The Wing Haven Foundation recently celebrated 50 years (1971-2021) of cultivating and sharing knowledge with an understanding that we are all part of nature. These founding principles, that two women visionaries fully embraced and shared in different ways, result in what Wing Haven is today.
““In my garden, the birds come first””
In 1927, Elizabeth Barnhill Clarkson began to cultivate the red clay soil of a former cotton field surrounding her new house.
Hard work, determination and fascination with songbirds brought her vision to life that grew into a place of remarkable beauty, serenity and environmental study.
Clarkson observed firsthand the detrimental—and often fatal—effects DDT had on the wildlife that called her garden home. She protested local government in attempts to ban the pesticide long before Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring was published.
Her actions weren’t popular, but she knew they were right.
Elizabeth Clarkson’s legacy of environmental activism and understanding of the larger ecosystem is undeniable, and her “quiet garden of ineffable beauty” unmatched.
In 1932, Dr. Arthur Allen, one of the founders of Cornell University’s Lab of Ornithology, traveled with his son to Wing Haven Garden & Bird Sanctuary to record the songs of the vast diversity of birds attracted to this three-acre spot. Some of these recordings are still in use today as the standard for those birds’ songs.
Pictured L-R Dr. Allen’s son, Elizabeth Clarkson, Dr. Arthur Allen
““...a knowledge of plants is acquired as much from books as from experience””
Describing her keen observations of details often missed in the gardens is one of the most engaging traits of Elizabeth Lawrence’s writings. Here, pictured in her garden in April of 1956, she admires a bloom of Chinese snowball viburnum (Viburnum macrocephalum var. sterile).
Photo courtesy the Charlotte Observer collection at the Robinson-Spangler Carolina Room
Elizabeth Lewis Lawrence was already a landscape architect and nationally celebrated garden writer when she moved from Raleigh to Charlotte, North Carolina in 1948.
A deep desire to fill the dearth of information on plants that grow well in the Middle South drove her artistic vision and scientific mind. She gathered plants from all over the world and created an exceptional “experimental” garden.
Through her writings, Lawrence documented her garden, as well as those from around the world. She shared her “encyclopedic” knowledge of plants, and encouraged her readers to be fearless to try new things in their own gardens.
Elizabeth Lawrence’s legacy of remarkable plantsmanship and her timeless contributions to garden literature are unparalleled, as is her well-designed “living laboratory.”
Over 150 different species of birds have been seen within the walls of Wing Haven Garden & Bird Sanctuary. For many years, Elizabeth Clarkson kept a diary of all bird sightings. Building on her legacy, records are now kept through eBird.org, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s online database of bird observations that provides scientists, researchers and amatuer naturalists with real-time data about bird distribution and abundance.
Thousands of different plants have grown in the soil at the Elizabeth Lawrence House & Garden. Elizabeth Lawrence kept meticulous records of every plant she ever grew, those she read about in books, and those growing in other gardens. Building on her legacy, records are now kept in a digital database of all plants that have grown -- and continue to grow -- here. In the future, we hope to make all of this valuable information available through our website.
The legacies of both women are further realized with the creation of the SEED Wildlife & Children’s Garden opened in 2018. Here, children of all ages engage with areas of interactive education rooted in Clarkson’s love and study of wildlife, along with Lawrence's interest in knowing and growing native plants.
Elizabeth Clarkson inspires the future of environmental study. Elizabeth Lawrence inspires the future of horticulture. Although these two remarkable women were as different as their favorite plants and seasons, they shared a passion for growing things, and still inspire others to connect more meaningfully with the world right outside their door.
The community came together more than 50 years ago to form the Wing Haven Foundation.
““To own and maintain gardens, woods, grounds and shelters where individuals and small groups can come to find peace, serenity, guidance, inspiration, beauty, pleasure and the enjoyment of nature; to provide surroundings to which can come children, with their teachers and leaders, to learn and appreciate the manner in which different forms of life are interrelated and gain personal experiences with nature which will vitalize their studies and their outlook on life; to provide an example of the value and need for conserving wildlife, its habitat, and natural resources; to provide a place for community enrichment through the study of nature; to provide peaceful surroundings for the study of botany and garden design; to provide grounds for the benefit of hospital patients to be toured by wheelchair through beautiful gardens; to provide, as a sanctuary, food, water and nesting for birds…”
”
The 50th Anniversary (1971-2021) Legacy Campaign is an endowment effort and the earned income generated will be used to support our strategic objectives.
Preservation
Wing Haven Garden & Bird Sanctuary including the Clarkson House
Elizabeth Lawrence House & Garden - Lindie Wilson Stewardship Fund
Historical Archives - Clarkson and Lawrence
SEED Wildlife & Children’s Garden
People
Education
Volunteer Programs
Visitor and Guest Experience
Marketing
Programs
Educational Programs for Adults and Children
Outreach to the Community
Sharing of Southern Horticulture Expertise
Environmental Stewardship
Our goal in 2018 was to raise $6M to grow the Wing Haven Endowment to $10M. By May 2022, thanks to the overwhelming response from many generous donors, we successfully raised more than $7M towards this effort which will add to the $4M in endowment at the start of our campaign.
We invite you to join us today to grow the vision and preserve these phenomenal legacies for the next 50 years with a gift to the Wing Haven Endowment. Please contact Development Director Susan Evans 704.331.0664 ext 108 to discuss your personal garden legacy with a gift, pledge, or planned gift.
Thank you to our volunteers!
Legacy Campaign Cabinet
Campaign Committee
Doug Anderson
Susan Barrett
Laurie and John Bond
Frannie DeWitt Browne
Kathy and Tom Ewing
John Phillips
Mary Claire Wall
Paige Waugh
Honorary Co-Chairs
Honorary Cabinet
Katherine M. Belk
Pepper Dowd
Dale F. Halton
Sally and Henry James, Jr.
Jane S. McColl
Legacy Campaign Donors
(as of August 31, 2022)
$1MM+
The Dowd Foundation
$500,000 - $999,999
Anonymous
Katherine M. Belk
Katie and Mike James
$250,000 - $499,999
Anonymous
The Dickson Foundation
Rosalind and Jerry Richardson
Andrea and Herb Sprott
$200,000 - $249,999
Jane S. McColl
$150,000 - $199,999
Janet and Bruce Voelker
$100,000 - $149,999
Sarah and Tim Belk
In honor of Julie Cuthbertson Clarkson by The Clarkson, Hamrick and
Kimball Families
Nancy G. Elberson
Dale F. Halton Foundation in memory of Sadie Clarkson Fowler,
Elizabeth Fowler Dick and Margaret Foard Fowler
C. D. Spangler Foundation in honor of Jane McColl
Steiger Family Endowed Fund for Wing Haven
$75,000 - $99,999
Anonymous
Akers Foundation, Inc.
Sally Griffith Cooper
$50,000 - $74,999
Anonymous
Susan and Brad Barrett
William and Patricia Gorelick Family Foundation
in memory of “Patty” Gorelick
Nancy and Rob Harris
Arrington and Burch Mixon
Katie and Walker Morris
Celene Oken in honor of Jane McColl
Jane and Nelson Schwab
Lydia and Christopher Skardon
Mary and Tim Stokes
The Philip L. Van Every Foundation in memory of Carolyn “Puddin”
Van Every Foil
Mary Claire and Dan Wall
Paige Waugh
Jane Williamson
$25,000 - $49,999
Missy and Doug Anderson
Patty and Doak Barnhardt
Eleanor & James Barnhardt Foundation
Kathy and Frank Bragg
Jan and Ed Brown
Frannie and Herb Browne
Mr. & Mrs. Strawn Cathcart
Michelle and Chris Cicoletti
Joan S. & Charles W. Coker Foundation
Mary and Rob Engel in honor of Margaret Tabor, Jane Engel, Peggy
Wellford, and Patti McGee
Laura and Mike Grace
Lise and Travis Hain in memory of Maureen Ovregaard
Barbara B. Hiestand*
Lynn and Charley Hodges
Jim Hynes in honor of Peggy Hynes
Kathy and Lat Purser
Mary Rinehart
Sally and Russell Robinson
Mary and Bill Staton
Gayle J. and Carl Tallardy III
Ellen and Jim Wade
Martha Ann and Craig Wardlaw
Mrs. James J. White III
$10,000 - $24,999
Anonymous
Laura Rankin Allen in memory of Lila Rankin
Carol Ambrose
Jorie and Jim Andrews
Mr. & Mrs. William M. Barnhardt
Anne and John Barry in honor of Mary Bradford Barry
Sanford Berlin
Kathy and Peter Browning
Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Carpenter in memory of John Sikes Johnston
Kathleen O. Cress
Anne F. Denton in memory of Graham W. Denton, Jr.
Anne and Bob Dooley
Nancy Dorrier in memory of William Hickson
Doris McCraw Fonville
Sherry and Van Hall
Beth and Rick Handford
Wanny and Ashley Hogewood
Katherine and Harold R. Howe, Jr. MD
Cathy and Jim Hunter
Sally and Henry James, Jr.
Coco and Ray Killian, Jr.
Janie and Gary Levinson
Nancy and John Lowry
Liz and Whit McDowell
Anne and Jeff Neikirk
Susan Flowers Spears Nunn
Alison and Jonathan O’Connor
Mrs. Frances Parker*
Elizabeth and Rodney Pitts in memory of Elizabeth C. Pitts
Anne L. Robinson in memory of Spottswood Epes Robinson
In memory of Helen R. Scarborough
Barrett Sloan Ranson Shannonhouse
Sarah and Allen Shifflet in honor of Sally High
Katy and Raleigh Shoemaker in memory of Xan and Kathryn Law
Robert Shore and Brian Caldwell
Anna and Verner Stanley, Jr.
The Daniel, Edward, Cora and Strickland Family Foundation
John T. and Kathy Gunter Sullivan Fund
Ms. Kelly Thomas
In memory of C.W. Sydnor Thompson, Jr. and Harriette Line Thompson
by their children
Brenneman Line Thompson
Rita and Bill Vandiver
Rad and Odie von Werssowetz
Pat and Bill Williamson
Kim and Alan Wilson
$5,000 - $9,999
Mary and Ray Boardman
Gay Boswell in honor of James Coker Fort
Mr. & Mrs. William K. Burton
Lynne and Colby Cathey
Katie and Tim Coff
Davidson Garden Club
Charlie Elberson and Lou Kinard
$5,000 - $9,999 cont.
Kathy and Tom Ewing
Elizabeth and James Hagan
Claudia and Andy Heath
Anne Henderson
Katherine Hill
Susan and Jim Holloway
Shirley and Matt Kosmicki
Amy and Rob Lovett
Dee Dee McKay in memory of Peter McKay
Dee Dee and Bill Maxwell
Sheryl Mayberry
Ann and Brent Milgrom in honor of Jane McColl and in memory of
Susan Kelly
Janet and Lowell Nelson in memory of Kathryn Preyer
Anne and John Oxrider
Mimi and Bailey Patrick
Ridgely and John Phillips
Cathy and Roy Reynolds
Peggy and Pope Shuford
Cordelia G. Thompson "Dede" in memory of Dr. Chandler Thompson
Victoria Thornbury
$1,000 - $4,999
Anonymous (3)
Ms. Frances Alexander
Ellen and Bill Archer
Jane Avinger
Mr. & Mrs. Connor Barrett
Mr. William Barrett
Betsy and Bill Blue
Angela and Ralph Breeden in honor of Pepper Dowd and Jane McColl
Ann and David Burton
Courtney and Rob Christensen
Kathryn V. Clancy
Gina and Herb Clegg
Ann F. Copeland
Mr. & Mrs. Roddey Dowd III
Susan Little Evans
Mary Dewey Faison
Mary Weeks Fountain
Molly and Henry Froelich
Tricia and Donny Harrison, Jr.
Gibbs and Bryan Ives
Mr. & Mrs. James D. Kennedy
Mr. Will Kennedy
Maureen Kivney
Loftin & Company Printers
Kelly and Luka Lojk
Sally and Joe Lucas in honor of Sally and Henry James
Mr. & Mrs. Ryan Lucia
Victoria and Ian McDade
Francie and John Mangan in memory of Mary Frances Chapman
Posey and Mark Mealy
Audrey and Larry Mellichamp
Dick Metzler
Susan Mitchell
Rolfe Neill in memory of Dana C. Baker
Rebecca and Andrew Nesbitt
Pebbles Nix in memory of Pokey Glenn
Mary L. O’Connor
Leslie and Paul Perlik
Elizabeth Way Rogers
Brenda and George Rohe
Noell and Jim Schepp
Deborah and David Schmitz in memory of Alice Honea
Mary Davis and Skip Smart
Jeanie White in memory of Bob White
Margaret and Ward Williams
Up to $999
Anonymous
Linda and David Bentley in memory of Skippy Dennis
Geraldine F. Blake
Janet Bradshaw
Judy Bratton
Sally R. Brown
Jane and Gilbert Browne in honor of Frannie DeWitt Browne
Camille and Wil Coers
Fairley Bell and Dan Cook in honor of Barrett Shannonhouse
Mary Keller Costa
Gaither and Robert Deaton
Nancy Dooley
Anne Flint
Mr. & Mrs. Richard Floss in memory of Marilyn Wick Rowland
Beth Gilbert
Diane Gileta in memory of Joan Ficarrotta
Ruth Ellen and Thold Gill
Jill Goodrich
Jennifer and Vic Grainger
Christina and John Hanna
Beth and Bill Hobbs
Doris and Steven Hurr
Lib Jones and Tom Nunnenkamp
Elizabeth and Patrick Kelly
Deborah Klein
Carol Koball
Barbara Lake in honor of Dr. & Mrs. E. R. Harris
Sarah Beth and Todd Lankford
Sarah P. Lathrop
Nancy S. Little
Ralph Lowrance
David Luttenberger in memory of Marilyn Wick Rowland
Lil and Al McAulay
Blythe and Matt McAulay
Robin Thorp McCoy
Stefanie and Matthew Myer
Linda Nelson in memory of Mae Nivens
Katherine Paul in memory of Haskell Eargle
Danny Perez
Lorraine Piephoff
Missy and Bill Plyler
Michelle Pounds
Jane A. Rudisill
Damou Sako
Anne M. Sheffield
Cissy and Rush Shull III
Andrea Sprott in honor of Courtney Christensen
Marty and Jim Stenhouse, Jr.
Barry and Leslie Teague
Meg and Paul Thomason in honor of Patricia Chesser
Gary and Judith Toman
Susan and Bill Tome in memory of Linda Johnson
Kristine and John Wahr
Bobby Ward
Mr. & Mrs. Roger Way
Jane Weaver
Sherrie Webster
Frank Welling in memory of Marilyn Wick Rowland
Erin Welty
Dr. Thomas H. White in memory of Sue White
Dana and Joe Woody
*bequest