The Gardens of Southeastern North Carolina

What The Gardens of Southeastern North Carolina does

The Gardens of Southeastern North Carolina is a non-profit botanical garden spanning more than 300 acres at 985 Johnson Nursery Road in Willard, North Carolina, operating as a sister entity to Johnson Nursery Corporation on shared grounds. The organization maintains botanical displays, nature trails, the Comparison Garden educational exhibit, and the Signature Garden event venue, and is open free to the public Monday through Saturday. The core product portfolio centers on three monetized lines: (1) wedding and private event venue rentals with capacity for up to 150 guests, (2) annual memberships that bundle unlimited access, member-only tours, event invitations, and garden center discounts at Johnson Nursery, and (3) ticketed seasonal experiences including the Grain To Oven farm-to-table program, Wreath Workshops, The Southern Lights, and Homeschool Discovery Days. Supporting revenue streams include charitable donations, corporate and bed/garden sponsorships, and a volunteer program that supplies community labor for gardening, events, and education operations.

Revenue mechanics are split across one-time event and venue bookings, recurring subscription memberships, philanthropic donations, and sponsorship arrangements, with all pricing disclosed only on inquiry. Go-to-market is community-led: marketing relies on social media channels operated under Johnson Nursery branding (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube), website blog content (Knowledge Center, Joshua's Fun Facts, Gardening 101), email newsletter capture, and cross-referral from the co-located Johnson Nursery retail customer base. The organization has no proprietary technology platform, no mobile application, no AI or data products, and no disclosed headcount or revenue figures; its sole confirmed executive is David Johnson, serving as President.

The customer base is fragmented across four primary personas — plant enthusiasts and nature lovers, event planners and celebrants, families with children, and a smaller corporate client segment — all served regionally within Southeastern North Carolina. There are no named enterprise accounts, no patents or trademarks, no funding rounds, no subsidiaries, and no M&A activity disclosed. The asset base (curated acreage, horticultural content, venue infrastructure, and the Johnson Nursery sister-company relationship) constitutes the principal competitive and operational moat.

Name

The Gardens of Southeastern North Carolina

Legal name

The Gardens of Southeastern North Carolina

Website

https://thegardensofsenc.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The Gardens of Southeastern North Carolina is a 300+ acre non-profit botanical garden in Willard, NC offering free public access alongside wedding and private event venue rentals, memberships, seasonal workshops, and educational programming, supported by donations and corporate sponsorships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Botanical Garden and Event Venue Services

NAICS

Zoos and Botanical Gardens (71213), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Zoos, Aquariums & Botanical Gardens (Educational Collections) (THAJADAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Parks, Gardens & Botanical Attractions (THAJACAH)

Keywords

• Botanical garden services
• Event venue rentals
• Horticulture education
• Nonprofit garden membership
• Wedding event hosting

Headquarters

HQ city

Willard

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Memberships: Annual or recurring membership programs offering unlimited garden access, special event invitations, member-only tours, early program access, and discounts on garden center purchases at Johnson Nursery.
2. Venue Rentals: Revenue from renting the Signature Garden and venue spaces for private events including weddings, bridal/baby showers, corporate events, birthday parties, and club meetings. Space accommodates up to 150 guests.
3. Donations: Charitable contributions from visitors and supporters to help preserve and expand the gardens and fund educational programs. As a non-profit, donations are a key revenue stream.
4. Corporate Sponsorships: Bed & Garden Sponsorships and corporate sponsorships providing brand exposure, featured promotions, event participation, and community engagement opportunities.
5. Event Admissions: Admission fees for special events such as Grain To Oven, Wreath Workshop, The Southern Lights, and seasonal workshops. The gardens are free to the public except on event days.
6. Volunteer Program Support: Community volunteer contributions supporting gardening, events, and education operations, enabling the non-profit to expand programming without equivalent labor costs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Gardens of Southeastern North Carolina is a non-profit botanical garden spanning over 300 acres that provides free public access to horticultural displays, nature trails, and educational programs. It sells event venue rentals for weddings and private gatherings (capacity up to 150 guests) at the Signature Garden, offers annual memberships with exclusive perks, and hosts seasonal events and workshops such as Grain To Oven, Wreath Workshop, and The Southern Lights. Revenue is supported through memberships, donations, corporate sponsorships, and event admissions.

Product overview

The Gardens of Southeastern North Carolina is a non-profit botanical garden spanning over 300 acres, operated as a sister company to Johnson Nursery. The organization offers a portfolio of experiential and educational services centered around its horticultural grounds. Core offerings include Private Events hosting and Wedding & Venue Rentals (accommodating up to 150 guests in the Signature Garden), supported by membership, sponsorship, and volunteer programs. Educational programming includes seasonal workshops, gardening classes, and hands-on events such as the Grain To Oven farm-to-table experience and Homeschool Discovery Days. The venue also hosts seasonal events including Wreath Workshops and The Southern Lights. The Comparison Garden provides a dedicated space for plant education and comparison. The Gardens is free and open to the public Monday through Saturday, with donations, memberships, and event revenue supporting the non-profit mission.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Private Events Event hosting services for intimate gatherings including bridal/baby showers, club meetings, birthday parties, and casual get-togethers. The Signature Garden provides a scenic backdrop with flexible space accommodating up to 150 guests, along with included amenities.
• Wedding & Venue Rentals Wedding and special event venue rental services featuring lush gardens, vibrant flowers, and stunning landscapes. The dedicated team ensures every detail is perfect for unforgettable experiences, from intimate gatherings to grand celebrations.
• Gardens Membership Annual membership program offering exclusive perks including unlimited access, special event invitations, member-only tours, early program access, and discounts on garden center purchases. Memberships support the non-profit mission of preserving educational programs and natural spaces.
• Corporate Sponsorships Brand exposure opportunities through sponsorship, featuring promotions, event participation, and community engagement while supporting preservation and expansion of The Gardens.
• Grain To Oven Hands-on farm-to-table pizza experience featuring fresh-picked toppings, wheat harvesting, and brick oven baking. A featured event experience showcasing agricultural education and culinary creativity.
• Wreath Workshop Seasonal workshop offering hands-on wreath-making instruction and creative crafting experiences.
• The Southern Lights Seasonal illuminated event featuring light displays throughout the gardens.
• Grain To Oven: Homeschool Discovery Days Educational programming designed for homeschool families combining agricultural education with hands-on learning activities.
• Comparison Garden Educational garden exhibit showcasing the region's diverse plant life for visitors to explore and compare different plant varieties.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden: A regional non-profit botanical garden in Belmont, NC offering horticultural displays, special events, weddings, and educational programming — directly comparable in mission, footprint scale, and revenue mix to The Gardens of Southeastern NC.
• Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden: A 50-acre non-profit botanical garden in Richmond, VA with admissions, memberships, weddings, and signature seasonal events — closely comparable in non-profit structure, programming, and venue rental strategy.
• Airlie Gardens: A 67-acre public garden in Wilmington, NC (New Hanover County) with paid admission, weddings, and educational programming — the closest geographic peer and a direct competitor for coastal NC visitors and event bookings.
• Brookgreen Gardens: A 9,127-acre botanical and sculpture garden in Murrells Inlet, SC with paid admission, weddings, seasonal light events (Nights of a Thousand Candles), and educational programming — a regional peer with a far larger footprint and comparable event-driven revenue model.
• Sarah P. Duke Gardens: (Listed separately to clarify scope; see Duke Gardens above.) A North Carolina botanical garden with free admission, member support, and educational programming — comparable regional peer.
• Duke Gardens: A 55-acre public botanical garden at Duke University in Durham, NC with free admission, educational programs, and event venue rentals — a comparable North Carolina botanical garden operating on a similar mission-driven model.

Broad incumbents

• Biltmore Estate: A large-scale destination in Asheville, NC featuring extensive gardens, event venues, weddings, and ticketed experiences — a much larger incumbent that competes for NC botanical tourism, weddings, and event spend at scale.
• Longwood Gardens: A world-class 1,100-acre botanical garden in Kennett Square, PA with paid admissions, memberships, signature seasonal light displays, weddings, and educational programs — a benchmark incumbent for the type of botanical event programming The Gardens aspires to scale.
• Callaway Gardens: A 2,500-acre resort destination in Pine Mountain, GA combining gardens, events, lodging, and attractions — a broader incumbent in the southeastern US botanical/event venue space.

Regional players

• JC Raulston Arboretum: A 10-acre NC State University arboretum in Raleigh, NC focused on plant collection, education, and community events — a smaller, education-centric regional peer with comparable horticultural and programming focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/JohnsonNurseryCorporation
• Facebookfacebook.com/johnson.nurserync
• Instagraminstagram.com/johnson.nursery

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Gardens of Southeastern North Carolina