Easels Bloom Right on Cue

Inaugural Event a Resounding Success

By Rebecca Bunch, The Chowan Herald

Nearly 400 people visited Edenton Friday and Saturday, April 13 and 14, 2012, to experience the inaugural Easels in the Gardens, hosted by the Cupola House Association.

Organizers hope to make it a biennial event that would take place during even-numbered years when the town's best-known tour, the Edenton Biennial Pilgrimage, does not take place.

Sally Francis Kehayes, who along with Anne Ellis co-chaired the event, said that everything from the weather to the events made the event a success.

"Everything about the weekend turned out so well," Kehayes said. "What could be better than to live here and share our community with others?"

Kehayes said that North Carolina visitors came from nearby counties as well as from Bath, Burlington and Raleigh. She said that others made the trip from Norfolk and Richmond, Va. and some came from as far away as Maryland.

The goal of the tour was to make it entertaining and educational, Kehayes said. Events during the two-day event ranged from tours of private gardens in town to a music concert featuring Native American, Colonial and African American songs. Companion events included Boogie on Broad featuring a Virgina-based band, 10 Spot.

Artists had a place of honor in the gardens where they painted and chatted with visitors taking the tour.

Among the participating artists was Margie Sawyer of Elizabeth City. Sawyer, who was painting in the waterfront garden of a home owned by Scotty and Missie Harrell, said that she enjoyed herself.

"I love painting outdoors anyway," Sawyer said. "You get a certain special freshness in your work when you paint outside.

Sawyer, who has been painting for 25 years, said she particularly loved painting landscapes so doing an event like this was a real pleasure for her.

Visitors too said they enjoyed the beauty of the gardens as well.

Carey Stegall, whose family recently moved to Edenton from Arkansas, said that as a newcomer to town she was excited about having the chance to see so many of the gardens up close.

"They are absolutely breathtaking," Stegall said.

Homeowner Frances Inglis said that the weather over the two days of the event had been "absolutely perfect" for the Easels event. Inglis, whose East Water Street home was among those on the garden tour, said, "The roses have just outdone themselves. They're blooming right on time."

Teresa Murphy, a native Virginian who has lived in eastern North Carolina for the past six years, said that she especially loved the spacious design of the landscaped gardens behind the West King Street home of Susan and Charlie Creighton.

"I love the peacefulness of their garden," Murphy said. "This has just been a fabulous tour!"

Jennifer Harriss, executive director of Destination Downtown Edenton, which sponsored Boogie on Broad, said her organization couldn't have been more pleased with the size of the crowd Friday night.

"I would venture to say it was the largest turnout we've ever had," Harriss said. "It was just a great evening. Everybody I've talked with said that they really loved the band and we had businesses in the downtown area that stayed open late and were slammed. That's always good to hear."

The best thing about the weekend filled with events, according to Kehayes, was the sense of teamwork among those who planned and carried out the various activities involved.

"We (Cupola House Association) had so much assistance and support from our community," Kehayes said. "It was really heartwarming."

View a photo gallery of the Cupola House gardens.

View a beautiful UNC-TV documentary on Frances Inglis and the Cupola House.

View a WRAL-TV news report on the Cupola House Restoration.

View a UNC-TV "North Carolina Weekend" video about the Cupola House