond.
Jackie---Well, January is almost over---so there's hope!!!
Bernie--Those beautiful trees are Live Oaks. Seems like most everyone who has commented loves those trees. ME too!!!
Dot-- Yes, it is very similar to old plantations near Charleston and Savannah..
Tom---Agreed!!!!! I enjoy looking at gators from a distance!!!!
How gorgeous (except the gator--don't like gators). I love that tree lined drive. Beautiful! I love the statue (alive!) above. Funny!!!
I'm not crzay about gators either, Rosa. I'll look at them at a distance. I visited an alligator farm in St. Augustine, FL once.. Scary!!!! Glad you liked that 'silly' statue!!!
Gorgeous! Except the gator!!
Ha Wendy. I'm with you when it comes to gators.. I will watch them from a distance.
Those flowers are amazing. Such splendor. Thx. for sharing.
I love them all and my favorite is the trees over the road. I have always wanted to see something like this with sphagnum moss on the.
Cassie---These are beautiful gardens. Thanks for going our our 'tour'.
Grammy--Those trees are called Live Oaks. Aren't they just fabulous???
Wow that tree lined approach is wonderful, love those knarled, twisted branches. Was that a real alligator!!?
Sarah--those trees are Live Oaks. Aren't they gorgeous??? YES---that was a real alligator.. They live in the marshes around the coast.
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