Ohhhhh, I was so happy to find Wing Haven on a sunny, mild Saturday on my own. What a lovely story of the Clarkson's who provided for their property to be held in trust for us to discover! It's $6 to get in & I'm not sure they take credit cards if you don't have it. The $6 also gets you into the garden of the Elizabeth Lawrence house about 8 doors down which is a smaller yard space. This space was used more as an experimental garden by Ms. Lawrence as she wrote garden articles & a book about gardening. It doesn't seem to be kept up as well as the other garden.
This is a mini-Williamsburg garden with the brick paths all enclosed with brick walls. Fountains, seating alcoves and plenty of quiet to enjoy. Walking around you see plaques with lovely sayings or prayers that you know were special to the Clarkson's and that they made a part of their park. It was also nice to see signs asking people with children to keep their children with them. It's nice to find a place that wants to maintain a sense of peace & calm no matter who is enjoying it. Sitting in one of the tucked away places I saw chipmunks, a nuthatch, cardinals, chickadees, wrens & heard a woodpecker. It's been so nice here weather-wise that I was able to enjoy some of the ephemerals coming up. I can't wait to go back in late March for more blooms.
Just as an aside...I wish Charlotte would ban leaf-blowers. It's almost impossible to go anywhere to find some quiet without one of those things being rev'd up nearby.