Fire Tower Center Gardens

The Fire Tower Center Gardens provide every visitor's first introduction to Moore Farms Botanical Garden, setting the tone for the experience that lies ahead. Home to guest parking, the Fire Tower Welcome Center, several art pieces, and the iconic Fire Tower itself, this landscape serves as both a welcoming gateway and a celebration of the garden's unique blend of horticulture, art, and history.

Surrounding the entrance, graceful weeping bald cypress, stately longleaf pines, and an array of uncommon native shrubs offer the first glimpse of the garden's innovative plant collections, where familiar Southern landscapes meet botanical treasures from around the world. Passing beneath the towering Fire Tower, the path transitions into a gravel lane reminiscent of the rural roads that have long connected farms throughout the Pee Dee. In spring, native azaleas burst into bloom, creating a colorful welcome, while sculptures from the garden's extensive art collection are thoughtfully woven throughout the landscape.

One of the defining features of this garden is the Fire Tower Lawn—a turf-on-turf living work of art created using two turfgrass species, Bermuda and Zoysia. Carefully planted to resemble unfolding tobacco leaves, the design pays tribute to the agricultural history of the land while demonstrating that even a lawn can become an artistic expression. Together, these elements create a memorable arrival experience that reflects the spirit of Moore Farms Botanical Garden, where nature, art, and heritage are seamlessly intertwined.