grading Gardens

weekly reviews of exceptional gardens with photos

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Sandy Spring Museum Garden Club Tour Saturday, May 20, 2017

On an overcast Saturday morning, I picked up my mother and set out to add some color to the drab, gray day by touring five exceptional gardens as part of the Sandy Spring Museum Garden Club’s annual event. The five private residences were sprinkled throughout the outer-DC suburbs of Maryland, some in secluded, woody areas, while others harbored elaborate landscapes amongst otherwise-nondescript neighborhoods.

>> Read the full review with more original photos on my blog!

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Norfolk Botanical Garden Norfolk, Virginia

It was refreshing to learn that the sprawling Norfolk Botanical Garden did not start as the property of some rich family like so many other grand horticultural attractions. To know that the opulence on display was not something created only for the wealthy makes strolling through garden after garden of this grand estate a more rewarding experience.

>> Read the full review with more original photos on my blog here!

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Brighton Dam Azalea Garden Brookeville, Maryland

Someone already familiar with the park areas around that impressive dam structure might not realize that every spring a riotous tidal wave of wild colors crashes down the hillsides in one of the most impressive azalea displays I have seen!

>> Read the full review with more azalea photos on my blog!

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Green Spring Gardens Alexandria, Virginia

Just a few turns from the busy hustle of the Little River Turnpike lies what at first appears to be a simple neighborhood park where locals (and their dogs) get in their daily walks. While the numerous paved paths that encircle the property of Green Spring Gardens do attract plenty of power-walkers, there are abundant horticultural and historical aspects to be appreciated if you are willing to seek them out.

>> Read my full review with more original photos on the blog here!

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Historic Spanish Point Osprey, Florida

Historic Spanish Point is living museum, paying tribute to the many people over the years that inhabited this ideal plot of land that juts out into Little Sarasota Bay. The historic site includes a model of early pioneer life as well as the much older remains of ancient people who once lived there--which is all fascinating, but it is the gardens sprinkled throughout the property that interest me the most!

>> Read the full review with more photos here!

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Cherry Blossom Report 2017 Tidal Basin, Washington, DC

Washington has experienced some unexpected disturbances over the past year that have thrown things off balance, and the weather was no exception to this trend. We experienced a false spring in late February that caused the blooming process of many plants and trees to begin, only to be hit with a deep freeze that was seasonally appropriate but damaging to delicate buds.I remained hopeful and awaited the warmer temperatures to advance and prove the detractors wrong.

>> Read my full report with more photos on my blog!

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Orchid Extravaganza Longwood Gardens Kennett Square, Pennsylvania

Meandering about, I sometimes didn’t notice the featured orchids right away, but it was fun to discover them as they seemed to appear in unexpected places. The orchid, in its many forms, becomes the guide that leads you through the labyrinth of interconnected glass houses, and functions as a thread that ties all of the different garden rooms together.

>> Read the full review with lots more photos here!

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The Philadelphia Flower Show Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I wasn’t prepared for the aromatic assault of thousands of tulips hitting me as I walked into the main entrance of the convention hall. This flower show is not for the feint of heart or the seizure-prone! The entrance tableau was a visual spectacle, consisting of a bridge hung with potted flowers and rising out of a sea of tulips and daffodils that arched over a steady flow of picture-snapping attendees.

>> Read the entire review with a 20-picture gallery here!

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Palace of Gold New Vrindaban, West Virginia

A giant, opulent temple is not exactly what one would expect to find in the rustic terrain of rural West Virginia, but it made a stunning statement against a largely untouched backdrop of blue-green Appalachian mountains. The busy rose garden and large lotus pond offer some impressive floral displays, but the main attraction is the palace itself, which seems to tower above it all, demanding attention and awe. Overall, I was most impressed with how expertly the natural elements were used to accentuate the visual impact of the temple.

>> Read the full review from my trip with more photos on the blog!

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Balboa Park San Diego, California

The park is actually a collection of museums, theaters, the San Diego Zoo, and a wide range of recreational areas all set atop a mesa that overlooks the city. Aside from the impeccable landscaping around the ornate buildings and walkways, there are numerous garden features spread across the park, tucked between buildings, and sprouting up throughout in unexpected places.

>> Read the full review with more photos on my blog!

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"orchids: A MOMENT" Hirshhorn Museum, Washington DC

Each potted plant was placed in a size-specific cubby that made a system of connected shelves along the inner wall of the lobby. I was a little skeptical when I saw pictures online, but in person the orchids are practically popping off the white shelves with colorful personality.

>> Read the entire review with more photos on my blog!

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Franciscan Monastery Washington, DC

Within the walls of the Franciscan Monastery time seems to slow down and simple arrangements of flowers or the untouched beauty of nature take on a special significance. The various replicas and stations for devotion give a sense of purpose and structure to the garden.

>> Read the full review with more photos on my blog!

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Airlie Gardens Wilmington, NC

On a trip to North Carolina last summer I found myself in Wilmington, where the annual Azalea Festival is a source of local pride. Functioning both as a preserved piece of tidal marshland and a a series of formal gardens, Arlie is infused with a relaxed, southern hospitality.

>> Read the whole review with photos on my blog!

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Ganna Walska Lotusland Santa Barbara, California

Located in sunny southern California and only accessible through private tours and a hefty admission price, Lotusland lives up to the hype while still maintaining a sense of mystery, keeping you at arms length from experiencing its entirety.

>> Read the full garden review with more photos on my blog!

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Rancho Los Alamitos Long Beach, California

A preserved adobe ranch house atop a hill surrounded by ancient trees, formal gardens, and rustic farm buildings. There was something incongruous about a historic site within an exclusive gated community, but this land, I later found out, has a complex history.

>> Read the rest of this review with more photos on my blog!

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Arlington Garden Pasadena, California

Arlington makes expert use of a small amount of land, and it demonstrates many ambitious ideas about what a public neighborhood space could be.

>> Read the full garden review with more photos on my blog!

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Florida Botanical Gardens Largo, Florida

While visiting my grandmother down south, I wanted to add another new garden to my ever-growing list, and the Florida Botanic Gardens sounded like the perfect place. So my sister and I took a day trip to explore this floral destination, and we were not disappointed with the botanical bounty we found.

Read the full review and see all the photos on my blog!