Tuesday, February 15, 2022

GREEN SPRING GARDENS IN ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA - OUR FIRST VISIT THIS YEAR

We drove over to the garden and arrived in the afternoon.  We were treating ourselves to a take-home meal from one of our local restaurants, and it didn't open until 4.00 p.m.  We had intended to come to the garden anyhow, and the idea of picking up dinner was a last-minute decision.  As soon as we got back to the car after a delightful walk, we called ahead and it was waiting for us when we reached the restaurant.  Not long after that we were sitting in the comfort of our own home, eating a nice hot dinner, as we talked about our visit to the garden.

It was a pleasure to be back and we have missed coming.  We had a leisurely walk around the center green.  I will be sharing more photos, but right now I wanted to concentrate on this particular plant I spotted while walking along the path, not too far from the gazebo.

While taking photos I was approached by a lady and we started chatting about the plant.  She was very knowledgeable.  I thanked her and said how nice it was to learn about something I had never come across before, totally new to me.  I should say it had been there but I had always missed it, tucked into an area that I don’t always walk by.  It is also not right next to the path.  However, because of the time of year, I had not expected to see anything blooming.  This is why my curiosity was peaked when I saw what I thought were flowers.  

She asked if we were enjoying ourselves and I said yes, that we had been coming to the garden for years and that we loved it in all seasons.  Smiling, she told me that was great to hear as she was the manager of the garden.  She also told me that she had originally planted what we were looking at.  I don't think she realized how delighted I was to hear that.  I love these connections and to meet the person who actually put this beautiful plant into the soil was a definite plus, like meeting an artist who painted the art piece I have on my wall.  Our meeting also gave us the opportunity to thank her for all the hard work she and everyone who made the garden such a special place to visit all these years.  It truly is one of our favorite gardens, and we were very happy to pass that on.

 When she told us we had made her day, I was delighted we could do that.  It's always a pleasure to meet nice, friendly people.  She was a very sweet and friendly lady, and what you would want for a manager of any garden. 

We were told its name, Edgeworthia chrysanthia.  I looked it up on my plant app later, and it is commonly called Paperbush.  I also learned that the genus is named after Michael Pakenham Edgeworth, a Victorian-era Irish botanist, and his sister, Maria Edgeworth.  Maria was a writer who penned many realist novels for both children and adults, making it appropriate that this paper-producing plant bears her name.  In addition to the links I found, which you can read if you click on their names, is this website.  There is also a photo of the plant when it is blooming.  The lives of this brother and sister are extremely interesting, another reason to thank the Manager of Green Spring Gardens, for taking the time to stop and tell us about it. I would never have known about them otherwise, and I certainly had an enjoyable time reading about them.

Also, the paperbush is used in Japan for the production of a wide range of functional and decorative papers known as washi.  Edgeworthia chrysantha is used to make delicate writing papers,  and also at one time for durable banknotes because of its long-lasting fibers.  The banknotes were later made with a cheaper alternative, so I read.

If you go to this link you will see more information and a photo.  It tells us that ‘it is a late-winter flowering shrub and continues to flower until early spring’.  If you scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on ‘photo credit’, it will take you to more photos.



And that's the story of this lovely plant.  Meeting the manager of the garden who was so very nice, being introduced to a new plant and finding the interesting story behind its name, added to the enjoyment of our visit.

There were Snowdrops not far away, and trees were budding.  I will share those photos in my next post.


Thanks for looking and as always, I hope your day is a great one.



36 comments:

  1. What a wonderful outing - and post. Thank you.

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  2. This has to be maybe the strangest plant I have ever seen. In fact, I suspected it was some kind of mushroom/ fungus!! How interesting! And so cool to read that the garden manager actually walks around with the visitors!

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    1. It is an extraordinary plant isn't it Ginny? And very cool indeed :)

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    1. Muito obrigado :) Um abraço e continuação de boa semana também.

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  4. How so very interesting Denise. I'm sure glad you shared. Extraordinary.

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    1. Always happy to share these things, thanks Anni :)

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  5. Hello Denise,
    What a lovely day and story. It is nice to learn about new plants and meet new people.
    Take care, enjoy your day and week ahead.

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    1. Hi Eileen, glad you enjoy our trip out, and I agree with you. You take care and enjoy your week also :)

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  6. How nice to have met the garden manager and to learn all about this plant and that she was the one who planted it. I have never seen anything like this. It's really interesting looking.

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    1. It was fun and am so glad she stopped to chat. Thanks Ann :)

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  7. Hello Denise, :=) What a delightful account of your visit to the garden, and your encounter with the lady manager. It's a very unusual looking plant, and pretty when in bloom, it's also useful. I read about Michael P Edgeworth who was a man of many talents. Thank you for such an informative and interesting read.

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    1. Hello Breathtaking :) I am happy you enjoyed my post and you are so very welcome :)

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  8. This is certainly something I have never seen before. it is just beautiful and I have heard of washi paper but had no idea it was made from a gorgeous plant pod.. I really like the pods. wow. you were in the right place at the right time and what a blessing to meet her

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    1. Hi Sandra, it has been a long time since I saw a plant for the very first time :) I've never heard of washi paper so enjoyed learning about that also. It's fun to be in the right place at the right time, a blessing indeed.

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  9. a lovely idea to have a plant that flowers before spring - I've never heard of it but it sounds wonderful - interesting history too - thanks for taking me along on your garden visit

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    1. You are very welcome Carol :) I had never heard of flowers that bloomed in winter unless they were in a greenhouse or an area that was warm all year round, such a treat. I would love to get one.

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  10. What a delightful encounter! That is a lovely coincidence.

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  11. This post is another example that you never know what interesting people you can meet when least expected and what wonderful information can be learned. The photos of this plant were wonderful as well, Denise, and it was a new one for myself as well.

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  12. Nice to learn of the paperbush plant!

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  13. How interesting. Some friendly helpful people one can meet while admiring gardens.

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    1. Hi Betsy, yes indeed and such a nice encounter :)

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  14. What a lovely and interesting plant!

    The flowers are gorgeous...

    How wonderful to have found this, and also, the information about it. :-)

    And of course, how SUPERRRRRRR, to be going to visit places again! Finally, Most of the world is coming around to what I have been saying for so long.... We have to learn to live with *IT*!!!!

    Gentle hugs...

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    1. Thank you BBB, glad you enjoyed. Yes, it was good to get out, though the cold weather has been keeping me in more, along with the snow and ice we have had. Having had several falls on ice over the years, I am very leery of going out in such weather, and turn into a bit of a hermit, says I smiling. I am happy our temperature has been in the high 50s for a couple of days.

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  15. Sounds like a rewarding visit to the garden and nice to pick up dinner on the way home!

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    1. Thank you Ellen, a lovely visit and the meal was icing on the cake, so to speak :)

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  16. It's always nice when you run into somebody and form a connection and learn something. I had never heard of this plant so I owe you a thanks for that.

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    1. It is indeed and you are very welcome. Thank you Yogi :)

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  17. This was glorious! I just had to see more as well rewarded, Denise

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