This is my favorite picture out of the group.  How do plants that we battle to grow, amend the soil and fertilize struggle while here this massive specimen is growing out the side of a rock wall?

The Rhododendron were amazing but this monastery clinging to the side of the cliff was equally amazing.

Bill Hendricks of Klyn Nursery in Perry OH is the rare example of these two realities combined.  He has a perfectly clean and organized nursery with everything in its place and all weeds at bay.  On top of that he had one of the most diverse and unusual collections of plants available for sale I’ve found.  His real passion though are Cacti and Succulents.  I am grouping this into broad categories which he would never do.  I have attached some pictures of his personal collection which is overrunning the house they’ve been given.  If you are looking for something interesting check them out here.

Early history

What is now Longwood Gardens was originally purchased from William Penn in 1700 by a fellow Quaker named George Peirce (1646–1734). Although it started as a working farm, in 1798 Joshua and Samuel Peirce planted the first specimens of an arboretum. By 1850 they had amassed one of the finest collections of trees in the nation.

Industrialist Pierre S. du Pont (1870–1954) purchased the property from the Peirce family in 1906 to save the arboretum from being sold for lumber. He made it his private estate, and from 1906 until the 1930s, du Pont added extensively to the property. A world traveler from an early age, du Pont was often inspired to add features to the garden after attending world’s fairs, the most notable additions being the massive conservatory, complete with a massive pipe organ, and the extensive system of fountains. Mr. Du Pont opened his estate to the public many days of the year during his occupancy.

After the completion of the fountains, du Pont began planning for the sustained life of Longwood Gardens after his death. He founded the Longwood Foundation in 1937, and in 1946 the foundation was chartered with running Longwood Gardens for the general education and enjoyment of the public.

Longwood today

Today Longwood Gardens consists of 20 outdoor gardens and 20 indoor gardens within 4.5 acres (18,200 m²) of heated greenhouses, known as conservatories.  It contains 11,000 different types of plants and trees, as well as fountains. The Gardens also has extensive educational programs including a tuition-free two-year school of professional horticulture, a graduate program, and extensive internships. It hosts 800 horticultural and performing arts events each year, from flower shows, gardening demonstrations, courses, and children’s programs to concerts, organ and carillon recitals, musical theatre, fountain shows, and fireworks displays. It also hosts an extensive Christmas light display during the holiday season.

Longwood’s conservatory is one of the world’s greatest greenhouse structures. The conservatory alone is home to 5,500 types of plants. An exploration of the 20 indoor gardens spanning a half mile takes about an hour and a half. Gardens of the conservatory, each with its own exquisite displays of plants, include The Orangery, Silver Garden, Acacia Passage, Orchid House, Cascade Garden, Palm House, Mediterranean Garden, Tropical Terrace and the Outdoor Water Garden display. Since its original construction date in 1919, it has undergone expansions and renovations.[5] In January 2003, the East Conservatory was closed for a renovation project. On October 29, 2005, the main hall of the East Conservatory was once again opened to the public.

As you can imagine I took hundreds of pictures on my recent visit.  This post is going to show you some of the amazing plants they have on site.  I will follow up with posts on the gardens hardscape and architecture.

Chanticleer is a true gardener’s garden.  The plan has not been laid out by a large design firm but is conceived and installed by the 12 gardeners on staff.  There is a great diversity within the garden itself, both in the horticultural pallet and in the eight distinct gardens that the property is broken down into.  Here are some of my favorite photographs from my visit.

“Occassionally the model intimidates the client.  Then faith must be stronger than understanding, and only a vague intuition allows the work to begin favorably.  But it is difficult for the client to understand the vision of the artist.  Envisioning the finished work is not always easy for the architect, and it is almost always impossible for the client.  Unlike the painting to be bought, or clothing, food, and the many other choices available to people – choices made on the basis of finished materials – the decision about the new house lies in the future, is based on credit, on the model (drawings), on agreements.  The finished product is a surprise.  Only faith can reward the client.  After that critical moment is overcome, sometimes what emerges is the satisfaction of finding smooth solutions and natural resolutions to every uncertainty.  The room responds to the client’s way of life.”

Renzo Mongiardino, Roomscapes

Aside from my job and passion for garden design cooking and food plays a very close second.  I have been watching Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution as he works with the town of Huntington, WV to help change there perceptions of what is good for us to eat.  He is truly inspiring to watch and has me all the more motivated to keep up with producing my own food and eating well (with a busy schedule I slip for fast food way more than I would like).  If you haven’t seen any of these programs check them out HERE on Hulu.  If you know what he is up to and support it follow this link to sign his petition to show that you care about what is going into our kids food.  As he points out, “this is the first generation that is expected to have a shorter lifespan than their parent’s”.  ????? Is this something we are even going to consider let happen?  So lets combine the two, plant a vegetable and herb garden with your kids so they understand the process of food.  Buy your meats local and fresh and keep the crap out of their diets.