EXTRAORDINARY MAGIC IS...

"Extraordinary magic is woven through ordinary life.  Look around!"

~Author Unknown~

Do you see the tiny hearts all over those blooms?  Magical!  The photo has not been manipulated in any way and is as it was taken.   Gregg took these photos of a neighbor's Redbud tree.

OATLANDS PLANTATION CONTINUED...

What I didn't mention in my previous post is that the 22-room Oatlands Plantation is listed on the National Register for Historic Places.  This home with its Corinthian columns wasn't completed until 1804, and is one of the best examples of Federal estate architecture in the country.  More information can be found here.

Above I tried a ground level view of the Wild Violets.   Below is one of the shots taken near the visitor center.

Below you can see one of the many water features that can be found throughout the garden.  This is Gregg's photo.

There are several benches if you want to rest and enjoy these pretty surroundings.

An original well in the Parterre Garden (Gregg took this also)...

and one of the old walls full of small outcrops of flowers.

I don't have any definite ID for these unfortunately.

I cropped the photo as close as possible for a better look, and thought perhaps a lighter colored wild violet, or lobelia?

More of those blooming Redbud trees.

In the photo below I found the plant called Solomon's Seal.  It was in the lower garden. They grow from underground rhizomes, and the fruit is a berry.  Both have been used medicinally for a variety of ailments.

A lovely planter filled with pretty flowers, but again not identified.

I have shared their Victorian-style birdhouse before.

I would have enjoyed seeing it being built, but could find no information after an extensive search online.

The trees are magnificent and they looked quite old.

"Trees are your best antiques.
~Alexander Smith~

I found a marker for this one, identified as a Yellow Buckeye.

It had pretty leaves, bright green and brand new for spring.  A very interesting read about this particular one can be found here.

There are many trees at Oatlands, which you can read about at this link.

There are several events held each year, one of which is equestrian.  

The old wall overlooks where those events take place.

Time to leave and we drive toward the gate.

We will be back.  I really want to take a tour of the house.  Unfortunately you are not allowed to take photographs inside.  I already checked and will have to keep my hands firmly planted in my pockets.

It has been very nice sharing Oatlands with you.  Thanks for keeping me company, and have a great weekend.

MY WISH FOR YOU

My wish for you 

Is that this life becomes

All that you want it to,

Your dreams stay big,

Your worries stay small,

You never need to carry

More than you can hold,

And while you're out

There gettin' where you're

Getting to, I hope you

Know somebody loves you

And wants the same

Things too.

~Author Unknown~


(A lovely poem and a pretty redbud tree that belongs to a neighbor but overhangs into our back garden.  Something that I am very happy for it to do, because as I was walking around, I was able to take a photo of those pretty blooms.)