1. Old Site of Airlie House
Staff
Parking
Lebanon Entrance Road
Garden Services Center
Mystery
Grave
Pergola
Garden
AirlieRoad
AirlieRoad
Bradley Creek
Bradley Creek
Cemetery
Staff Only
T
T
T
T
T
T
Bottle
Chapel
Bradley Creek
Pier
Airlie
Oak
Bradley Creek
Overlook
Camellia
Garden
Lebanon
Chapel
Spring
Garden
Seaside
Park
Model
Tranquility
Gardens
Seasonal
Garden
Garden Services Center: Location of ticket
agent, restrooms, gift shop, the Bug Zoo(closed
in Winter), vending machines, and our historical
timeline.
Seaside Park Model: This model house is a
cumulative representation of the original Airlie
House pre and post renovation. (The original Airlie
house was dismantled in 1958)
Airlie Oak: Dating back to 1545, and the NC
state champion live oak, the Airlie Oak is one of
the largest trees of it’s kind in the Carolinas.
Bradley Creek Pier: A private pier used
primarily for educational programs, or kayak
eco-tours, the pier provides a unique view east
toward Wrightsville Beach.
Bradley Creek Overlook: Here you can
experience a rare occurrence: a tidal creek
ecosystem on one side, a freshwater lake on the
other.
Camellia Garden: A vast collection of antique camellias,
scattered throughout a grove of old live oaks. Also home to a
150-foot trellis.
Lebanon Chapel: Built in 1835. The property is deeded to
St. James Episcopal Church in Downtown Wilmington. (Still an
occasional place of worship, please respect the grounds when visiting)
Mystery Grave: Burial spot of an 18th century man named
“John Hill.”According to legend he had been a marshal of
Napoleon.
Pergola Garden:Designed in the early 1900s, the Pergola
structure is bulit of tabby, covered in Jasmine, and surround-
ed by seasonally changing flowers. Also features a 4-tiered
fountain with steps leading in to Airlie lake.
Tranquility Gardens:Featuring Airlie’s Butterfly House
and Centennial Plaza, this tranquil Setting is home to a variety
of showcase gardens.
Bottle Chapel(The Minnie Evans Sculpture Garden):
Features a chapel made of over 2,800 bottles, and multiple
sculptures and mosaics by local artists. All works designed as
a tribute to artist Minnie Evans.
Map Legend
- Unpaved Path
- Nature Trails .3m (optional)
- Entrance/Exit Roadway
T - Tram Stop/Map
Designated
Tour Paths
approx. 0.9m
- Asphalt Path/Tram Route
- Sidewalk
Spring Garden: Designed in the early 1900s, features a
tranquil fountain, numerous azaleas, seasonal bulbs, and
stone pergola structure. It sits closest to the old homesite.
Seasonal Garden: This garden is replanted
each season. Tulips announce spring, followed
by sunflowers and perennials for summer,
colorful fall mums and a poinsettia hot house
during the holidays.
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Airlie Gardens is a self-guided, walking tour experience. Designated tour paths are
indicated on the map. A complimentary Tram service is available during certain
hours of the day. This service is for visitors who need assistance touring the gardens.
Benches and Tram stops are represented with a on the map.

2. More Than a
Century of Gardens
By the Sea
300 Airlie Road
Wilmington, NC
TheoMiloPhotography
www.airliegardens.org
Rediscover Airlie Gardens
First established in 1901, Airlie Gardens is a
valuable cultural and ecological component of New
Hanover County and North Carolina history. In
1999, a grant from the Clean Water Management
Trust Fund, a commitment of the New Hanover
County Commissioners, and the support of local
residents made possible the county’s purchase and
restoration of Airlie’s 67 acres.
After celebrating more than a century of gardens
by the sea, Airlie continues to amaze visitors with its
breathtaking combination of wildlife, formal
gardens, historic structures, sculptures, views of
Bradley Creek, and the gentle shade of the 468 year
old Airlie Oak.
The gardens are known for its grand announce-
ment of Spring with a collection of over 100,000
azaleas. Countless camellia cultivars bloom through-
out early Spring and formal display areas bloom with
continuous color year-round.
In addition to the preservation of this unique
property, the county is dedicated to environmental
education. As one of the last undeveloped tracts
along Bradley Creek, Airlie is one of the few places
in this mostly urban county where one can recieve a
first hand experience of the dynamic tidal creek
ecosystem. Airlie’s Environmental Education
program seeks to educate youth and adults about
flora, fauna, and environmental topics affecting our
coastal area.
Happening Now...
Bird Hikes @ Airlie
The 2nd Wednesday of each month!
Jan. 13th, Feb. 10th & Mar. 9th 2016
8am-9:30am
Airlie’s Camellias
Camellias can be found scattered throughout Airlie’s 67 acres
of garden, blooming in the late fall and winter months. Many
of Airlie’s camellia’s date back over 100 years, and were planted
by Sarah Jones herself. The most abundant area showcasing
camellias is our Camellia Garden located just beyond Lebanon
Chapel and next door to our Spring Garden. Most of the
cultivers in the Camellia Garden are Japonica camellias, with a
few Sasanqua mixed in as well. There are some Sasanqua’s in
the Pergola garden and also in areas closer to the Garden
Services Center. Below is information describing the differenc-
es in the two “main” types of camellia at Airlie.
Japonica camellias are usually 6 to 12 feet tall, although they can
reach a height of 25 feet under perfect conditions, and are
generally larger than sasanquas. Their leaves are also larger than
those of sasanquas, usually about 4 inches long, and more
leathery. Japonica camellias begin blooming a bit later than
sasanquas, usually in late winter, although the timing can vary by
variety. Japonicas have larger flowers than
sasanquas, up to 5 inches wide and partially or
fully doubled. The flowers are in many colors,
including white, pink, rose, red and mixed red
and pink, and they are lightly fragrant. Japonicas
and Sasanquas are generally slow-growing, but
japonicas are a bit slower than sasanquas. Both
types, however, can live for hundreds of years.
Sasanqua camellias have dark-green, shiny leaves that are about
2 inches long, and the shrubs' mature heights range from 2 or 3
feet to 12 feet, depending on the variety. Taller types become
like spreading trees when all but a few main stems are pruned
away from young plants. Their flowers begin opening in early
winter and are usually single and white, although some cultivars
and many of Airlie’s have pink blossoms. The flowers are 2 to 4
inches in diameter, can be single
or double and generally are not fragrant.
Sasanqua camellias can be sensitive to long
periods of subfreezing temperatures.
Camellias are blooming!
See back panel for more
information!
www.airliegardens.org
A note on cultivars: Since our camellia’s come in so many colors,
shapes and sizes, many have inquired about the exact cultivars of
Airlie’s Camellias. There are thousands of Camellia cultivars at Airlie
which have not been professionally cataloged for multiple reasons.
The differences between cultivars can be very subtle. We do not have a
camellia expert on our staff. Until the county purchased Airlie in 1999,
and beginning in about 1904, Airlie was privately owned by two
separate families, first the Jones’ and then the Corbetts. Both families
were camellia collectors and enthusiasts and brought in varieties that
were new and exciting at the time. These collections were for personal
enjoyment so inventories were not maintained, or at least not passed
down to us. We hope you enjoy their beauty!