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Bzzzz August 4th, 2007

One of the problems with visiting historic or other public gardens is that it takes you away from the work in your own garden at home.

But since the guys were headed off to Mount Vernon, home of George Washington, I couldn’t just stay at home watering and pulling weeds! Do you blame me for neglecting my own chores for the day?

Mount Vernon, Home of George Washington

I have been to Mount Vernon several times before. But it has always been in the chill of autumn or in the dead of winter. Given my interest in historic, particularly Colonial gardens, I was aching to see the gardens in their full glory.

The lawn in front of the house is a wide swath that provides a panoramic view of the house–even if the lawn is a bit parched from the drought. Of course, the house is now nicely restored to its full glory after periods of neglect during which the house was derelict and in danger of falling down. The brick paths that wind down either side of the lawn are now shaded with centuries-old trees. I have to wonder what the original scene was like when George and Martha lived here.

On the left (facing the house), is the upper garden and greenhouse, where mostly flowers, ancient boxwood and fruit trees grow.

Upper Garden

On the right, is the Lower Garden, a working garden with gorgeous old boxwoods that are all gnarled with age.

Lower Garden

There are also mature and impressive espaliered and cordoned fruit trees.

Lower Garden

You can visit more of Mount Vernon by going to my photo gallery.

Given the busy work week I have had and the sad state of affairs in my own garden, I’m headed out to make amends now. So much to do…so little time.

Posted In: Gardening, Lifestyle, Travel

Tags: gloriosa superba Rothschildiana

One of the least-trafficked areas of the Chicago Botanic Garden the day I was there were the greenhouses.

Frankly, I found them a welcome relief from the wretched heat and crowds. The air was reasonably cool and there were only a few people to stumble past. And what a fabulous place to hang out…if only they had some benches in the greenhouse. NO BENCHES. NO PLACE TO SIT AND ENJOY the plants. Is that right?

Anyway…

I MOST loved the topiaries. I think I am in love all over again with topiaries.There were these two charming, dancing topiary bunnies–the very best kind of bunnies, I think.

Topiary Bunnies, Chicago Botanic Garden

And right inside the door of one of the greenhouses–the desert greenhouse, I think–was this crazy topiary armadillo, covered with hens and chickens and some other small succulents. Again, the very best type of armadillo. I actually laughed out loud when I saw it!

Topiary Armadillo with Hens and Chickens, Chicago Botanic Garden

There were beautiful, mature palms and even more topiaries. (Someone really loves topiaries.)

Greenhouse at the Chicago Botanic Garden

I particularly appreciated the floor at one end of one of the greenhouses–slabs of concrete and grass in a checkerboard pattern that reminded me of that huge chessboard in one of the Harry Potter books. (Can you tell I’m reading Harry Potter?)

(Oooh. I am either cranky tonight or, perhaps, I have just saved some of the less-than-perfect photos for my last post about Chicago.)

Although the Memphis Botanical Garden doesn’t hold a candle to the Chicago Botanic Garden, I did rather like its Japanese garden better. It’s not nearly as expansive. But it does incorporate more color, including the red half-moon bridge, some fabulous yellow sedge and flowers. The Japanese garden in Chicago is so very green, green, green. Unrelieved green. And more green. No flowers in sight…More green…No flowers…More green…(You get the idea.)

Weights on tree limbs in the Japanese Garden create the effect of age

What I did appreciate were the plaques strategically positioned around the garden explaining the Japanese garden philosophy in convenient, easy-to-digest chunks. For example, Japanese gardens strive for an “idealized” notion of beauty, not really a natural landscape. One plaque explained the Japanese veneration for age, even aged trees. They will prune out branches of pines for a more skeletal appearance and weigh some them down to create an architectural illusion of the weight of time. Zig-zag paths are supposed to confuse unlucky spirits and keep them from following you. And the wide roofs of the pagoda-type house ornaments are for collecting the snowflakes, which are prized for their variety and beauty.

Japanese Garden, Chicago Botanic Garden

The rose garden at the Chicago Botanic Garden was HUGE. And disappointing. What is it about roses that gardeners cannot seem to mix other plants with them? Do roses really have to be stand-alone plants? There were wide swaths of roses. Unrelieved roses next to more roses. There were only a few boxwoods as a backdrop. And a weak effort to use catmint. What is it that gardeners think catmint and roses are nicely complimentary? I have mixed them and they don’t really complement each other at all.

There was, however, a fabulous shady arbor at the back of the rose garden. I longed to take a nap there.

Arbor Behind the Rose Garden, Chicago Botanic Garden

I also visited the Dwarf Conifer Garden. Sadly, this seemed a bit of neglected space up the side of a hill. In fact, it was here that I saw the ONLY weeds–and even a feasting bunnie rabbit–in the whole 300+ acres.

Dwarf Conifer Garden, Chicago Botanic Garden – Not the best-maintained part of the gardens there

Okay, that’s it. No more about the Chicago Botanic Garden. Tomorrow–Mount Vernon. I visited there yesterday, where they had a huge thunderstorm. Still, I risked my life and limb to get some photos. Tune in and see…

Ciao!

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