For some reason, this piece, Vladimir Martynov’s setting of The Beatitudes, composed in 1998, came to mind while enjoying the beauty of Heronswood in the early spring. Feel free to listen as come along.
Perhaps the the evocative, mystical quality of the music expresses the ineffable thrill of seeing spring unfurl once again, paralleling the rebirth of Heronswood itself.
A patch of meconopsis will will delight at bloom time. "There is nothing quite like the scene when these are in full blossom, like a flock of turquoise macaws sweeping into the garden, bringing with them pieces of the sky itself to place amongst the greenery." - Hinkley
Helleborus multifidus subsp. hercegovinus has okay blooms but oh, that foliage...
Sinopanax formosanus. Love the clear tags!
Speaking of unusual new plants, this one was quite a surprise. What a handsome and friendly fellow. If he didn't belong to a neighbor of the garden, I would have tried to take him home with me. He wasn't destructive at all.
Not so sure about this one walking in the beds.
Native to the Northeastern U.S. Podophyllum peltatum (Mayapple, Mandrake Root) is hardy to zone 3a.
Just emerging, this is a large mass of impatiens omeiana. It was in this garden that I first experienced this plant among many others.
Hoped you enjoyed our little stroll!
Oh, that was lovely! I did enjoy it. It has taken a lot of work, but the garden is looking so much better. Do they still have the Little and Lewis water garden roped off?
ReplyDeleteYou're right, the garden is looking much better! It's a grand place full of amazing specimens but no longer the home of a plant-crazed collector like Windcliff. The Little and Lewis water garden is no longer roped off.
DeleteBeauty at every turn! I scanned the photos for a sighting of the variegated Daphniphyllum but didn't see it. Please tell me it's still there!?
ReplyDeleteThere was a big hole in the ground where the variegated Daphniphyllum had been. One of the docents said that security cameras had captured images of someone driving a black Kia Sportage with Oregon plates into the garden the night before and leaving with Daphniphyllum foliage hanging out the back window. Authorities say that they're amazed that it seemed to be the work of a lone plant-crazed female. Talk about danerous gardening. BTW, how's your back feeling?
DeleteSeriously, it was still there in all it's glory but none of my pictures of it looked very good.
Went through once. Then enlarged the pix and did it again. Now I am going to let it settle in for a while before I come back for another look. Beautiful and brilliant.
ReplyDeleteI'm so grateful to live so close to such a jewel.
DeleteI'm so glad that Heronswood found people willing to care for it - and that you are able to share your tour of it! Meconopsis in bloom - pure joy!
ReplyDeleteThose tree ferns make me swoon. Everything looks so far behind compared to last year. But then, last year everything was so early.
ReplyDeleteWow, what an incredible garden, Peter. World class, for sure. Thanks for sharing your tour with us!
ReplyDeleteWow, that was a lovely stroll with beautiful music. I loved it. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteFlowerLady
I yes, I enjoyed it very much. It is good to see this garden being so well cared for again.
ReplyDeleteThere is something magical about all those fat, fleshy buds popping up out of the soil this time of the year. Such promise of things to come.
What an awesome place!
ReplyDeleteLoved the music ans the photos!
ReplyDeleteWhat amazing structure this garden has, everything is just waking up, it must be a wonderful place to visit. So envious of the meconopsis, they will soon be looking so beautiful.
That was fab. I could quite happily lose myself forever in those lovely woodlandy bits.
ReplyDeleteI think Meconopsis are the perfect flower except for the fact that I can't grow them.
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