Wing Haven Gardens and Bird Sanctuary

Wing Haven Gardens & Bird Sanctuary was established in 1927 by Elizabeth and Edwin Clarkson.

In 1971, the couple donated the garden and house to the Wing Haven Foundation. The Clarksons remained in the home until 1988.

Wing Haven's original Clarkson Garden is the Charlotte area's only designated garden and bird sanctuary listed as a local historic landmark by the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Historic Landmark Commission,[1] certified as Wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation, and named an eBird hotspot by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society.[2][3] There have been over 150 species of birds sighted at the property.[4][5]

In 2008, Wing Haven purchased the Elizabeth Lawrence House & Garden at 348 Ridgewood Avenue. Noted author and landscape architect Elizabeth Lawrence lived in the home when she moved to Charlotte. The house and garden is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, in the Smithsonian Institution's Archives of American Gardens, and as one of only 15 Preservation Partner Gardens of the Garden Conservancy.[6][7]

In 2018, Wing Haven added the Student Environmental Education and Discovery (SEED) Wildlife Garden.

The garden plan for Wing Haven Garden & Bird Sanctuary resembles a Cross of Lorraine with its long path crossed by two shorter, perpendicular paths, and the house sited between the shorter paths. It contains a number of pools, fountains and variety of trees, shrubs, and flowers. The garden also contains an English sundial from 1705,[8] various terra cotta pieces, and dozens of plaques. One plaque features a poem by Japanese pacifist and reformer Toyohiko Kagawa. The garden also features a statue of Saint Fiacre, patron saint of gardeners.

• Wing Haven