In Waterloo, New York, tucked along the Cayuga Seneca Canal, lies the American Civil War Memorial. The Memorial, constructed in 2008 by sculptor and author Pietro del Fabro, serves to honor the sacrifices made by citizens of Waterloo as well as both Union and Confederate soldiers and sailors that lost their lives during one of America’s most arduous times- the American Civil War.  
 
   The North South Cenotaph features stones from each of the 36 states that were in existence at the end of the Civil War. ​Pietro used a handmade hearth brick from the Bellamy slave quarters to represent the state of North Carolina in the memorial. The Cenotaph pictured above rests on a base of Indiana silver buff limestone. The brick from the Bellamy is located on the top south side of the cenotaph. What an amazing way for history to be displayed! We were lucky enough to be paid a visit by del Fabro himself in 2016, who was excited to photograph where the brick came from. Be sure to follow the link to the Memorial’s website and read the description of the Bellamy brick: 
http://americancivilwarmemorial.com/NSCenotaph.html .
​
​   Pietro del Fabro authored a Civil War novel Savages Station that follows three stories that move back and forth between Civil War times and present-day America, opening up little-known aspects of the conflict and revealing new viewpoints into the major and minor characters of the era. You can follow a link to the book’s website here: https://savagesstation.com/ . 

Written by Bellamy intern and UNCW Communication Studies major Savannah Russell.

The bottles, branded with the Bellamy name, are from Robert Bellamy’s Bellamy and Son Drug Company here in town. The business, began in 1885, was located at the corner of Front and Market Street, and operated until its sale by Robert’s grandson sometime after 1950.

While some of the bottles are missing their labels, a few remain which provide insight into some of the popular medicines of the time: quinine, cathartic pills, Godfrey’s Cordial, and white pine compound syrup.

​These are just four examples of the many interesting drugs Robert sold in his pharmacy; just like today, there were a variety of medicines available for nearly any conceivable ailment – though whether or not they were all safe for human consumption is another question. In any case, Robert “[devoted] his closest and constant personal attention to the details of his enterprise” and was regarded as one of the most prominent and successful physicians in Wilmington during his working years.

Researched and written by Bellamy intern and UNCW Professional Writing/Philosophy major Chantai Thomas.

​     Volunteering is a gift that keeps on giving. Here at the Bellamy, we thrive thanks to our dedicated staff of over 200 volunteers. Volunteer tasks range from giving guided tours, greeting visitors at the front desk, lending a hand with special events, and even gardening. We love to see the passion our volunteers have for what they do, and one person who brings this passion to life is Beth Mentesana!
     Beth has been lending her time here at the Bellamy since she and her husband moved from Pennsylvania five years ago. Before their move, working full time in the communications field and being married to a college basketball coach didn’t leave her much time to volunteer. She grew up watching her parents be very active in their community and her mother was even a docent (a tour guide) at a Revolutionary War house in New York. Beth decided she wanted to try her hand at volunteering herself when she moved to Wilmington and had a little more time on her hands. She says, “Everyone falls in love with downtown, and at some point, you become aware of the historic houses here.” Beth is a docent on weekends and she especially loves when there are children present. She reflects on giving tours: “Thanks to all the information we have, you can really paint a story on true facts and there’s something about that- it’s like you transport yourself back in time. I get so engrossed in the whole thing it doesn’t matter if anybody’s there or not! That’s the fun of it.” She also lends her talents in taking part in composing and editing our volunteer newsletters that are sent out via email every week. She enjoys featuring topics that vary from the architecture of the house to the stories of the Bellamy’s and the slaves that called this place home.
     One of Beth’s favorite memories is when she helped with the fifth-grade pilot program where fifth graders from across New Hanover County are cycled through and given tours. It’s very important to Beth that children get the opportunity to see history unfold before them. “The story of the back of the house is as important as the house itself and the family that lived in it. For children, I think they might learn about it in a textbook but when they come here and they hear it, it helps bring it alive for them. It’s critical these young minds see what happened in this country” she shares. She appreciates the freedom she has while volunteering at the Bellamy and how relaxed and comfortable the environment is. She loves that she can come here to give a tour and be whoever she wants to be. She also loves dressing up for the annual Christmas stroll. Check out one of her outfits from years past in the fun picture down below! If Beth could meet one of the Bellamy’s, she would have to choose Ellen. The stories in Ellen’s memoirs of her spirited antics as a little girl are something Beth would love to have seen. We are so thankful for Beth and all she contributes and so happy that she has such a love for what she gets out of volunteering.
     We are always looking for volunteers to add to our family! Check out the volunteer form on our website, give us a call, or stop by and get your part of the gift that keeps on giving! 
​

Written by Bellamy intern and UNCW Communication Studies major Savannah Russell.

A fungus is among us! Our beloved Ficus carica, more commonly referred to as the Brown Turkey fig, has been stricken by a case of fig rust. This fungus is “the most common fig disease”, and more often than not occurs in “late summer or early fall”, when “humid air or excessive rain” are present (Rhoades, 2018). Our tree just recently acquired rust after the bumper crop this year. We received excessive rainfall here in Wilmington towards the end of the summer; this, coupled with the fact that the flora was very dense and had little to no air circulation due to an abundance of leaves and fruit (the tree produced three times its usual amount of fruit this season!), definitely contributed to our Ficus carica acquiring the fungus. In general the disease is “not fatal, but repeated epidemics will weaken the plant” (Polomski, 2012).

​At first fig rust is difficult to detect, and this is primarily due to the fact that “the first signs of fig rust” are “tiny yellow spots” that appear “the underside of the leaves” (Rhoades, 2018). Typically, these spots are initially “only .5 to 1 centimeters across”, so they are very hard to see (Rhoades, 2018)! However, as the fungus progresses, the entirety of the leaf will turn yellow and eventually “fall to the ground” (Rhoades, 2018).

​After our tree lost almost all of its leaves an interesting phenomena occurred: a “false spring” effect. As alluded to previously, our tree had a bountiful harvest this year, and that is primarily due to the extra fertilizer that was used to rid the area of ground bees. We didn't want to kill the bees or use chemicals, so in an effort to combat this, our resourceful site manager found that a combination of watering out the bees’ holes and adding plenty of organic material (in our case we used Black Kow, a cow manure mixture) caused the bees to move away and find a new home. However, because the fig rust caused the tree to shed the majority of its leaves and the weather had been fairly warm, the tree had an abundance of excess energy. Ultimately, the flora utilized this energy surplus to create more buds which resulted in new leaves and fruit, causing a “spring” appearance despite the current season. Unfortunately, however, the new leaves also showed signs of rust so several of our wonderful garden club members trimmed those leaves off, leaving just the unaffected ones.

​​Treatment of the disease can be difficult (Rhoades, 2018). In actuality, “there are very few fungicides that are registered to use on figs”, but the rust “responds best to fungicides that contain copper sulfate and lime” (Rhoades, 2018). In addition, pruning can “help improve air circulation”, which in turn “allows the evaporation of excess water from the leaves of the figs” (Rhoades, 2018). With “proper cleanup and good air circulation,” as well as a “spray regiment” of horticulture oil, it is unlikely that the fig rust will reoccur; and we are sure our Ficus carica will make a full recovery by next season (Rhoades, 2018)! 

​Interested in the Brown Turkey fig? Take a look at our post to learn all about it!  

References
Polomski, B. (2012). Fig. Retrieved from
https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/fig/.
Rhoades, J. (2018). Prevent fig rust: Stopping rust on fig leaves and fruit. Retrieved from
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/fruits/figs/figs-disease-rust.htm.

​Upon pulling into the Bellamy Mansion parking lot one of the first flora you’re greeted with is the Ficus pumila, more often referred to as “creeping fig” or “climbing fig” (Rhoades, 2018). Ficus pumila is a type of evergreen, meaning that it maintains both its heart-shaped leaves and color all year, regardless of the weather (Creeping fig, n.d.). 

Despite being visually understated, the vine does serve as a popular cover “wall or fence cover” (Rhoades, 2018). Here at the Bellamy we utilize the flora to protect the wall between the property’s urban slave quarters and the gravel parking lot. Our plant grows at a rapid rate, and because of this we often find the vine latched onto the slave quarters’ exterior. Because of this, many of our gardening volunteers have to trim the vine off of the building fairly often; otherwise the creeping fig leaves marks on the building’s newly restored paint (as seen in this photo)!

Show the Ficus pumila some love and learn more about it at Gardening Know How's site! 

References
Creeping fig. (n.d.) Retrieved from
​ http://www.monrovia.com/plant-catalog/plants/1261/creeping-fig/. 
Rhoades, H. (2018). Creeping fig plant – Tips for creeping fig care. Retrieved from
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/foliage/creeping-fig/creeping-fig-vine.htm. 
 

​Here at the Bellamy Mansion we are incredibly fortunate to work with several talented and thoughtful volunteers who, alongside our fantastic site manager Bob, tend to the gardens and grounds of the estate. One such individual is Ann. After hearing about us from a close friend, she has spent the past year dedicating every other Wednesday to trimming, planting, and watering all the flora here at the mansion. A native of Greensboro, North Carolina, Ann attended college at Duke University, majoring in psychology while simultaneously minoring in anthropology. She now resides in Pender County, where she spends a fair amount of time taking care of her own garden. 

​Ann says that she has always had an affinity for plants, and that even when she was a young girl she was fascinated by all things horticulture. She attributes her love of flora to her natural desire to be nurturing and caring. She kept a few potted plants with her during her time at Duke, but Ann’s passion for gardening really blossomed following her graduation, and she hasn’t stopped since then! And while she thoroughly enjoys any and all plant life, Ann claims that one of her favorite flora is the gaura because “the flowers they produce look like butterflies”. 

Aside from gardening, one of Ann’s preferred pastimes is reading. She is especially fond of learning about distant cultures and other countries. Ann is also an avid fan of Harry Potter, and she is extremely excited to read the eighth installment of the series, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, which recently came out this summer.

                                              Thank you so much for all you do Ann! 

Interested in volunteering at the Bellamy like Ann? We have volunteer opportunities here at the Bellamy ranging from gardening to giving guided tours and we would absolutely love to have you! Please check our volunteer interest form for more information! 

On Wednesday, July 20th, while several of our wonderful volunteers from the Cape Fear Garden Club were tending to the grounds, we discovered these incredibly peculiar berries sprouting from one of our Podocarpus macrophyllus plants near the mansion’s front gate. We had never seen unique berries quite like these, and believing they could possibly be an abnormality, a bit of research was conducted. We ended up making an interesting discovery: contrary to our initial belief, berries from the Podocarpus, better known as the Japanese Yew, naturally cultivate this way (Podocarpus, n.d.)! Amidst the “needle-like leaves” these berries grow annually every summer and can actually be consumed (Podocarpus, n.d.). Who knew that berries could grow like that? 

Just as intrigued by this plant as we are? Take a look at Cherry Lake Tree Farm's page for more information on the Podocarpus macrophyllus! 

References
Podocarpus. (n.d.) Retrieved from http://cherrylake.com/podocarpus/.  

​Craving some fresh fruit? The Bellamy’s got you covered! The mansion grounds are home to a lovely Ficus carica, known by its common nomenclature as the fig tree (“Ficus carica ‘Brown Turkey,’”n.d.). This tree in particular is a Brown Turkey fig, a species grown in the southeast (Polomski, 2012). Additionally, according to our 2010 records, this flora is considered an heirloom plant, similar to the Magnolia grandiflora detailed in one of our previous posts.

​​Ficus carica require “full sun to part shade” in order to flourish (“Ficus carica ‘Brown Turkey,’”n.d.). This is primarily the reason as to why our tree here at the Bellamy is located in the herb garden between the urban slave quarters and carriage house; it is one of the few areas within the grounds that receives constant sunlight. After receiving sufficient sunlight and water, figs can grow anywhere from “15 to 30 ft tall,” with ours falling within that range (Polomski, 2012).

​Once a Ficus carica is fully grown it begins to yield fruit. Although ours bloomed a little early this year, the trees typically produce figs towards “late summer” (“Ficus carica ‘Brown Turkey,’”n.d.). Unfortunately, this means that the flora will not be in season for the Azalea Garden Tour; but even when it is not bearing fruit the tree adds to the overall ambiance of the Bellamy grounds. That being said, there is plenty of fruit to go around as of right now! Here at the Bellamy, ripe figs are light brown in color, with unripe fruit appearing yellow. We don’t utilize any sprays so you can pick ripe figs right off of the tree and eat them during your tour! In addition, our gardeners often pick an abundance of figs in the early morning and place them in a bowl at the front desk for any and all guests (and occasionally a hungry intern) to eat or take home. We even use over ripened fruit from the Ficus carica to make jams. So if you’re feeling famished stop by the Bellamy Mansion for some figs and a tour!

 Want to learn how to make jam out of figs? Take a look at this page to learn how! 

References
Ficus carica 'Brown Turkey.' (n.d.) Retrieved from
http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=245738&isprofile=0&.
 Polomski, B. (2012). Fig. Retrieved from https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/fig/.  
 

​Due to the combination of a yellow fever outbreak as well as the Civil War, the Bellamy family sought extended refuge at Floral College.  Following the family’s return to Wilmington after the conclusion of the war, Eliza, the family matriarch, opted to embrace her longstanding fascination with horticulture and develop the estate’s grounds. After the installation of the classic iron fence and gate running along the sides of the property, Eliza focused all of her time and resources on increasing the garden’s variety of flora. 

​One such enhancement was the planting of Magnolia grandiflora in 1870, more commonly referred to as the southern magnolia (“Magnolia grandiflora,” n.d.). These impressive flora tower well over 50 feet and the ones on this property are considered heirlooms to the Bellamy family (Sheahan, 2015). Alongside being precious family bequests, one of the trees was named a heritage tree by the Wilmington Tree Commission in 2013 (“City of Wilmington, heritage trees,” n.d.). According to the Commission, heritage trees represent an “important aspect of” Wilmington’s “history and natural landscape” primarily due to their “age, rarity, grouping, overall beauty or historical significance” (“Heritage tree program,” n.d.). 

 Magnolia grandiflora are known for bearing “fragrant” and “white” flowers during their respective blooming season (“Magnolia grandiflora,” n.d.). The leaves of the trees are classified as evergreens, meaning that they retain their leaves year round (“Magnolia grandiflora”, n.d.). So, needless to say, the Bellamy yards are always filled with these trees’ thick, green leaves and require constant raking! In addition, these plants often produce seed clusters, many of which become food for the squirrels of Downtown Wilmington (“Magnolia grandiflora,” n.d.). If you look closely at the base of certain trees you will be sure to find some of the pods decaying and completely barren; and maybe, if you are lucky, you might even see one of the local squirrels feasting on some of the seeds!   

If these magnificent flora have piqued your interest be sure to stop by the mansion during visiting hours or purchase your tickets for the 2017 Azalea Garden Tour to experience these trees during the splendid spring season

Take a look at the Wilmington Tree Commission's page to learn more about heritage trees as well as the Commission itself! 

References
City of Wilmington, heritage trees. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.wilmingtonnc.gov/home/showdocument?id=3593.
Heritage tree program. (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://www.wilmingtonnc.gov/departments/parks-recreation/trees/wilmington-tree-commission/heritage-tree-program.
Magnolia grandiflora. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=c117.
Wilmington Tree Commission. (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://www.wilmingtonnc.gov/departments/parks-recreation/trees/wilmington-tree-commission.
Sheahan, C.M. (2015). Plant guide for southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora). Retrieved from https://plants.usda.gov/plantguide/pdf/pg_magr4.pdf.  

We are incredibly proud to announce that we will be taking part in the 64th Annual Cape Fear Garden Club Azalea Garden Tour© in April 2017! The Bellamy Mansion has not participated in the tour since 2010, so we are very excited to show off how much our grounds and gardens have changed over the course of seven years. We will spend the next nine months keeping you updated on all of our pruning, planting, and propagating endeavors, gardener spotlights, as well as flora of interest, so stay tuned!
 
Check out the Cape Fear Garden Club’s Azalea Garden Tour page for more information on the tour!