A Secret Garden, Shared

Perennial Harbor transforms a hidden backyard into a vibrant hub for plants, people, and local events

By Judy Royal  »  Photos by G. Frank Hart

What happens when two plant-loving friends put their heads together to figure out what to do with a vast outdoor area behind a floral studio? A new concept for sharing the space comes to life.

Perennial Harbor at 1107 Princess Street recently opened as a community garden and gathering place in the Soda Pop District near historic downtown Wilmington. It’s a joint effort between Ally Favory of Blossom Bay Design and Ashley Johnson of Foxhound Flower Farm, friends since attending college at UNCW together. Both eventually ended up pursuing careers in the floral industry – Favory in destination floral design and Johnson in flower farming for seasonal subscriptions.

“Over the years, we’ve collaborated, and we started teaching workshops,” Johnson says. “Workshops were a way for us to teach what we’ve learned and interact with people.”

When Favory bought an old laundromat and converted it into a workspace, the wheels began turning. 

“There was a huge area out back,” Johnson says. “Ally ended up clearing it out, and last year, we started talking and decided it would be a good opportunity to put something in the garden for plant education and other things we like to do in the community with a space we already have. It’s like a little secret garden back there.”

Perennial Harbor hosted its opening weekend, April 17-20, and will be open one long weekend per month. Summer dates are June 26-29, July 17-20, and August 14-17, and you can find the schedule for the remainder of the year and other details on their website (perennialharbor.com). During other times, the outdoor space may also be rented for weddings, parties, and other events. Perennial Harbor is offering special pricing to book an event before August.

Each weekend offers a chance for people to enjoy live music, food trucks, flowers for purchase, and workshops. Perennial Harbor has a beer and wine license and serves a curated list of libations in the greenhouse. People are invited to grab a picnic blanket to lie in the grass and enjoy the great outdoors. 

“We’re just kind of giving this business space and trying to see how it evolves naturally without rushing it,” says Johnson, who is the program manager and works to curate a monthly lineup that will appeal to a wide audience. “It’s been fun already to see our garden growing. The idea was to have a different space where people can connect with nature and learn about plants and get their hands dirty.”

For all but the workshops, which require paid pre-registration due to limited space, people can just show up, and dogs are welcome also. There is no fee for entry.

“We were thinking about the kind of space we would like to hang out in, and we built it around that,” Johnson says. “It’s been well-received. During the opening weekend in April, we were blown away by how many people came out.”

Social media and old-fashioned foot traffic have helped to create a buzz around Perennial Harbor, she adds.

“When the gates are open, you can see in,” Johnson says. “People from the neighborhood come back and bring friends. It’s been kind of organic how people are finding out about it. We wanted it to be a space that would bring all types of people together, and it really has.”

While garden visitors may simply relax and enjoy the atmosphere, Perennial Harbor welcomes questions and interactions from those who are eager to explore their
green thumb.

“We love talking with people about gardening and making people feel like it’s approachable,” Johnson says. “We’ve labeled plants so people can engage and ask questions and get ideas for their own gardens. One of our big goals was just to get people connected and have educational opportunities and opportunities for conversation around it.”

So, what does the future hold for Perennial Harbor? Favory and Johnson plan to see how things go with what they have planned for 2025 and then regroup at the end of the year to see if they want to do anything different, such as expand hours.

“It’s a baby business, and we’re trying to be really intentional,” Johnson says. “It’s been cool to see people embrace the idea.”