Officials celebrate local natural ‘asset’

By Marie Freeman

freeman@wataugademocrat.com

If it is possible to concentrate all the natural beauty found in Watauga County and gently tuck it into a quiet corner of the town of Boone, then the Daniel Boone Native Gardens is just the spot for such a treasure.

On Monday, the gardens’ board of governors opened the gates to honor and thank all recent volunteer efforts to maintain the historic gardens.

“This is a wonderful town asset — a natural gathering place,”said Boone Town Council member Rennie Brantz as he toured the gardens’ aster-lined Allee.

And this is precisely the attitude that the gardens’ supporters are hoping to re-ignite.

Over the past years, the gardens have suffered from a lack of volunteers able to conduct the often-strenuous maintenance tasks and have relied on a small, but fervent, core of folks, ranging from master gardeners and town of Boone employees to members of the five Watauga County garden clubs to keep the grounds in check.

“This year, we’ve worked hard on getting rid of the vines, which covered trees, and eliminating the poison ivy that covered the beds and were pleased to see the most gorgeous views revealed,” said Nan Chase, acting chair of the board of governors.

But the work in a garden is never really done and Chase is sowing the seeds of interest in the gardens’ growth and success.

“We are really just embarking on a new effort to rediscover the beautiful bones. Our dream is by 2016, which will be the garden’s 50th anniversary, this will be a real showcase,” she said. Chase added, there is not yet a complete strategy on how this will be accomplished, but the first baby steps have been taken, and she is looking for fresh, young gardening enthusiasts to pick up the not-so-metaphorical hoe and start digging into the soil.

“We have specific needs. We need a constant gardener to keep up the maintenance, which  requires funding. We are talking about expanding our wedding services, as well as offering memorial opportunities,” Chase said.

Still, much has been accomplished in the garden despite minimal funding.

The town of Boone gave the gardens a $2,000 grant which was used to hire the professional services of Thomas “Doc” Durden. Durden has spent 100 hours during the late summer to prune and rejuvenate the arbor vines,  opening up the walkway to light. He has cleared the path through the maze and has tied evergreen boughs in hopes they grow to create a tunnel effect to the secluded and tranquil area of the garden.

The town of Boone has been a willing participant in helping maintain the gardens during the transition.

“The town assists the garden club members by cutting down the heavy branches and undergrowth,” said Brad Vines town landscape specialist.

The Daniel Boone Native Gardens is located on the town of Boone’s property but is owned by the Garden Club of North Carolina, Inc. The daily maintenance and operations of the garden is charged to the garden’s board of  governors. Admissions is $2.