Discover a Tapestry of Beauty

Fanciful and elaborate gardens were kept to entertain Queen Elizabeth I during her reign. Our garden was created for your enjoyment, and as a living memorial to the time when Sir Walter Raleigh’s lost colonists lived in this very place over 400 years ago.

The Gardens include a collection of Renaissance statues, a sound-front Elizabethan-gazebo, a sunken Elizabethan knot garden – all adorned by an ever-changing palette of year-round color from hydrangeas to native plants, perennials and camellias on ten sound-side acres.

Year-long highlights include beautiful winter-time Camellias, spring bulbs, colorful summer landscapes from hydrangeas to crepe myrtles, autumn hues of ornamental grasses and salvia, as well as seasonal events like an Easter Eggstravaganza, Harvest Hayday and WinterLights. The Gardens are founded and supported by The Garden Club of North Carolina.

The Gardens are open year-round, seven days a week. At our garden shops, enjoy the selection of plants available from their nursery, or the gift shop’s wonderful collection of statuary, gifts, books, note cards, candles, soaps, and edible delights.

We are located at 1411 National Park Drive Manteo, NC 27954 GPS: 35 56.2N 75 42.7w

Hours vary seasonally. Visitation is by paid admission.

Photo: Camellia – reticulata