Wednesday, August 27, 2008

TRAVELING GARDENER PART II

Longwood Gardens was not far from Mt. Cuba geographically, but worlds apart ideologically. Longwood was once the estate of Pierre Du Pont, he had bought the property from a Quaker family who had created a private arboretum there in the early 1800’s. Pierre began his garden there with simple flower walks back in 1907. Now the gardens are anything but simple, extravagant would be an understatement. I can truly say I’ve never seen anything like it. I was fortunate once again to get a private tour of the gardens and the operational facilities from a long time horticulturalist there, Yoko Arakawa.



A stunning study in red and yellow.




A board walk up in the trees leads to a tree house.




Topiary ad infinitum. Amusing.




I wish we had the heat to grow these giant amazonian water lilies in Seattle.




Bamboo waiting to be displayed in the conservatory.