Garden: Longwood

There is so much beauty at Longwood.  Every where you look is something interesting.

 Becky, Georgia, Bonnie and I met for lunch and then went to Longwood together.  It was a really nice day, and I'm glad we got to spend it together.

 The trees are so beautiful.

We walked down toward the Italian Water Garden.  That is one of my favorite areas in spite of the fountains being turned off at this time of year.

Then we walked up to the brick walk.  This walk is different all through the year.  They change out the plants seasonally, but it's always beautiful and interesting.

 Right now they have a lot of tall plants like the Cannas (in different colors) and also a lot of plants in the mint family, and lots of Dahlias, too.

  I was using my phone camera so sometimes the focus is off and I couldn't always get the right color, so I've played with the editing on some of them a bit.  The colors are so amazing in person!  I love gardens and plants and love to see the creative way that Longwood puts their plantings together!

 This is a nice area at the end of the brick walk.  The plantings are very different in here.  They seem like plants that would thrive in a more arid climate.  There were also nice benches to sit on.  
You can see in some of the photos that the sky was cloudy.  It was a breezy day and chilly!


Up to the Conservatory where I couldn't wait to see photos of the Fountain area.  I had heard about this project and it is going to be amazing when it is done.  It will be 2017 before it is completed.

 I took this panoramic photo of this space.  There is no curve in the railing in real life.  It is a huge project.

Inside the Conservatory.  This rotating sphere was interesting.

I always like to see the Bonzai.  They had several really old ones, including one from 1909!

In the courtyard between the greenhouses is this neat space with Water Lilies.  Again the flowers were a much deeper color in person, but I didn't want to edit these because I love the green against the dark water.

 I'm thinking of renewing my membership.  I just love it there and love to find places to sit and read and enjoy the beauty of these gardens!

Christmas is always nice at Longwood, so I think we'll definitely make another trip soon.

Judith, if you ever come here for your bucket list trip, I'd love to meet up with you!  It would be amazing to tour the gardens with a Master Gardener!

Autumn Beauty: Longwood Gardens

This is a photo of my Cleveland Pear tree from the other day.

Saturday I am meeting up with some friends from church at Longwood Gardens.  I really love it there, and haven't been for a few years.  

It's going to be chilly and I am so looking forward to it!

Here are some photos from Longwood's website.

I'll try to get some photos but I hope to soak in all the beauty.

Note Card Party - Orchids

I couldn't decide what photos I wanted to show on this month's Card Party.  I went through dozens of ideas, then I found these photos.

Gorgeous orchids at Longwood Gardens.  

All I did to edit them is to put the frames around them.  I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.
  

 I love Vee's Note Card Party!  Join us won't you?

 

My Mystery Flowers

are a mystery no more!

My friend Bee solved the mystery today!  She sent me a comment saying that her daughter Emily, who works at our favorite Longwood Gardens and is studying all things horticultural, says that it is Rudbeckia laciniata hortensia. 

We have a winner, ladies!  

  The same friend who shared these with me from her garden, gave some to Bee's family as well.  I love friends who share! 


A friend who was one of my flower girls at my wedding nearly 24 years ago shared a link yesterday to what I thought might be the one - you can see it here.  


It is so good to have the mystery solved.  Rudbeckia "Golden Glow."  That is a very fitting name for it!  Some of it fell over in the rain we had two nights ago...I need to tie it up today, thankfully it is by the deck.


Thanks Emily for solving the "Great Flower Mystery!"

A Longwood Kind Of Day

 Sunny, nearly 70 degrees yesterday, we took ourselves to Longwood for the afternoon!  

 It is such a gorgeous place - 

 There is beauty everywhere...

 Flowering trees are in bloom, so were many tulips, daffodils, violas and pansies.

 This little Miss, enjoyed the sunshine and being outside!

 The vegetable gardens are one of my favorite places at Longwood.  I love the structures they use and the fact that they plant flowers among their veggies too!

 Kyle and Sarah ran through the paths reading the plant signs.

 Kamryn and Auntie Em...

 Nate enjoyed going along with us yesterday, too.

 I could have sat and looked at this view all day...

 In the Summer these arches are filled with climbing roses...

 Forget me nots' up close...

 Gorgeous tulips along the garden walk...

 Flowering trees...

 Lovely water features...

It was a lovely day...I am thankful to my husband for the family pass, every year, that allows us to head out for just a few hours whenever we are able.
And I am thankful to the Lord for such awesome beauty.  

All photos by Lindsay Rabe Photography.  Do not use without permission.

Spring Is In The Air...

 We are having warmer weather, and with the snow melting we are all getting eager for Spring.  Today Becky and I took our kids to our favorite garden. Longwood Gardens is having an Orchid Festival.  It is amazing how many variety of Orchids there are.

 They come in different colors, sizes and shapes.

 They have never really interested me, except for the fact that they are well, interesting.  Just look at them!

 I think of them as high maintenance flowers, and at Longwood, the Orchid room is humid.  I am not a fan of humid.

 Aren't they unusual?  

 Stunning, really.

 Beautiful...

 Unique,

I am always in awe of God's creativity, giving us the ability to propagate new varieties of plants.

Spring is on the way, my friends, I'm excited.  Are you?