High Summer at Green Spring Gardens

It’s high summer. Hot as you know what. Here in the metro DC area, gardens are starting to struggle (including mine). So  recently I decided to venture out to Green Spring Gardens, in Alexandria VA, a  Fairfax County public garden known for its great plantings (as well as its excellent educational offerings for gardeners). I wanted to see what was blooming, or otherwise looking good, despite the challenging summer climate. Here’s what I found – an impressive mix of annuals, perennials, shrubs and trees. If you live in the area, take a road trip for yourself!

Castor bean plants make a bold statement among coleus and other annuals and perennials in the parking lot beds.

The garden’s arbor, framed by crape myrtle blooms and the driveway’s perennial border

Joe Pye weed near the conservatory

Sunflowers!

Bee balm (monarda) and Cornus sericaea ‘Sunshine’

Tall sunflowers in front of Joe pye weed.

Even in the shade, the garden’s borders are impressive. Oakleaf hydrangea and Verbascum play off each other.

Golden cypress, smoketree in bloom, and orange perennials combine to wonderful effect.

Bees enjoying the thistles near the vegetable garden.

Chastetree in bloom near the visitors’ center.

A small seating area behind the visitors’ center with a wide variety of plantings.

Bees everywhere.

At the back of the visitors’ center, a garden of succulents and tropicals.

A brilliantly colored wall sets off cactus and other xeriscape plants.

 Garden Shoots will be on vacation until after Labor Day. See you in September!

A Spring Visit to Chanticleer

In May, I was able to make an all too brief visit to Chanticleer Garden on my way to a law school graduation farther north. The day was alternately sunny and cloudy, providing both opportunities and challenges for me as I roamed the grounds. I’ve written about Chanticleer in the spring before, so here I’m sharing only the newest images. As any devotee of this garden knows, however, Chanticleer is always evolving and there’s always something new to discover and photograph. My favorite image from the trip is at the end of the gallery. I was thrilled recently when one of my nieces saw it on my business Facebook page, and asked for a print of it. Hope you like it too.

The Teacup Garden, awash in late tulips.

A tri-color beech espaliered against the walls leading into the Teacup Garden.

Camassia in the Tennis Court garden contrasting with alliums in bloom.

More camassia, set off by primulas down near the stream

Burgundy and yellow late spring tulips, with white azaleas in bloom near the Ruins Garden

I photographed the lawn below the Main House under cloud cover

and in bright sun. The Serpentine is planted in winter rye. By now, tall sunflowers should be in bloom there.

A small stone bench on one side of the Gravel Garden.

A secret “floating garden” on the veranda of the Main House.

 

The arbor at the bottom of the Gravel Garden, which overlooks the Pond Garden and the Great Lawn, is rich with wisteria and alliums in the foreground.