LAST OF THE PHOTOS FROM MEADOWLARK GARDENS (UNTIL OUR NEXT VISIT) - SATURDAY 2-10-24 - VISITOR CENTER

 

This is the Visitor Center as we were heading towards our car, but I took photos of what I found inside before we left. I saw the artwork first. I recognized this one as the Thomas Jefferson Memorial with the blossoms blooming. The Cherry Blossom Festival will be in the spring. In fact, The National Park Service announced that the trees would reach peak bloom from March 23-26.

This lady's website can be found here, where you can see more of her work, including these art pieces, which have a 3-D application on them. This one is called "To Love Freely"...

and this one is called "My Roots Go Down".

It took me a moment or two to realize there were faces in the roots of the tree. I would be very interested to know what is her inspiration for all these works. As I often say, my photos don't give them the justice they deserve. They are much better seen with one's own eyes. I do love all forms of art and I found these very compelling.

Next, meet the very sweet and curious Barry the Box Turtle.

In the next photo you can read that Barry is an Eastern Box Turtle. I hope Barry's time in the terrarium won't be too long. The other inhabitants (the last being the bearded dragon I got quite fond of) have since moved on. The picture below with the information may be seen more clearly if you enlarge it, or you can click on this link which will take you to the Smithsonian's National Zoo website.  It has more information about Barry's kindred.

I expect Barry will get more company as the weather gets warmer and more visitors arrive. But hopefully he will be wandering around in his own natural habitat by then. I will be sure to check on our next visit.

These were the last photos taken on our trip to the garden on 2-10-24. No doubt we will be going back as soon as the weather warms up.

Here's my logo with a little added advice from the turtle. I do this as a gentle reminder to myself. Too many tripping hazards out there, and I am often reminded by my dear other half to slow down. There are times when my brain just goes full steam ahead, with my body saying what the heck are you doing to me, I really can't catch up, and yes I am smiling.

MORE PHOTOS FROM MEADOWLARK GARDENS - SATURDAY 2-10-24

 I am starting off today with a photo of Lena Lake.  We walked down the hill and made our way along the adjacent path. The garden holds its own beauty at this time of the year.  

Next to the tree is a Panicle Hydrangea, in its dried form. Also known as Peegee hydrangea, with its botanical name Hydrangea paniculata. The first link will give you more information and show you its blooms during the warmer months. I also have a few photos on a previous post taken at the Williamsburg Botanical Garden in September 2019, where I share the same information. You can see them if you scroll down the page. There are three photos with them in bloom.

It is a native to Japan and China. This small tree can grow between 3 to 16 feet, with a maximum diameter of 8 feet. Its leaves contain cyanide and need I say? It should not be ingested. The hydrangea bloom colors come from the soil's pH.  If the soil is more acidic, the bloom will be more of a blue color. However, if the soil is more alkaline, the flowers will be pink. At this time of the year it is dried and would look very pretty in botanical arrangements I'm thinking.  

These leaves nearby are from the Common foxglove. I didn't recognize it as such. It has many names and I will pick a few; Lady's glove, Fairy's glove, Dragon's Mouth, Fairy Bells, Fairy's Petticoat and Gloves of Mary. Its botanical name is Digitalis purpurea. Native to Europe, Western Asia, and northwestern Africa, you can see its blooms at this link. Unfortunately, it is severely toxic so best to keep it away from children and pets. It loves acidic soils in woods, heaths and mountain grasslands. The name comes from the medieval English, fox-glove, and was first known by the Anglo-Saxon name Foxes glofa. There is a very interesting article here on Wikipedia that I enjoyed reading.

Here it is again, this time next to two clumps of Carnations, minus blooms. Also called Clove pink, Border carnation and Mini carnation, its botanical name Dianthus caryophyllus.  An interesting story I read was that some scholars believe that the name "carnation" comes from "coronation" or "corone", which refers to the flower garlands, as it was one of the flowers used in Greek ceremonial crowns. Others think the name stems from the latin "caro" or "carnis" which refers to the original color of the flower.  

The carnation was imported to the USA from France in 1852 via a French shipment to Long Island. No one is 100 percent sure from where they originated, but old publications strongly indicate that its native home may have extended from Greece through Asia Minor to Persia. Theophrastus referred to carnations as Dios Anthos (the flower of the gods) which became known, in later usage, as the divine flower. I love these journeys I take online, one link leads to another and here I am reading about a man born in c 371 BC, who was a friend of Aristotle. So, a skip along several steppingstones, from the Carnation to an ancient Greek named Theophrastus, whose friend and teacher was Aristotle, isn't that something?

This is the back of the visitor center. They always have a lovely display, and it is completely covered in flowers in the warmer weather. I think they did a nice job at this time of the year also. The tree looked real at first, and then you look closer and see that it is a fake one. The flowers on the branches are lights. It must look beautiful when the lights are turned on as the sun goes down. 

I have a few more photos from the garden but I will share them another time.

WE POPPED OVER TO MEADOWLARK GARDENS ON 5-5-22

This garden, as you know from following my blog, is a place we go to all the time, literally for years.  This time there was a surprise waiting for us in the parking lot.  Now, I am not a big fan of cars.  Always enjoy the fact that I can get from A to B, and whatever is between the wheels is no biggy, for both of us.  Many years ago, I had a Mini Cooper, the old rust bucket I called her.  It took me three years to save enough money for a down payment on this second-hand car.  The day I picked her up I was filled with joy, and I put-put-putted around in my mini right up until the time I met Gregg.  I sold it to a friend just before we got married.  Sad to see her go as they drove her down the hill, but another adventure awaited me.  I was married in a week and moved to a new country.  

Anyhow, as usual my rambles take me off my intended subject, which was what was in the parking lot at Meadowlark Gardens.  

We parked our car a few spaces up, and this was hidden behind the white SUV.  What a lovely surprise!  Gregg says it is a 1969 TR6.  I told him if I was very good this year, perhaps he could have a word with Santa.  (Well, maybe in my next lifetime!)

No, I am not into cars but I loved this one, and coincidentally there was a Mini parked in front of it.

It will be a rare occasion for me to talk about any car.  I hope the person who owns this had a wonderful walk around the garden, and has many happy miles driving their TR6.

So, I tore myself away from this beautiful classic, and went inside hoping Sunshine would be back in the corner.  Sunshine, the resident Bearded Dragon has not been there the last visit or so.  He wasn't there today either.  I was disappointed but hope he is happy wherever he is.  Instead, I made a new friend.

Well, hello there little buddy!  

Did you know it is World Turtle Day on the 23rd of this month?  I didn't either!  Our little turtle was such a sweety and we had a nice chat.

He looked older than me and he gave me some sage advice, or was that Pinterest?  Anyhow, he was a chatty fella and I listened.

 "Come out of your shell", he said "be well rounded * slow down * know when to stick your neck out * log time with friends * home is where your heart is * snap out of it."  That last one sounds a bit harsh. I wouldn't tell anyone to 'snap out of it'.  I would stay by their side until they were ready to do it on their own.  What say you?  You may have a different opinion and I would like to hear what it is.  What is the best advice you have ever given to someone or someone has given you?  Willing to share?

  He kept on talking and I kept on listening.  

Swim with the current * stay calm under pressure * be well traveled (even if it is virtually) * age gracefully * spend time at the beach * I know it is difficult sometimes, but try not to snap.

It's okay, and thanks Little Buddy, see you next time and Happy Turtle Day for the 23rd!

MEADOWLARK GARDENS ON 10-27-21 - PART 1

 Here we are again.  Our previous visit before this one, was at the end of August.  This time Autumn is very much under way.For some reason that escapes me now, we didn't leave the house until mid afternoon.  Usually we are out in the morning but by the time we got to the garden, the sun was lower in the sky and not as harsh.  Better for taking photos we keep hearing.This is the visitor center.  In the wintertime there are logs burning and their warmth makes you want to grab one of those chairs.  The way into the garden is through the visitor center, after paying an admission charge.  Under the age of 6 you get in for free.  Between the ages of 6 to 17 it is $3.00.  Between 18 to 54 it is $6.00.  55 and over it goes back down to $3.00.  Because we visit often during the year we buy the single annual pass for $35.00 which comes with a free guest pass.  The family pass is $50.00.  During the middle of winter it used to be free.  Whether it still is I'm not sure but will find out next time I go, because it will probably be wintertime.  These fees were on their website at the time of writing, on November 1st, 2021. The Fairy Garden is right outside the visitor center.  Most of the fairies have flown south with the birds, but there were a few who had stayed behind.

You can just about see them if you look inside these towers.  There was flying practice going on!

The garden is getting ready for their Winter Walk of Lights starting in November.  You can check that out at this link.

The area was in the shade and the lights were very pretty.

There was a lot of activity and the gnomes were out and about.  

These were very kind, hardworking gnomes, not a mischievous one in the group.

This fellow made sure the path was well lit, asking the lady to be careful where she put her feet.  We are recognized at this garden.

Thank you Mr. Gnome!  The garden looks lovely as always, and we appreciate all the hard work that goes on here.

More posts to follow and thank you so much for visiting.  I hope your weekend is a grand one.

RANDOM PHOTO

This is another stained glass window from the visitor center at Meadowlark Gardens.  We enjoy going there often, as you have probably gathered if you come here often enough to see the other posts I share on this blog.  

MULTIPLE MEMES - MEADOWLARK GARDENS IN VIENNA, VIRGINIA

We have had company staying for a while and I am trying to include as many memes as I can this week.  I don't think I will have much time on the computer.  Consequently, some may be days ahead of when the memes actually open.  

It was Gregg's birthday and our son visited that morning. Fortunately he had the day off and spent several hours. The best kind of birthday gift for his Dad, though he came with his own gift also. 

We went out to breakfast. Normally if we know son is coming over, Gregg enjoys putting his chef's hat on and cooks at home, but today the Birthday Boy said he would like to go to the Silver Diner.  We had not been there in over a year.  Car journeys, no matter how short, are wonderful places to have conversations and it is always fun to catch up. 

The weather was lovely and there were all kinds of big, puffy clouds in the sky.  After our son left it was a bit chilly but, only needing a sweater, we had plenty of time for a walk at Meadowlark Gardens.   The painting above is the one I shared in this post.....

and the chameleon I shared in this one.  He was such a cool little guy.  Shedding his skin, a sign that he is getting bigger.

The daffodils were blooming.

and the grass and the trees were still in their winter slumber.... 

but we noticed there were new buds sprouting....

and the geese found new shoots of grass to eat.

I have always liked this bush.  It is called a golden curl willow (salix matsudana erythroflexuosa).

We found rather a large frog.....

and an enormous dragonfly on the branches of a nearby tree.




This is the pathway we take in the summer after we have walked around the lake.  We take the path as it is shaded and noticeably cooler in the height of summer, when the trees are full of leaves.  A wonderful walk full of shade plants which takes us back towards the exit.  By this time we are usually very hot, 'we' being me and the mouse in my pocket!  The Virginia Boy I am married to has no problem with the heat and humidity, the more the better.

In this shot to the right of that normally shaded path, you can just make out the roof of the visitor center (on the right of the picture), where the grass meets the sky.

Another shot looking towards the center.  By this time Gregg is sitting on one of the many benches waiting for me.  I've been taking more photos of spring flowers, and lovely plants.

This is a very interesting plant called the Sawara False Cypress..... 

(Chamaecyparis pisifera) Golden Mops.

I am sharing with the following memes as they become available, with my thanks to all our hosts for bringing them to us.  You can click on their names if you would like to visit other participants.

Eileen at Saturday's Critters
Misty at Camera Critters
Anni at Bird D'Pot
Laura at iHeartMacro
Michelle at Nature Notes

Stewart at Wild Bird Wednesday
Jesh at Seasons 

N.C. Sue at 

Wordless (on Tuesday) at Image-in-ing

Linda Kay at Wednesday Wit and Wisdom