How did this 'Enchanted' garden in Wilmington get its name?

How did this historic Southern garden filled with beautiful plants, some more than 100 years old, get to be named Airlie Gardens?

The history of Airlie Gardens dates back to the early 1700s, but the gardens that are at Airlie now was the vision of Sarah and Pembroke Jones.

In 1884, along with other members of the Seaside Park Improvement Company, Sarah Green and Pembroke Jones bought a parcel of land. But in 1886, Sarah Jones purchases the Seaside Park Property for herself outright from the company for $1,250. Her husband named the property "Airlie" in honor of his ancestral home in Scotland.

From the archives: Losing celebrated artist Minnie Evans and Airlie's gatekeeper

The picturesque garden was purchased and restored in 1999 by the New Hanover County Commissioners, with additional help from a Clean Water Management Trust Fund grant and support of local residents.

A popular holiday tradition since 2005 at Airlie Gardens is Enchanted Airlie.

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Behind the name of Airlie Gardens in Wilmington, NC