Old Site of Airlie House

Sta�Parking

Lebanon Entrance Road

Garden Services Center

Mystery Grave

PergolaGarden

Airlie Road

Airlie Road

Bradley Creek

Bradley Creek

Cemetery

Sta� Only

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Bottle Chapel

Bradley CreekPier

AirlieOak

Bradley CreekOverlook

CamelliaGarden

LebanonChapel

SpringGarden

SeasidePark

ModelTranquility

Gardens

SeasonalGarden

Garden Services Center: Location of ticket agent, restrooms, gift shop, the Bug Zoo(closed in Winter), vending machines, and our historical timeline.

Seaside Park Model: This model house is a cumulative representation of the original Airlie House pre and post renovation. (The original Airlie house was dismantled in 1958)

Airlie Oak: Dating back to 1545, and the NC state champion live oak, the Airlie Oak is one of the largest trees of it’s kind in the Carolinas.

Bradley Creek Pier: A private pier used primarily for educational programs, or kayak eco-tours, the pier provides a unique view east toward Wrightsville Beach.

Bradley Creek Overlook: Here you can experience a rare occurrence: a tidal creek ecosystem on one side, a freshwater lake on the other.

Camellia Garden: A vast collection of antique camellias, scattered throughout a grove of old live oaks. Also home to a 150-foot trellis.

Lebanon Chapel: Built in 1835. The property is deeded to St. James Episcopal Church in Downtown Wilmington. (Still an occasional place of worship, please respect the grounds when visiting)

Mystery Grave: Burial spot of an 18th century man named “John Hill.” According to legend he had been a marshal of Napoleon.

Pergola Garden: Designed in the early 1900s, the Pergola structure is bulit of tabby, covered in Jasmine, and surround-ed by seasonally changing �owers. Also features a 4-tiered fountain with steps leading in to Airlie lake.

Tranquility Gardens: Featuring Airlie’s Butter�y House and Centennial Plaza, this tranquil Setting is home to a variety of showcase gardens.

Bottle Chapel (The Minnie Evans Sculpture Garden):Features a chapel made of over 2,800 bottles, and multiple sculptures and mosaics by local artists. All works designed as a tribute to artist Minnie Evans.

Map Legend

- Unpaved Path

- Nature Trails .3m (optional)- Entrance/Exit Roadway

T - Tram Stop/Map

DesignatedTour Pathsapprox. 0.9m

- Asphalt Path/Tram Route- Sidewalk

Spring Garden: Designed in the early 1900s, features a tranquil fountain, numerous azaleas, seasonal bulbs, and stone pergola structure. It sits closest to the old homesite.

Seasonal Garden: This garden is replantedeach season. Tulips announce spring, followed by sun�owers and perennials for summer, colorful fall mums and a poinsettia hot house during the holidays.

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Airlie Gardens is a self-guided, walking tour experience. Designated tour paths are indicated on the map. A complimentary Tram service is available during certain hours of the day. This service is for visitors who need assistance touring the gardens. Benches and Tram stops are represented with a on the map.

More Than a Century of Gardens

By the Sea

300 Airlie RoadWilmington, NC

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www.airliegardens.org

Rediscover Airlie GardensFirst established in 1901, Airlie Gardens is a

valuable cultural and ecological component of New Hanover County and North Carolina history. In 1999, a grant from the Clean Water Management Trust Fund, a commitment of the New Hanover County Commissioners, and the support of local residents made possible the county’s purchase and restoration of Airlie’s 67 acres. After celebrating more than a century of gardens by the sea, Airlie continues to amaze visitors with its breathtaking combination of wildlife, formal gardens, historic structures, sculptures, views of Bradley Creek, and the gentle shade of the 468 year old Airlie Oak. The gardens are known for its grand announce-ment of Spring with a collection of over 100,000 azaleas. Countless camellia cultivars bloom through-out early Spring and formal display areas bloom with continuous color year-round. In addition to the preservation of this unique property, the county is dedicated to environmental education. As one of the last undeveloped tracts along Bradley Creek, Airlie is one of the few places in this mostly urban county where one can recieve a first hand experience of the dynamic tidal creek ecosystem. Airlie’s Environmental Education program seeks to educate youth and adults about flora, fauna, and environmental topics affecting our coastal area.

Happening Now...Bird Hikes @ Airlie

The 2nd Wednesday of each month!Jan. 13th, Feb. 10th & Mar. 9th 2016

8am-9:30am

Airlie’s CamelliasCamellias can be found scattered throughout Airlie’s 67 acres of garden, blooming in the late fall and winter months. Many of Airlie’s camellia’s date back over 100 years, and were planted by Sarah Jones herself. The most abundant area showcasing camellias is our Camellia Garden located just beyond Lebanon Chapel and next door to our Spring Garden. Most of the cultivers in the Camellia Garden are Japonica camellias, with a few Sasanqua mixed in as well. There are some Sasanqua’s in the Pergola garden and also in areas closer to the Garden Services Center. Below is information describing the differenc-es in the two “main” types of camellia at Airlie. Japonica camellias are usually 6 to 12 feet tall, although they can reach a height of 25 feet under perfect conditions, and are generally larger than sasanquas. Their leaves are also larger than those of sasanquas, usually about 4 inches long, and more leathery. Japonica camellias begin blooming a bit later than sasanquas, usually in late winter, although the timing can vary by variety. Japonicas have larger flowers than sasanquas, up to 5 inches wide and partially or fully doubled. The flowers are in many colors, including white, pink, rose, red and mixed red and pink, and they are lightly fragrant. Japonicasand Sasanquas are generally slow-growing, but japonicas are a bit slower than sasanquas. Both types, however, can live for hundreds of years.

Sasanqua camellias have dark-green, shiny leaves that are about 2 inches long, and the shrubs' mature heights range from 2 or 3 feet to 12 feet, depending on the variety. Taller types become like spreading trees when all but a few main stems are pruned away from young plants. Their flowers begin opening in early winter and are usually single and white, although some cultivars and many of Airlie’s have pink blossoms. The flowers are 2 to 4 inches in diameter, can be single or double and generally are not fragrant. Sasanqua camellias can be sensitive to long periods of subfreezing temperatures.

Camellias are blooming!See back panel for more

information!

www.airliegardens.org

A note on cultivars: Since our camellia’s come in so many colors, shapes and sizes, many have inquired about the exact cultivars of Airlie’s Camellias. There are thousands of Camellia cultivars at Airlie which have not been professionally cataloged for multiple reasons. The differences between cultivars can be very subtle. We do not have a camellia expert on our staff. Until the county purchased Airlie in 1999, and beginning in about 1904, Airlie was privately owned by two separate families, first the Jones’ and then the Corbetts. Both families were camellia collectors and enthusiasts and brought in varieties that were new and exciting at the time. These collections were for personal enjoyment so inventories were not maintained, or at least not passed down to us. We hope you enjoy their beauty!