I could spend everyday going to SOMEBODY’S garden! I just love visiting gardens and never fail to come away with at least one idea for my own……..Today we are visiting the Secret Gardens of the Fourth Ward in Charlotte, North Carolina. In the mid 1800’s this area was known for it’s rough neighborhoods and bordellos. The city decided to clean up the area and bought up the derelict lots and houses. The wealthy then bought these lots, right on the outskirts to the Uptown and banking area, and moved their mansions, literally to the neighborhood. The businessmen were now within walking distance to their businesses. This neighborhood was re-established during a renaissance of the 1970’s. During this time the traffic patterns into the neighborhood were reduced and broken up, using fountains, pocket parks, and the Fourth Ward Park, to decrease the traffic from the more industrial area to the north.  These fine homes and gardens are now one of the most prestigious neighborhoods in Charlotte today. First, I manipulated the decor on a garden fence with an App, and created a dog to guard the garden!

Here is the original garden gate………

This was my favorite mansion in the Fourth Ward, which includes about six blocks of various sized mansions………….

and the little garden shed to match …………

In the Fourth Ward Park, made from taking out the main street and converting it into a lovely garden with walking paths, there were several of these sculptured pieces on poles!

Most of the gardens are small and very secluded. Some can only be reached by a gate that separates the two gardens, after you are already in one of the gardens.

Settlers Lane was constructed by making a curved street, which would be traffic calming and pedestrian friendly, providing a “hide and reveal pattern” to enhance your stroll.

I hope you enjoyed my Six on Saturday! See you next week! Won’t you share six photos related to gardening with us?