This local was pleasantly reminded this past weekend that even after living here for years there are new and wonderful things to discover on the Outer Banks!... 

This weekend I went to the Coastal Gardening Festival at the Baum Center in Kill Devil Hills, Milepost 8 1/2.  I brought my dog along and enjoyed talking with master gardeners and checking out the variety of plants, pottery and the like for sale.  I liked one gentleman’s work in decorative stepping stones so much that I bought one of his pieces for my flower bed—a pretty floral pattern in soft blue and brown brushed tones. Think quality custom stamp/sealed concrete styles meets too cute yard art!  To check out Mr. Patio's designs and where he'll be displaying them next click here.  But I digress...   

So it’s getting pretty hot in the direct sun and I take the dog over to the shade by a gravel path behind the Baum Center.  Immediately I’m drawn down this path by a beautiful canopy of live oaks and pines, a sweet scent of honeysuckle, and the pop of colors and unique shade plants carefully labeled along the path.  What a surprise... I’d stumbled upon the Outer Banks Arboretum & Teaching Garden!  The amaryllis "patch" and butterfly garden were such a joy to stroll through, and I got some great ideas for my own patio containers by seeing what striking combinations of annuals the volunteers at the Arboretum grouped together along the pathways.  This is such a beautiful little escape just a few blocks back from the Atlantic Ocean... think Elizabethan Gardens, but free and a closer drive!  

Two green thumbs up for the Outer Banks Arboretum!  Grab a couple of 2-legged or 4-legged friends and take a peaceful stroll through this lovely teaching garden.  And if you’re planning a wedding and trying to come up with unique suggestions of things to do for your guests while they're in town, definitely add this stop to the list!  

Until Next Time,
Your OBX Wedding Blogger