wilkes

The Eddy Merle Watson Garden of the Senses is a living tribute to the memory of Merle Watson, a great acoustic musician who lost his life in a farming accident on October 23, 1985. This was just days before 'Frets Magazine' named him the best finger-picking guitarist of the year in folk, blues, or country music. Merle was the son of the legendary acoustic musician, Arthel "Doc" Watson, who is blind. The garden has been designed and planted so that everyone, regardless of their visual ability, may enjoy it. It is part of a large complex of multivariate botanical gardens located on the campus of Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro, North Carolina. The capital investment necessary to bring the Garden for the Senses to its current state of development has been funded by MerleFest, an annual acoustic music festival dedicated to the memory of Eddy Merle Watson which has become one of the largest, most popular events of its type in the world. Each year a significant portion of the MerleFest revenue is allocated to the continuing development of the Garden for the Senses. In addition to these annual development contributions, the festival has set an ambitious yet attainable goal of generating $250,000 in revenue which can be set aside as a permanent endowment for the maintenance and upkeep of Merle's garden. This is truly something you must visit to enjoy.

For more information on the Garden, visit their website at www.MerleFest.org/Gardens.htm.