Edna was B.W. Wells first wife and a native of Nebraska. In 1919 they moved to North Carolina and traveled the state studying the natural areas and falling in love with the diversity of its flora.
Edna was a botanist and brought botany and ecology to her teachings in Raleigh. While teaching at Broughton High School she discovered a small park between the school and their house on Park Drive.
Edna Started a science club at Broughton, and enlisted its help in transplanting ferns and flowers into this park. She very much wanted to see the park used as an outdoor learning laboratory.
At one point B.W. labeled the plants and trees with metal tags, and trails laced through the property. Sadly, vandals destroyed most of the signs, and neighbors dug out most of the plants.
Becoming ill after an operation, Edna passed away in February of 1938. A few weeks later the city of Raleigh officially named the small park after her.
Some 68 years later the park still holds a great deal of charm and bountiful flora. Several picturesque entrances bring you to the heart of the park along the Pigeon House Branch River.
Huge oaks and pines dominate the west bank, with ferns and daffodils growing in their shadow. The east bank has thickets of cane, a huge sycamore, and odder than odd, redwood trees! Several sequoia sempervirens, planted in the 1980’s, are growing strong.
In bloom profusions of daffodil, Eastern Redbud and a rose bush just finishing up. Ivy and ornamental hollies bring you back to present times.
A metal arch bridge crosses the river, which is one of the most urban streams in Raleigh. Where it crosses under Clark Avenue a massive pool forms at the base of the culvert. The river then scours away at the bank leaving several feet of exposed bank. The river then passes a gauging station and under Forest Drive. Here it starts to resemble a riverway in Venice. With houses and yards on each bank, concrete retaining walls were installed, along with concrete check dams. Apparently this little river can flood profoundly and raise several feet up its banks.
Crossing the park and walking along Park Drive you can find the rock wall B.W. built around his home. The home has long since burned down and been replaced with another; but the rock wall runs for over 350 feet along Park Drive. It is in very good repair and the neighbors have many flowers growing along the wall.
Parking is along West Johnson Street near the grassy, open area. A lone picnic table sits near a sequoia tree, and a few other benches line the banks of the river.
Several of the old trees could be nominated for the Wake County Capital Tree Program. I’m very curious about the Redwoods!
