OUR LATEST WALK AROUND ...

Meadowlark Gardens in Vienna, Virginia. As I have mentioned before, we moved here from California 30 plus years ago, discovering it several years later. I came across a very good history of the garden. If you would like to take a look, you can read all about it at this website. I add these links not only to share information with you all but for me to go back to, not only to learn something I may have missed, but to refresh my memory. The garden opened officially in April 1987. 

The grass is slowly returning from its dormant state and flowers and trees are beginning to put on quite a show.  We are expecting several days of rain so that should really make things pop.Outside the visitor center as you enter the garden, there are several flowers blooming. The closest ID I could find for the above were on this page. You have to scroll down a bit. They are also Hellebores but there were no markers that I could see, and I don't like to stick my hands in the undergrowth to search for one. If you know exactly, maybe you can confirm.  I saw one description, Helleborus Winter Thriller ‘Ballerina Ruffles’, but they are not an exact match. I can see where they got the Ballerina Ruffles from.

One of the many reasons I was looking forward going to the garden, was to see more daffodils. 

I was not disappointed!

This area will eventually have a wonderful display of daylilies. The markers are already placed for their identification and aren't there for the daffodils. It will be an easy ID the next time I go when the lilies are blooming.

This will probably be the last I will be sharing of the daffodils until next spring. I expect when I go again, the tulips will be blooming.  Hopefully I will be able to see them on full display.

We walked down to the magnolia tree but first sat on a bench looking at others taking their own photos. It is a good opportunity not only for a short rest, but we can see all of the lower garden from this vantage point. It is a very popular stopping point for visitors to the garden.

This is the Saucer magnolia, also known as Chinese magnolia and Tulip magnolia. 

Its botanical name is Magnolia soulangeana. They can reach to a height of 20 to 33 feet. 

It is a hybrid saucer magnolia tree native to Europe, is mainly found in the British Isles and the United States, and is known for its easy cultivation. 

A deciduous tree with large, early-blooming flowers and its shades are white, pink and purple. It is known to be one of the most commonly used magnolias in horticulture.  As you might guess, its name is inspired by the wide, saucer-like flowers. Not quite open enough, ‘tulip’ shaped and yet still beautiful!

Its symbolism is longevity and perseverance, nobility, love for nature, feminine sweetness and beauty. I would think there have been many poems written about this one.

Next, the Japanese Cherry, and other names are East asian cherry, Japanese flowering cherry, Hill cherry, Cherry blossom and Sakura. Its botanical name is Prunus serrulata.

There is a bench underneath the trees with a lovely view of the pond. A great spot to look at the sky and today, with the blossoms, it was a particularly pretty sight.

There is a bridge that is often used by photographers. This day a young couple posed for a professional photographer.  There were several walkers going back and forth, but they were respectful of the young couple and didn't try to get in their way to cross the bridge. They made their way around the lake instead. Gregg took a few photos which I will share next time. They were taken from a respectful distance.

We have our own Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington DC. They are blooming right now.  The festival lasts from March 20th to April 14th.  There was a sold-out opening ceremony at the Warner Theater packed with Japanese cultural performances, including a collaborative dance with the Washington Ballet Company.

It is a spectacular sight around The Jefferson Memorial. Those trees were given as a gift to the people of America from the people of Japan in 1912.  At The National Park Service Website you can read the history of how this came to be. There is a wonderful tradition in Japan, where people have picnics and outdoor parties under these trees. The following photo is an old one I took in March 2009.

It is a popular attraction and sitting under them here at the garden, I can see why.  At the end of their life span, the petals will fly through the air as the wind blows. This phenomenon is known as hanafubuki and you can read more about it at this link.  Here is another link to a language website and it gives more information about the cherry blossoms in Japan. (I just found an old blog post of a previous visit to this garden in 2011. We were there when all the petals had fallen off the trees and they made such a pretty sight.  I'll add that post next week sometime.)

A blossom not long fallen, returning to the earth from whence it came. Another poem in the making

 perhaps?

The Canada Geese were pairing up, getting ready for nesting season no doubt. Both male and female have well-known devotion to its mate and family.  A mate will put itself in danger to protect the other or its young.  I always wondered how you could tell the difference between a male and female to someone who doesn’t know, like me.  I read recently that the tail feathers on an adult male goose are rounded, whereas on a female, the tail feathers are pointed. The tail feathers on a young goose are rounded, with a frayed and notched tail tip; edged and pointed, as they grow older.

This devotion is shown when one of the mated pair, or a family member, will go down with an injured goose and guard that goose until it recovers or dies. There are two subspecies, the Branta Canadensis Interiori (interior Canada goose) and the Branta Canadensis Maxima (giant Canada goose). The interiori Canada goose may weigh from 7 to 10 pounds, and is shorter and a tad more slender than the giant Canada goose. The giant Canada goose may weigh up to 15 to 20 pounds. My information came from this website.

“Alley-oop!"

They are very amusing when feeding.  One goes up, one goes down.

There are more interesting facts here. Depending on where you are in the world you may be familiar with their V-shaped formation (wondering if this applies to other goose species and will have to do more research). This V-shape has a purpose.  It helps the birds maintain their energy and improves communication. Each bird flies above the bird in front of them to reduce wind resistance.  And being able to see the other birds aids overall coordination.  When the lead bird gets tired, it moves to the back of the group for a well-deserved rest. There are many reasons I have always been very fond of the Canada Goose!

I have more photos from this walk but will share those another time.

LAST SATURDAY WE WENT OUT FOR A WALK - PART 2

 The first two photos are of Witch Hazel.  It is known by several names: American witch-hazel, Common witch hazel, Striped alder, Tobacco-wood, Spotted alder, Water-witch, Snapping Hazelnut, Winterblooms and Witchhazel Witch-hazel!  Its botanical name is Hamamelis virginiana.

Witch hazel was used quite commonly in the 20th century for locating water sources.  The practice, called dowsing or water witching, which is still occasionally used.  You can read about the practice here.  In dowsing, a forked stick of the witch hazel is held perpendicular to the ground and moved slowly over it.  The belief is that when a water source is directly under the stick, it will dip or jump.  I also wrote about Witch Hazel in my post at this link, along with other photos around the garden.

Next, the Star Magnolia (Botanical name: Magnolia stellata).  It is also known as the Royal star magnolia.

I had a hard time choosing between the photos I took of this ornamental shrub, deciding to share several today.  

It grows from 5 to 8 feet in height and can cope with cooler climates.  It does, however, need a sunny spot in the garden, with some partial shade for protection during the summer months. In fact, it is advised to plant in an area that will protect the magnolia from winds and frost.  Otherwise, the flowers may be discolored as the buds open before the leaves appear.   

Star Magnolia is a small, slow-growing shrub native to Japan.  As you can see, compared to other magnolias, it has much narrower petals resembling a star-like shape, hence the name.

It has 3-4" fragrant white or pink flowers with dark green leaves and a gray bark.  It certainly was lovely to see it blooming on our way into the garden.  

The back of the house that I have always loved.  Its history can be read here, but in part it was built in 1784 by John Moss.   

As it used to be back then, the front of the house courtesy of the Fairfax County Park Authority and found on the above website.

Next you can see it from its side view.  It is near one of the entrances near the parking lot.

More daffodils...

Hellebores which I wrote about yesterday.

We planted these in front of our own home and I am hoping they survived the winter.

Lastly, the tree towered above me with a profusion of  blooms.  It is the Japanese camellia, botanical name Camellia japonica, and as the name would infer, it is native of Japan.  Also known as Common camellia and Rose of Winter.

It can grow up to 49 feet and does best in partially shady spots with rich, well-drained soil.  It also has very little fragrance.  I read that it can be given coffee grounds as long as it is mixed into a well-prepared compost.  Coffee grounds are rich in nitrogen, as well as some other micronutrients.  Japanese camelia's have been known to live for over a century in the wild.  

Many of the blooms were past their peak.  Still very pretty though.

A small pink Japanese camelia was growing next to the larger tree, and those blooms were not quite as worn.

We had parked our car on the other side of the barrier at one of the entrances. Though people are welcome to stay in the garden until 6.00 p.m. after which it starts to get dark, the parking lot closes at 5.00 p.m.  We didn't arrive until 4.40 p.m. and thought it wise to park outside on the road that leads into the garden.

GREEN SPRING GARDENS CONTINUED - MORE FLOWERS

 

The Magnolia blooms were a little past their prime but still very pretty.  I learned that the trees can last 80 to 120 years.  The size depends on the species.  Smaller species are only about 15 feet tall.  Larger species can grow to 80 feet in height.  

Magnolias are believed to be the earliest known flowering plant, with their fossils dating back over 100 million years.  Magnolia trees even existed before bees, so they rely on beetles for pollination.  

Instead of nectar the flowers produce large quantities of pollen that the beetles use for food.  I read this information and more at this link.

I shared information on the history of the house here if you would like to take a look.

This is the Grape Hyacinth (Muscari)

It is a perennial plant native to Greece and Asia and grow to be 6 to 8 inches in height.  

Despite its name it is not actually related to the hyacinth; muscari are members of the Lily family.  If you go to this link you will find a lot more information.

This is where I found the poem that I shared in my post a little while ago. It was outside a fenced off garden where they grow produce and other plants throughout the year.

The following cluster of flowers is called Virginia Springbeauty.  It is also called Fairy spud, Spring beauty, Good morning spring, Narrowleaf springbeauty, Eastern springbeauty, Common spring-beauty, Spring-beauty and Grass-flower.

It is native to Eastern North America, from the Rocky Mountains to the Atlantic Ocean.  It is a very important native plant for bees, as it is one of the earliest nectar sources.  This is one of the earliest wildflowers to bloom in Spring.  The tuber roots are edible and taste like sweet potato.  It can grow en-mass and is a gorgeous pink-white carpet on the forest floor.  They are often found growing near Wild Violets.  All this information I found here.

Wild Violets.  

There are 600 species of Violets.  They have been cultivated from about 500 BC and their color can depend on the species; they can be purple, blue, white, cream or multicolor.  

Native Americans had many uses for violets.  They made blue dye from them to dye their arrows.  They also soaked corn seed in an infusion made from the roots before it was planted to keep insect pests from eating the seeds.  

The Inuktitut/Inuit people placed stems and flowers among their clothes to give them a sweet fragrance, and almost all ate the leave and flowers.  

Violets were also Napoleon Bonaparte's Signature Flower.  He used the blooms to cover his wife Josephine's grave when she died in 1814.  In fact, he was called Corporal Violet by friends, after promising them he would return from his exile in Elba before violet season.  Bonaparte's supporters even used violets to determine if someone was loyal to him, by asking them if they liked the flowers - only a response of "Eh, bien" proved loyalty, according to the American Violet Society.

This is the Hellebore, and my information and more came from this link.  It is a plant that belongs to the buttercup family.  There are around 10 species of hellebore that originated from Europe and Asia.  Hellebore was extensively used as herbal remedies in the past but due to a high content of toxic substances, hellebore is mostly cultivated for ornamental purposes today.  Christmas rose, Winter rose and Lenten rose are popular types of hellebores.  Despite their name, they are not genetically related with roses.  The name "Helleborus" originates from the Greek words "helle" which means 'to take away' and "bora" which means "food".  The name refers to the emetic properties of this plant.  Like many plants it is quite toxic.  Historians believe that hellebore was one of the plants (part of an herbal mixture) responsible for the death of Alexander the Great.

These are the flowers that I was asked about yesterday.  The ID marker is a little fuzzy but it will show you what they are.  At this link it said, "'Golden Bells' Miniature Daffodil charms with dainty golden cups atop stars of small basal petals.  Cheery, upward-facing blooms extend the daffodil season from late spring through early summer.  Once established, each bulb can produce up to 15 flowers for masses of buttercup yellow color.  Their dwarf size and narrow leaf blades make 'Golden Bells' idea for naturalizing in lawns and meadows (Narcissus bulbocodium)."   

More here. "Daffodil 'Golden Bells' is known as the Yellow Hoop Petticoat narcissi."

I will finish now.  I tend to get carried away when finding out about the flowers and plants I photograph.  

Thank you so much for stopping by today and I hope the flowers around you bring you joy. Enjoy the rest of your week.