Residents of the Piedmont area of North Carolina have easy access to a number of display gardens such as the Paul J. Ciener Botanical Garden in Kernersville. I met the late Mr. Ciener back in 1982 when I purchased a truck from his Ford dealership, but we’re not here to discuss trucks. We’re talking gardens, and Mr. Ciener loved all things horticultural. Follow the link for the official background and history of the garden or continue scrolling for details of our visit.
I love the curving entry way to the garden. Though I did not capture a picture showing Main Street the buildings and overhead powerlines reminded me of a host of small towns I have visited. In truth the garden is surrounded by city though the seven acres of grounds are large enough to make visitors forget that fact.
Consult the garden map and take note that many of the numbered items listed there are shaded in grey to indicate future development. We found plenty to hold our attention and hope to return for additional visits as the plan unfolds.
In late September gardens are abuzz in the Piedmont as butterflies and bees seek out the waning flow of nectar from the blossoms. The garden had much in bloom as these images show, and we delighted. We planned to visit to this garden in May of 2018 but life has a way of changing plans, right?
The Welcome Center transmits a Mediterranean vibe. My favorite gardener, Shawn, wasted no time exploring and capturing images with her iPhone. Most of these photos are from her collection though I managed to nab a few of my own. We’ve found the built-in camera on the cell phones to be vastly more convenient than toting a camera bag and lenses, and the processing software inside the pocket-sized device does a good job filtering and focusing. (Photographic purists may be offended by that confession.) Just be certain your phone has adequate memory available for images.
Tucked behind the Welcome Center and parallel to Main Street is a kitchen garden to die for. The cedar-trimmed raised beds remind me of a song from Children’s Church – “Deep and Wide.” The three foot height would accommodate most gardeners but the six foot width might be a stretch. Though a clever deer might score a nibble I don’t think the crops will be devoured by the rabbits which haunt so many of our gardens.
The opposite side of the Welcome Center, tagged as the Patio Terrace, invites visitors to slow down and take a beat. Hidden behind the vines lurks a gift shop which whimsical items from local artists. Some plants can also be purchased.
We noted the whimsical cleverness in some of the displays such as this wall garden using repurposed pallets. Who wouldn’t prefer a living wall of plants to a huge sterile fence?
The garden side of the terrace beckons the visitor to step up to the overlook for a panoramic view of the grounds. I found it easy to forget we were near a city at that vantage point. And looking down I was thrilled to see a spectacular water feature. Here’s a video clip with sight and sound.
The garden can be rented for weddings and other gatherings. Consult the site for details. We did not inspect the amphitheater, but on our late-September visit the weather could not have been more pleasant.
Someone had a great deal of time on his (or her) hands to construct this bench from deadwood. I noted many instances were reusable materials found a place in the garden, a move I applaud loudly.
And last is the “money shot” where Shawn channeled her inner photographer self and captured the moon in a blue Carolina sky looking down upon a pomegranate tree. Wow!
If your travels take you through the I-40 corridor that winds between Greensboro and Winston-Salem the Paul J. Ciener Botanical Garden awaits a few minutes up US421. Take a break, stop in, and stroll through the garden. (Be warned that the rest room is inside the Welcome Center which does not open until 10.)
We found plenty of restaurants nearby with easy return access to I-40 via US421.