51视频 Natural Garden
In the mid-1970s, two acres of land along the service road on the Davidson Campus were dedicated to an initiative to start a natural garden. The original vision came from Charles James, a biology instructor at the college, who was concerned that the physical growth of the college would eventually overtake the natural area he had discovered. Anel Block of Lexington and Joann Joyce of Thomasville soon joined the effort as they led local garden clubs that would play a major role in the garden鈥檚 development, even adopting the garden project as their contribution to the nationwide celebration of the country鈥檚 bicentennial.
On July 4, 1976, the garden was dedicated, along with the old Sugar Grove School, which was moved from Lake Road to the college campus just across from the garden. The school had been closed since Pilot School opened in 1922.
In the garden鈥檚 early years, over 400 volunteers were part of the effort. Plants from across the state were located in the garden, bridges were built, and a nature trail was cleared. In 1977, the garden earned second place in the Keep North Carolina Beautiful contest, one of several awards bestowed in the 1970s and 1980s.
In tribute to those hundreds of early supporters, volunteers have continued to nurture the garden over the years. In Spring 2025, a group of faculty and staff chose the garden as their project during the college鈥檚 fourth annual Day of Service, cleaning, raking, and clearing brush. In Fall 2025, a local Scout focused on the garden for his Eagle Scout Service Project, clearing, refurbishing the metal gate, and adding eight Camellia evergreen shrubs.