For nearly 75 years, Wrightsville Beach’s Harbor Island Garden Club has cultivated community, conservation and one of the area’s most beloved colorful spaces at Harbor Way Gardens.
Gallardias
In the spring of 1952, ten women on Wrightsville Beach planted more than seeds — they planted a vision. Their shared desire to educate themselves and their neighbors, beautify their homes and community, and promote conservation through gardening led to the establishment of the Harbor Island Garden Club (The Club).
From modest beginnings to the creation of Harbor Way Gardens, The Club’s legacy continues to flourish, proving that the most enduring gardens are grown in purpose and community spirit. As the regional flora rests in anticipation of spring, The Club prepares to celebrate its 75th anniversary in 2027.
Founded the same year as the notable Tidewater Camellia Club, Harbor Island Garden Club is a nonprofit organization under the Garden Club of NC and the National Garden Club and consists exclusively of women residing east of the drawbridge in Wrightsville Beach. Over five decades, members have dedicated themselves to growing membership, gaining expertise and partnering with experts, national, state and local garden organizations, governmental bodies, universities and private entities. The Club members have fostered strong bonds and cultivated a lasting tradition of community service.
Garden Entrance
In its early years, The Club focused on planning and researching plants suitable for the local environment, with special attention to species native to North Carolina. Collaborations with local government, garden clubs, universities and citizens resulted in identification of native and non-native plants that would thrive in the local environment, creating an attractive and resilient garden.
Water Feature Lit Up At Dusk
In 2002 The Club set a new goal to establish a botanical garden in Wrightsville Beach. After a search, members proposed a site to the Town of Wrightsville Beach in 2003 — a 1-acre parcel covered with storm debris at the junction of U.S. Highways 74 and 76 near the drawbridge. The town granted permission to use the land, cleared the site and laid out the garden footprint — and Harbor Way Gardens was born!
Harbor Way Gardens
In 2003 Harbor Island Garden Club members began planting and optimizing the layout, emphasizing trees, shrubs and perennials to create habitats for butterflies, bees and birds. The garden slowly evolved, but not without challenges.
Garden Map
Notable Garden Milestones
2012: Installation of a children’s interactive fountain at the garden center, surrounded by brick and sandstone pavers used for fundraising. The garden now includes four additional water features.
2016: Curt Langdon of Outer Space Garden Design became the garden landscaper.
2017: Elise Running was named head of garden maintenance. Her key goal was getting the garden featured on the Cape Fear Garden Tour, part of the annual Azalea Festival in April.
2018: Hurricane Florence caused significant damage, and the garden remained closed for four months during repairs and replanting. During recovery, Wylene MacDonald proposed adding a labyrinth.
2019: The labyrinth was installed, and the garden was selected to participate in the Azalea Festival’s Cape Fear Garden Tour.
2020-2021: COVID-19 slowed fundraising efforts and affected garden maintenance. Near normal operations resumed in late 2021.
2024: A new labyrinth, now World Labyrinth Registry listed, was installed and surrounded by fragrant roses.
Diverse Flora
The garden boasts a diverse collection of plants, shrubs and trees. Among the highlights are gaillardias, various cultivars of roses and camellias. Gaillardia, a vibrant flower native to North Carolina, is related to sunflowers. It was designated as the official Club flower in 2006. Rose varieties, including Yellow Lady Bank, Witherspoon and others, are spread across the garden, a strong source of pride for The Club.
Camellias, evergreen shrubs native to East Asia, are special and feature prominently. Working with the Tidewater Camellia Club, the garden now hosts more than 100 camellias, including Japonica and Sasanqua varieties, both of which thrive in salt air and humidity.
White Camellia Japonica
Camellias are valued for hardiness and low maintenance, but their appeal is ornamental. They produce showy abundant blooms during periods when most plants are dormant. C. Sasanqua blooms from late October into mid-January, while C. Japonica blooms from January into mid-April. Who doesn’t like showy, red, white and pink blooms in abundance in their yard during the gray winter months? Anyone?
Growing Goodness
Harbor Island Garden Club activities include collaborating with Eagle Scouts on merit badge projects and organizing Christmas decorating contests with local merchants. Fundraising continues through weddings hosted in the garden, the sale of commemorative bricks and pavers and private donations, all supporting maintenance and improvements including a major project to upgrade the large fountain.
Fifth Graders – Earth Day At The Garden
The Club is working closely with Airlie Gardens, an historic 67-acre estate known for its antique camellias, to establish a Camellia Trail. For more information on current activities, visit the club website at harborislandgardenclub.com.
Member vision, community support and perseverance turned a humble beginning into a remarkable achievement. Kudos to individual Club members for their grit. Hats off to the Harbor Island Garden Club and the Town of Wrightsville Beach for their foresight in creating Harbor Way Gardens. Finally, Happy 74th Anniversary to The Club!
Big Leaf Hydrangea
TOUR THE TREASURED GARDENS
Harbor Island Garden Club’s Harbor Way Gardens
321 Causeway Drive, Wrightsville Beach
harborislandgardenclub.com
The 1-acre Harbor Way Gardens is a Wrightsville Beach treasure, yet it often goes unnoticed by tens of thousands who pass by it each year. Consider stopping by for a walk-through to admire its stunning flora.
Be sure to visit the gardens during the NC Azalea Festival’s 2026 Azalea Garden Tour, April 10 through 12.
Visit ncazaleafestival.org for information.
Camellia Lovers At The Show
Love camellias?
Don’t Miss This
TIDEWATER CAMELLIA CLUB SHOW AND SALESaturday, February 28, 11 am to 3 pmNew Hanover County Arboretum, 6206 Oleander Drive, Wilmington
Camellia Show Display Blooms
The event will feature demonstrations, Q&A sessions with camellia experts and more than 300 camellias available for purchase. Assistance transporting and loading purchases into your vehicle is provided. The Camellia Show includes many hundreds of camellia blooms in various sizes and colors beginning at noon.
For details on the Tidewater Camellia Club and the Camellia Show and Sale, visit tidewatercamelliaclub.org.
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