Oak Island Gardens
Oak Island Beautification Club
Since its inception in 1986, the Oak Island Beautification Club has been an integral part of our coastal community, committed to improving our environment and educating residents. Currently, we manage six unique public gardens on the island, each distinguished by its size, sunlight, shade, soil type, and plant variety. Our dedication is unwavering: we promote sustainable gardening methods, encourage the use of pollinators and native coastal plants, and share a collective enthusiasm for gardening while respecting our natural surroundings.
Butterfly Garden at Veterans Park
1408 E Yacht Drive
The Butterfly and Pollinator Garden on Oak Island is nestled between the Intracoastal Waterway and Yacht Drive at NE 14th Street. This garden serves as an essential part oft he North Carolina Butterfly Highway, a statewide initiative aimed at creating interconnected habitats to aid butterfly migration and breeding. The garden boasts a multitude of native nectar-rich plants, such as milkweed, black-eyed Susan’s, bee balm and zinnias. These plants provide a reliable food source for adult butterflies and serve as host plants for their caterpillars. In addition to butterflies, the garden serves as a haven for an array of other pollinators, including bees, hummingbirds and beneficial insects. This biodiversity promotes a healthy and thriving ecosystem, benefiting not only the pollinators but also the surrounding flora and fauna.
The garden invites visitors to leisurely explore and immerse themselves in the tranquil surroundings. Benches and a wooden walkway are placed in the garden to offer a peaceful retreat for observation and contemplation. The butterfly and pollinator garden serves as an educational resource, by raising awareness to the importance of maintaining a bio diverse ecosystem for the conservation of important insects, flora and fauna. This garden exemplifies the community’s dedication to supporting biodiversity and creating a sustainable future for both humans and wildlife.
Chair: Sue Stebbins
Arboretum Gardens at Middleton
4 Corners of Middleton Ave & Oak Island Drive
The flowers, daylilies and grasses create a welcoming entrance at the intersection of Middleton Avenue and Oak Island Drive for both residents and visitors as they enter the island from Middleton Bridge.
Chair: Jane Henderson
Pinner's Point
NW 10th Street & W Oak Island Drive
The Pinner's Point Garden is located in the residential west end of the island. This area of the island has always been referred to as Pinner's Point after the Pinner family who had a homestead there before the island was developed. In the past there was a sign, "Welcome to Pinner's Point" but at some point, gardens on both sides of the road were established.
The West Garden was lost with road improvement and installation of sidewalks. It is a small garden, located in the right-of-way, often mistaken as a residential garden, and recognizable by a small white fence. There was previously a large oak tree shading the garden but it was blown down during Hurricane Ian in 2022.
The Beautification Club is currently trying to transition it to a "sun" garden.
Chairs: Susan Snakenburg and Glenda Dennis
Recreation Center
3003 E Oak Island Drive
The garden in front of the Recreation Center is affectionately known as the “Rec Center” garden. At its heart stands a beloved classic southern favorite, a crepe myrtle tree. While the most common spelling in the south is “crepe myrtle” other variations are also acceptable and refer to the same tree. Unfortunately, the age and specific variety of our crepe myrtle are unknown. These trees thrive best in full sun requiring at least six hours of sunlight daily to develop their beautiful flowers. However, the majestic oak trees that have grown over the years now surround our crepe myrtle, hindering its access to the necessary sunlight for abundant blooms. Nonetheless, the crepe myrtle remains the centerpiece of our garden, boasting a stunning tree trunk and perfectly shaped crown of leaves. Encircling the tree in the sun-dabbled area are a variety of plants such as bee balm, Gaura, coreopsis, Yuki cherry blossom and stokes asters. In the shaded portion of the garden, you will find oak leaf hydrangea, primo black pearl (coral bells) and sweet pepper bush.
Our ultimate aim is to enhance the local ecosystem and attract pollinators such and butterflies and bees to the garden. Although the garden may easily go unnoticed while driving past due to its setback from the road, we warmly extend an invitation to visit this garden.
Chair: Mary Jo Jelinski
Triangle
E Oak Island Dr & Country Club Dr
In 2018, when the state announced the G V Barbee Bridge would close for six months for repairs, the Beautification Club decided it was the perfect time to redesign the overgrown triangular garden at Oak Island Dr. and Country Club Dr. After months of working with the Department of Transportation, a design was approved, the town cleared the garden and replaced the soil, and the club began the work of replanting. Over time, some perennial plants have been replaced, others have been added, and lots of annuals have been planted in spring and fall. Members of the club weed and prune the garden weekly and in the fall a lady gardener scarecrow oversees the plants.
For visitors approaching Oak Island from G V Barbee Bridge, the Triangle Garden is a pleasant welcome to our little bit of paradise. As for our residents, your words of support when you drive past, tell us that we are lifting spirits and bringing smiles which is the purpose of our little garden.
Garden Chairs: Bobbie Thompson and Betty Hupp
