GREEN SPRING GARDENS CONTINUED FROM VISIT ON 4-4-26

Here are a few things to know about a tulip's symbolism, if you enjoy knowing these things.

Red tulips are used to declare "believe me" or show passionate love, often given in early relationships.

Being given various tulips symbolize fresh starts, making them popular for Easter or new endeavors.

Yellow tulips are given to brighten someone's day, representing sunshine, happiness and hope.

Pink tulips are ideal for conveying affection, tenderness and appreciation, often given on Mother's Day.

Purple tulips often represent admiration or respect.

White tulips are given to express sincere apologies or peace.

Orange symbolizes energy, desire and enthusiasm.

Black symbolizes power, strength and elegance.

There were also daffodils left, and some of the Tulips had opened fully. The Peony which is another particular favorite, and Johnny Jump-ups, also known as Wild pansy or just Pansy (in the collage above, top middle. I am trying to ID everything even though I know many of us recognize immediately).

There was also a nice showing of Grape hyacinth and I like this were they surrounded the Maltese cross plant, and I see a couple of pansies in there too. Not sure what the leaves are at the bottom left.

These could be Jonquils. I don't know enough about them to recognize the difference.

There are two ID's in one photo below. A Wild daffodil and Japanese spiraea. 

I have left links on all the flowers to take you to places where they will have more information.

That’s all from the garden until the next time we go.

Thanks for visiting 

and I wish you a great day!

 

OUR WALK AT GREEN SPRING GARDENS 4-4-26

Perhaps it's just as well I didn't go to the garden center to pick up plants yet. We had a freeze warning last night. That is still on our to-do list but right now the weather has gone from very warm to downright chilly.

In the meantime, we visited the garden on April 4th. We like this area because it's nice and flat. We not only were looking forward to a little exercise, but I wanted to see the tulips before they started to disappear. 

Also, my head was turned skywards. I focused on a few clouds over the center green area. 

They were incredible and I enjoy sky watching while sitting on a park bench.

There were a few people walking around and we noticed a group of young men sitting on the grassy area. On closer inspection they were playing cards. There was a lot of laughter, and that was very nice to hear. This was on the Saturday, no work for them that day. They were young and it was a good time to get together with friends and have some fun.

The tulips were putting on quite a show.

Here is the Moon Gate I like. I have seen them before on our travels while visiting other gardens. It was a very happy day when we saw this one being built. It will be two years ago this coming August that we saw its beginnings. They are filling the flower beds very nicely. They should be a sight to behold this summer.

This beauty had just walked through it with its humans after they had stopped to take photos.

And I have to admit, I fell in love with the dress the lady was wearing. 

Sometimes it can be a fashion show at the garden. A memory: there was a time back in my younger years that I wanted to be a fashion designer. I have always had an interest in clothing, even those from another era. I know of someone who works in the costume department at a theater. I never in my wildest dreams thought such an opportunity would be open to me in my small town back in the day. If I knew then what I know now, I would have explored the idea more closely. Usually, I am concentrating on walking but this time I was sitting quietly on one of the benches when the couple and their pup came into view. There are videos that I look at online every now and again, where costumes are shown not only from this country but others. I love to settle down and watch them, especially those showing traditional clothing going as far back as the middle-ages, and even further. I have favorite times for fashion, the 20s to the 40s, but then I see another era and I love the Victorian. I could go on. What do you think of her dress? Do you like it? 

I was very happy to see a few daffodils. The ones in our neighborhood have all gone.

I didn't realize peonies would be blooming already.

The garden is slowly coming back to life after its winter rest.

I will finish here as I have a few things I need to get done but will have more photos to share soon.

Thanks for looking and

enjoy your day.

SINGLING OUT AN OLD FAVORITE FLOWER...

A favorite photo from my archives and taken at Meadowlark Gardens in Vienna (Virginia). It's nice to look back at the warmer months when snow is on the ground. I looked outside just now (10:00 p.m. on the 14th) and it is snowing again. It didn’t show on the forecast so perhaps it will be just a dusting. This website at Longford Gardens (click here) will tell you all about them if you would like to take a look.

Other names are the Chinese Peony, Common Garden Peony, Fragrant Peony and White Peony. Its botanical name is Paeonia lactiflora. 

It is a perennial herbaceous bushy plant native to central and eastern Asia. 

It is highly regarded for its white, pink or crimson rose-like flowers, with pronounced yellow stamens.

 White peony was first introduced to England in the mid 18th century, and today there are several hundred cultivars common in temperate gardens around the world.

A very nice memory of walking around Meadowlark. We were there at the height of their blooming season. I look forward to getting their again next time they are blooming.

Thanks for looking and have a great day. Wherever you are, I hope you are safe and peaceful.

PEONIES

The peonies aren’t blooming yet.  These were taken a few summers ago on a visit to a favorite place, Meadowlark Gardens.  

Here we have the Chinese peony and as the name would suggest, it is native to China.

Also known as Common garden peony and Fragrant peony, botanical name Paeonia lactiflora.

It is a perennial herbaceous bushy plant.  The white peony was first introduced to England in the mid-18th century, and today there are several hundred cultivars common in temperate gardens around the world.  The word "peony' is derived from the Latin name "paeonia".

Peony plants can live for more than 100 years.  If you have the proverbial green thumb, you can plant one of these beauties and enjoy it for the rest of your life.

Peonies have been around since 1,000 BC.  They have flourished for 4,000 years.

Ants love peonies in the garden.  They crawl inside the peony petals to get at their nectar.  The ants won't do the plant any harm.   If you have peonies in your garden, a good tip I read was to cut them at night when ants are less active.

When Marco Polo first came across peonies, he called them "roses as big as cabbages."

Peonies come in every color except blue and some varieties can grow to over 10 inches in diameter.

A FEW BIRDS, A FEW FLOWERS, A SQUIRREL

These are birds taken from the deck at the back of the house.  All are daily visitors.  The Cardinal was the first to show itself.  

I have seen more American Robins up in the trees than ever before.  I only ever used to see them hopping around on the ground in the springtime, but the last couple of years they have stayed longer and pick a branch to sit on.  I'll often look up to see one staring down at me.

The Blue Jay call to their families, and a few minutes later they arrive.

This one looks young.  I saw another trying to get its parent to feed it earlier, but was being encouraged to feed itself.  The lessons of life had begun. 

A crow always visits during the day, to see what seed we have to offer.

On this particular day there were no others. Some of these photos were taken through glass and screen.  They give an interesting effect.

The female Cardinal turned up soon after the male.

She really is a pretty one, a lot of beauty in her  more muted colors.

Another American Robin on my neighbor's fence post.

My last bird is a Mourning Dove.  Their soft cooing first thing in the morning is my favorite alarm clock.

Lastly, a squirrel was once again chattering and urging us to go inside. The weather was perfect, warm but without humidity, and we had been sitting outside on the deck longer than usual. After we left three others joined him at the birdfeeder.

There has been a bear sighting not too far away. There were photos of it hanging over someone’s fence, stretching to reach their bird feeder.  We are in a heavily populated area, so this is unusual. I saw the photos on our neighborhood app. I think it may be time to stop filling the feeders for a while.  I suppose with staying at home longer than usual, I have been delaying it.  When the warmer weather arrives, I know they have enough food in nature, so our friendly neighborhood bear 🐻 is a good reminder. 

My neighbor's peonies always look stunning.   There are lots of our roses in bloom also. This was one of the better photos I was able to get below.

May you all have an enjoyable day, and thanks for visiting.