JLBG Pictorial History

Juniper Level Botanic Garden - An Ex-Situ Conservation Garden

Our Mission is to Collect, Study, Propagate, and Share

As of 2020, JLBG has just over 27,000 taxa of living plants, making the collection one of the most diverse in the world. Fundraising for an operational endowment to preserve the garden is underway, administered by NC State University. If you'd like to help preserve the gardens and plant collections for future generations, you can do so with a tax-deductible contribution at JLBG.org and click on the Donate Link.

Below are images of the development of Juniper Level Botanic Garden starting with its initial purchase and beginning development. Juniper Level Botanic Garden is located just south of Raleigh, North Carolina in the flat coastal plant region known as Juniper Level, which is part of the unincorporated crossroads of Juniper, NC.

The gardens began with the Avents' purchase of 2.2 acres of land in Southern Wake County, NC in fall 1986. JLBG currently comprises 28 acres, which includes four adjoining parcels of land on Sauls Road, 9241, 9249, 9313, and 9205. Only the 9205 parcel is not open to open house visitors since this is a private residence. This garden section will only be open to visitors on a limited basis for endowment fundraising events.

Juniper Level is also home to a fully restored Rosenwald School, which is now a community events center. You can read more about this in our blog. http://blog.plantdelights.com/tag/rosenwald-school/

2019

2019 9205 from patio 1 toward trailer

2019 9205 front with Echinacea Lelanii mass

2019 9205 patio 1st level toward nursery

2019 9205 patio 1st level toward seat wall

2019 9205 patio 2nd level1

2019 9205 patio 2nd level4

2019 9205 patio 3rd level2

2019 9205 patio top level1

2019 9205 stream construction

2019 9241 bog from east to west

2019 9241 bog garden east to west

2019 9241 east toward gazebo

2019 9241 entrance drive to south

2019 9241 toward Cercidiphyllum

2019 9241 woodland toward stream at gazebo

2019 9241 woodland with farfugium, phlox divaricata

2019 9249 deck from SW to NE with agaves

2019 9249 e well toward cattail bridge3

2019 9249 e well toward N

2019 9249 exit drive

2019 9249 front of nursery office

2019 9249 JLBG E well to west

2019 Crevice garden north to south end

2019 Crevice garden section 1 north to south

2019 crevice garden section 2 north to south2

2019 crevice garden section 2 north to south3

2019 Crevice garden seep spring section 2 south to north2

2019 Crevice garden south to north, midsouth

2019 Crevice garden spring section 2 south to north

2019 Crevice garden spring section 2 south to north3

2019 Crevice garden spring section 2 south to north4

2019 Crevice garden spring section 2 south to north5

2019 Souto garden with Iris louisiana looking east to west

2018

2018 9205 aerial2(J. Sumerell)

2018 9205 house in snow

2018 9205 Leaves added to south border

2018 9205 patio level 1

2018 9205 patio level 2

2018 9241 bog island

2018 9241 Grape Vine Garden

2018 9241 patio north to south

2018 9249 alpine berm in snow closeup

2018 9249 alpine garden north to south

2018 9249 Myrica Soleil bed east to west

2018 Crevice garden section 1 overhead (J. Sumerell)

2018 Crevice garden section 1,2 from above (J. Sumerell)

2018 Crevice Garden triangle in flower south to north

2018 Ghse 10 bog garden

2018 JLBG Entrance planting

2018 Mystic Falls frozen from north

2018 PDN open house parking lot arial

2018 Souto rain garden planting with iris, rudbeckia, hemerocalis

2017

2017 9205 berm planting installation

2017 9205 foundation north to south

2017 9205 house construction building footer walls

2017 9205 house foundation with floor joists

2017 9205 house from north to south on east side framed

2017 9205 house move just before loading

2017 9205 house moving with house loaded

2017 9205 leaves added looking east toward house site3

2017 9205 leaves added to beds west of house site2

2017 9205 model at FH office5

2017 9249 crevice garden 1st section

2017 9249 Crevice garden bank clearing

2017 9249 Crevice garden bank clearing north end

2017 9249 Crevice garden first plantings

2017 9249 Crevice garden north to south section

2017 9249 Crevice garden section 1 north to south

2017 Crevice garden urbanite stockpile from 9205 deconstruction

2017 Crevice Island Construction22 with first plants

2017 exit drive toward sunken pond in fall

2017 Yde property from south gate toward barn

2016

2016 - Crevice garden grading prep

2016 - Crevice garden grading prep #2

2016 - Crevice garden grading prep #3

2016 - Crevice garden grading prep - Jeremy Schmidt removing 300' long holly hedge

2016 - New land acquistion of 9205 Sauls Road - sunset over Yde house disassembly/house give away

2016 9241 Grape vine garden

2016 9249 greenhouse 12 border looking south

2016 9249 greenhouse 12 rockery toward south

2016 9249 Mt. Michelle border looking south

2016 9249 patio garden

2016 9294 patio garden looking east

2016 Greenhouse 10 bog garden

2016 snow - 9241 patio with downed limbs due to ice

2016 snow - 9241 woodland

2016 snow - 9249 patio toward east in ice storm

2016 snow - Agave Grey Gator in snow

2016 snow - JLBG entrance drive

2016 Souto border SW combo

2015

Beauty...and the Bog! lower woodland bog

Bug Cam 2015, southwest patio

Full Sun Paradise, alpine berm, Souto Memorial Garden

Glowing New Growth, woodland garden path uphill from bog

Hosta Trials, outside Woodland Garden

Living Sculpture, Agave ovatifolia, Souto Memorial Garden

Magenta Madness, summer blooms in Souto Memorial Garden

2014

Bog garden looking west

Eucomis 'Sparkling Burgundy'

Exit drive new garden planting in fall

Exit drive perennial border - 2014

Gazebo garden woodland

Grotto garden pathway

Grotto garden pathway by hostas

Grotto in spring looking north

Grotto waterfall in winter, looking north

Hosta bed near rock garden bed

Mystic Creek garden at Cattail bridge

Mystic Creek garden walk looking east in fall

Mystic Falls garden - 2014

Mystic Falls with Polygonum 'Freckles' - 2014

Mystic Falls, walk over bridge looking north

North perennial border

Nursery office patio garden with Lagerostroemia faurei

Southwestern patio garden by Mystic Falls

Southwestern patio garden, agave collection

Southwestern patio looking east in fall

Souto garden agave combination

Souto garden in fall, looking east

Souto garden north side looking west

Sunken rain garden - 2014

Sunken rain garden looking east

Sunken rain garden pathway

Sunken rain garden with blue heron

Sunken rain garden, water iris display

Tropical island woody plant trials

Water oak garden pathway

Woodland garden

Woodland garden by Mystic Falls

Woodland garden near gazebo

Woodland garden path toward arched oak

Woodland garden pathway

Woodland path

2013

Alpine scree berm - center

Alpine scree berm - looking north

Alpine scree berm - west side

Bog garden

Corylopsis bed looking north

Exit drive looking east

Exit drive looking north toward Schima

Hardy tropical garden path looking north

Metasequoia 'Ogon' allee

Mystic Creek border plantings

Mystic Creek path looking east

Mystic Falls

Mystic Falls path

Nursery office front garden looking south

Rock garden

Southwestern garden patio looking east summer

Southwestern patio garden by JLBG residence

Souto berm planting

Souto berm planting, south side looking west

Sunken rain garden

Sunken rain garden combo with Hibiscus and Hemerocallis

Sunken rain garden floating planter with hibiscus and hemerocallis

Sunken rain garden looking west

Sunken rain garden, looking west

Sunken rain garden, south past toward west

Woodland garden near gazebo

2012

Bog garden

Grotto from woodland garden

Southwestern patio garden deck

Southwestern patio garden, looking east with Agave flowering spikes

Southwestern patio garden, looking west

Souto garden

Souto garden east border

Souto garden looking northeast

Souto garden west drive looking southeast

Sunken rain garden looking west

Sunken rain garden with Louisiana iris in flower

Tropical island looking west to Shrub trials

Variegated castanea bed

Woodland garden toward gazebo

2011

Alpine scree berm toward north

Alpine scree berm toward south

Bog garden looking east

Bog garden looking north

Bog garden over stepping stones

Bog garden toward east

Nursery office patio looking south

Southwestern patio garden looking east

Southwestern patio garden toward Mystic Falls

Souto garden looking east

Souto garden looking northeast

Souto garden west border

Souto garden west border, looking north

Souto garden west perennial border

Souto garden west perennial border, looking north

Sunken rain garden steps from east

2010

Bog garden combo - 2010

Bog garden toward west - 2010

Bog garden with wood bridge - 2010

Front garden from main drive south - 2010

Front garden from toward north - 2010

Grotto garden looking east - 2010

Grotto garden, looking east - 2010

JLBG residence, hardy tropical garden toward east - 2010

Mystic Falls from south toward summit - 2010

Nursery office front garden - 2010

Sauls Road planting from south to north - 2010

Sauls Road planting looking south - 2010

Souto garden berm plantings - 2010

Souto garden toward west - 2010

Sunken rain garden frog sculpture - 2010

Sunken rain garden with frog sculpture - 2010

Sunken rain garden, east toward steps - 2010

Sunken rain garden, water iris in flower - 2010

Woodland garden from Sauls Road - south border - 2010

Woodland path by Greenhouse #4 fence - 2010

2009

Alpine scree berm snow from south - 2009

Main entrance drive snow - 2009

Southwestern patio garden snow - 2009

2008

Alpine scree berm - 2008

Bog garden toward west - 2008

Border west of Mystic Falls from north - 2008

Border west of Mystic Falls from west - 2008

Exit drive perennial border - 2008

Exit drive perennial border from north - 2008

Metasequoia 'Ogon' allee - 2008

Shrub berm dryland plant trials - 2008

Southwestern patio garden toward east - 2008

Southwestern patio garden toward south - 2008

Southwestern patio garden toward west - 2008

Souto garden prior to development - 2008

Sunken rain garden plantings - 2008

Sunken rain garden, concrete paver installation by Envisions of Raleigh - 2008

Sunken rain garden, north rock wall plantings - 2008

Sunken rain garden, south rock wall garden - 2008

Woodland garden split rail fence bed - 2008

2007

Grotto facing south - 2007

Island garden prior to planting - 2007

Mystic falls woodland path - 2007

Nursery office front walkway - 2007

Sauls Road border looking south - 2007

Sunken garden north of main entrance - 2007

2006

Alpine scree berm - 2006

Bog garden path - 2006

Bog garden path toward gazebo - 2006

Border west of Mystic Falls - 2006

Hardy tropical plant garden - 2006

JLBG residense front walkway garden - 2006

Mystic Falls summit - 2006

Mystic Falls woodland path - 2006

Southwestern patio garden - 2006

Southwestern patio garden from woodland path - 2006

Southwestern patio garden with agave collection - 2006

Sunken rain garden plantings - 2006

Sunken rain garden plantings by steps - 2006

2005

Alpine scree berm - 2005

Cattail bridge installed - winter 2005

Hardy tropical garden - 2005

Mystic Falls summer - 2005

Mystic Falls winter - 2005

Southwestern patio garden - 2005

Southwestern pation garden - 2005

Sunken garden north of driveway - 2005

Sunken rain garden rock walls installed - 2005

2004

Cattail bridge by sculptor Jim Galucci - 2004

Cattail bridge snow - 2004

Exit drive perennial border - 2004

JLBG residence border to west of Mystic Falls

JLBG residence, walk toward Southwestern patio garden - 2004

Metasequoia 'Ogon' allee - 2004

Sunken rain garden construction for irrigation, drainage retention and recycling - 2004

Sunken rain garden steps installed - 2004

2003

JLBG residence Southwestern patio garden installed - 2003

Mystic Falls, concrete installation - 2003

Mystic Falls, concrete installation continued - 2003

Mystic Falls, concrete lathe installation - 2003

Mystic Falls, concrete mixing - 2003

Mystic Falls, concrete painting - 2003

Mystic Falls, initial framing - 2003

Mystic Falls, watercourse installation - 2003

Nursery office garden, south side - 2003

2002

JLBG residence border at west base of Mystic Falls - 2002

JLBG residence front garden - 2002

JLBG residence front garden summer - 2002

2001

Alpine scree berm planted - 2001

Metasequoia Ogon allee recently planted - 2001

Nursery office patio with pots, rose, Prince Owlbert - 2001

2000

Grotto path from south - 2000

Woodland garden path - north of bog garden - 2000

1999

Front bog garden - 1999

Front garden along Sauls Road - 1999

Front woodland garden entrance under arched oak - 1999

Front woodland garden path by bog garden - 1999

Front woodland garden, plant vignette - 1999

Grotto path after concrete paver installation - 1999

JLBG residence - soil preparation and irrigation installation - 1999

Nursery office front walkway - 1999

Sunken garden north of main entrance - 1999

1998

JLBG residence alpine berm construction - 1998

Sauls Road toward nursery office - 1998

1997

Nursery office gazebo garden pool - 1997

1996

Garden path on south side of nursery office - 1996

JLBG residence property purchased looking east - 1996

JLBG residence, hundreds of truckloads relocated to create berms - 1996

Nursery office rock garden planted - 1996

1994

Grotto waterfall framing - 1994

Nursery office woodland garden after soil preparation - 1994

1991

Grotto garden excavation - 1991

1990

Nursery office woodland garden near arched oak before planting - 1990

1989

Planting outside of Nursery office just installed - 1989

1988

Excavation for the first JLBG grotto - 1988

Field in front of Nursery office just after property purchase - 1988