The fam knows that I love gardens, so for my last place to visit, they took me to the Elizabethan Gardens showcasing Roanoke Island’s Tudor-era roots.
*Clicking on a photo will give you a closer look!
Most of the flowers had faded away, but there is plenty on this 10 acre site to enjoy at any time of the year!
Not that I enjoyed this fella! He/she had a web stretched from one side of the footpath clear to the other side! This garden spider was hard to photograph, but it was 5 to 6 inches in size…the biggest spider that I have ever seen! They grow ’em big in North Carolina!
Fanciful and elaborate gardens were kept to entertain Queen Elizabeth I during her reign, and the Elizabethan Gardens are a living memorial to her time and Sir Walter Raleigh’s lost colonists who settled here.
Amazing detail!
The Virginia Dare statue, sculpted from white marble by Maria Louise Lander of Salem, Massachusetts, was sold, sunk off the coast of Spain, bought back, restored, sold again, rescued from a fire, returned again to Miss Lander, willed to North Carolina, exhibited, disputed, left behind in the basement of the old Supreme Court Building, exhibited and disputed again, eventually making her way to a beautiful home with an ancient oak in the Elizabethan Gardens.
These ruins are part of the gardens and overlook Roanoke Sound. I wish I knew their stories!
My daughter in action!
Thus ends my wonderful trip to the east coast! If you have never been, then I highly recommend visiting if you can! I know I loved it!
Thank you for all of your comments and encouragement as I shared my trip with you!
What I Did on Vacation or Visit to North Carolina Part 1
What I Did on Vacation or Visit to North Carolina Part 2
What I Did on Vacation or Visit to North Carolina Part 3
What I Did on Vacation or Visit to North Carolina Part 4
What I Did on Vacation or Visit to North Carolina Part 5
Stay healthy.
Stay safe.
Keep smiling.
See the world around you!
LC's Cottage 
Love that spider web!
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Me too! I am pretty proud of myself for nailing that one! 🙂
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Awesome pics once more baby girl!!!
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Love the QE statue!
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She is very cool, Donna! 🙂
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The studio gardens look amazing. That was quite a spider! I’m glad ours don’t grow that big here. 😀
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I know it is a garden spider, but, sheesh, it eats well, I guess! I am sure glad that we don’t have them that large here, either. I might have to give up gardening otherwise! 🙂
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I wish I had your skills on taking pictures! I am so jealous of your trip! What wonderful memories Laura!!!! Hugs
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Great memories for sure, Nanette! Hugs to you as well! 🙂
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Wonderful stories and pictures! I would not enjoy seeing a spider so large….there is a reason I live further north. I have to say I am surprised when statues (or other items) survive so many journeys to be shown in their “new” home. I do wonder about those pillars too.
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I would love to come back in spring or summer to visit this garden, spiders notwithstanding. I bet with blooms it is so different and beautiful in other ways! And maybe I could find a staff member who knows what those pillars are about. 😊
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