Go see Concord's Memorial Garden

Galanthus, or snowdrop, is already blooming in Concord. Photo by Carole Massey, Master Gardener.

Closeup of a Daphne odora. Photo by Carole Massey, Master Gardener.

One of the pleasures of winter is having a spring-like break between freezing temperatures and the next blast of Arctic air.

On such a day, when the thermometer rises to 60 degrees, any housebound Master Gardener will do a few tasks around his or her property and then go looking for the hidden beauty to be found in a winter garden.

This past Monday was such a day for a few Rowan County Master Gardeners. We have often heard of the Memorial Garden in Concord, but have either never visited, or it had been so long, the experience was dimmed by time. What a hidden treasure was waiting, tucked into a busy corner, just a short block away from downtown businesses.

The history of the 3-acre garden is detailed by a pamphlet available as one enters the garden through the main gate. The land was originally bought in 1804 by First Presbyterian Church. The first sanctuary was built in 1810 and subsequent buildings were constructed in 1835 and 1874.

The privately owned cemetery was first restored in 1930 and is maintained through a trust. The facility is no longer used for burials, but families of First Presbyterian Church of Concord are eligible for inclusion in the columbarium, a wall with niches for cremated remains.

What a pleasant, peaceful site it is, with the winter sun brightening the grassy areas, with the grave sites either edged with granite stones or bedded with fresh mulch. Most of the bedding areas were planted with a variety of pansies, their green foliage in sharp contrast to the dark mulch.

The towering trees, one willow oak dating back 200 years, are sculptural with the blue skies as a backdrop. The specimen trees are noted in the pamphlet: crepe myrtles, Japanese flowering cherry yoshino, black gum, Florida anise tree, Carolina silverbell and a 65-year-old Japanese maple.

The walkways are curving and meandering through the garden with different stones and textures leading from one feature to another. With winter interest, stooping and sniffing, lifting a leaf to peer underneath, looking beyond the obvious is where to find the treasures.

The galanthus were already in bloom on a sunny South-facing slope. Many blades of minor bulbs were pushing up, encouraged by the warmth. The Daphne odora had escaped the winter burn of too low temperatures and freezing winds and was uniformly green. It was within days of releasing its signature spicy scent.

The Carolina jessamine was beginning to bloom and the fragrance was well remembered. There were many fresh, seemingly barren beds. When asked, the part-time caretaker responded that those beds were the spring show to come. More than 14,000 tulip bulbs have been planted to bloom in March and April. There are also more than 100 varieties of azaleas to add to the color and year round interest.

The holly bushes are still flush with red berries. Many have been sculpted into pleasing shapes. The water features are not overly persistent in their pounding of the rocks as the water spills over their sides with a murmur rather than a roar.

The overall neatness, the care that has been taken with the maintenance of the landscape, as well as the gravesites and monuments, truly make this a unique and special garden, one that will be visited again.

Plan on going during the spring festival, or just take advantage of a warm winter day for a serene stroll through a very worthwhile destination. For more information on the Memorial Garden, go to www.memorialgarden.info.

Carole Massey is an Extension Master Gardener Volunteer with the Cooperative Extension Service in Rowan County. Call 704-216-8970.

http://www.rowanmastergardener.com

http://rowan.ces.ncsu.edu

www.rowanextension.com