Monday, March 5, 2018

Meadowlark Botanical Gardens, closing out the 2017 Garden Bloggers Fling

I may have taken my sweet time getting here — and jumped all over the itinerary in the process — but I'm wrapping up my 2017 GB Fling posts with the closing event of the DC Region Fling — and not a moment too soon, since the 2018 Fling kicks off in just a little over eight weeks! Our final stop that hot June day was Meadowlark Botanical Gardens.

Meadowlark consists of 95 acres of ornamental display gardens and unique native plant collections and is located in Vienna, Virginia.

I was a little overwhelmed upon entering the garden and not sure which way to head, I chose the containers (familiarity?)...

Inside that big stacked stone circle was this, along with bits of ash. It must be a fire circle at some point in the year and they'd sunk containers in?

Looking a little more polished was this group.

Agave stricta?

A very pale (and beautiful) Agave desmettiana 'Joe Hoak'.

Looking back over my shoulder...

Cephalotaxus harringtonia 'Prostrata', aka Spreading Japanese Plum Yew, my official Fling crush...which I have yet to track down here in Oregon. Must find this plant!

I got the bee! I never get the bee...

They do Echinacea well in this part of the country.

Diverging from the flowers for a moment I discovered a tropical foliage island.

Tetrapanax have an entirely different feel when you're looking down on those big leaves.

Bromeliads in the ground! And who knew Coleus would look so nice with them?

I had that gorgeous Cordyine (on the right) for awhile. Until it died. I don't think it ever even escaped it's houseplant gig to vacation outside for the summer.

What is this bit of loveliness?

Looks like maybe a Cercis canadensis 'Forest Pansy' that's been coppiced. Do they do that?

Looking back at the building we first entered when we arrived.

And out at the vast land to explore.

It was in this garden that I got the sad news that a dear friend's mother had died. I didn't know her well, although I did attend his parent's 50th wedding anniversary and have known him for some 30 years.

The feeling of sadness definitely colored my visit, although where better to get sad news, and work through it, than in a garden?

And a garden with ruins no less!

Like I said, they do Echinacea well here...

Most everyone was heading down this path to see the Korean Bell Garden...

But I really craved a little alone time so I headed off towards that bridge.

Where I could admire the lotus.

And then rejoin the gang for our closing dinner. Will you be "flinging" in Austin this year? I think they have just 5 or 6 spots left! Check out the details here: Austin 2018. Thank you to Tammy and the whole DC Fling crew, you showed us an amazing time!

Weather Diary, Feb 4: Hi 51, Low 33/ Precip trace

All material © 2009-2018 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

18 comments:

  1. Oh, nice shot of the Lotus flower! I remember encountering you by the ruins. I had that wide-leaved colorful Cordyline too for a while, it started to immediately decline after I brought it home. Some day I will have a Joe Hoak, that's a very pretty one, it looks almost completely white.

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  2. So sorry that your friend lost his mom and you're right, if there is a good place to get bad news, a garden is certainly it. Some beautiful shots & glad you got the bee.

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    1. I was also thankful the garden was so large I could easily slip away for a little "alone" time.

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  3. Thanks for the look at the springhouse and the park's info. Our nearest neighbors had a springhouse when I was young; I loved being asked to fetch things from it (milk and butter, usually). The derecho event six years ago, when many people were without power for almost two weeks in 100-degree heat, brought into sharp relief how useful they can still be in an area as full of springs as ours.

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    1. The "old ways" still serve a purpose, at times.

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  4. I really liked that botanic garden and I wish we'd had a longer time to explore it. As usual, you found things I missed completely, like the ruins.

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    1. It's such a hard balance between enough time and too much time...

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  5. I never get the bee either! Can't count the number of times I've gone into the garden as a way to cope with bad/sad news.

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  6. Oh my goodness--only eight weeks! My heart is all aflutter just thinking about it. I can see that I really missed out by not attending the DC Fling, but darn it--I had some tough choices in 2017. Your photos make me think that this would have been my favorite destination for the 2017 Fling--must put the Meadowlark Botanical Garden on my bucket list! I'm so sorry about your friend's mom. The garden must have brought you some comfort.

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    1. I wish you could have been a part of this Fling Beth, but look forward to seeing you in Austin!

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  7. That is a gorgeous BG. Much more enjoyable seeing photos than experiencing the summer heat in person, I expect.

    The Cordyline was a looker, for sure.

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    1. I think this was actually one of the most comfortable days, as far as temperature. I wonder what Austin has in store for us?

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  8. I had to go back to my photos of this garden because I couldn't remember the ruins, and sure enough, no photos so I guess I missed it. I like your photos better than mine !

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  9. So nice to see summery, blooming things. I'm done with winter and yet, it snows still...
    Loved the different echinacea, they hybrids are so varied these days.

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