My Virtual Garden Cat especially for my sisters and daughter

Friday, May 27, 2011

Inniswood Metro Gardens


Our third and final visit during National Public Gardens Day was to our local Metro Park, Inniswood. As we walked through the entrance, we were welcomed by a volunteer and given a package of Coneflower seeds. It is amazing how good it feels to be given a package of seeds. It is like a little treasure held in your hand.

Inniswood was once the estate of sisters Grace and Mary Innis. These sisters wanted to make sure that, in the future, their gardens would be preserved and enhanced for all. This resulted in the donation of their home and property to the Metro Park System. Their former home is now where many educational programs take place each year.

Inniswood is a combination of landscaped gardens, woodlands, streams, wildlife, trails, and spacious lawns. This Metro Park encompasses 121 acres and includes a Circle Garden, Conifer Garden, Cutting Garden, Herb Garden, Memorial Garden, Rose Garden, Sisters’ Garden, White Garden and Woodland Rock Garden.

Here are a few pictures from some of these magnificent gardens.

Along the fence line at the entrance to the gardens

Picea Pungens "Montgomery"


Magnolia
"Golden Gift"


The Cutting Garden
Tulipa
"Red Cubed"
Along one edge of the Herb Garden
Oregon Grapeholly
"Golden Abundance"
The Herb Garden



An entrance to the Herb Garden


Hellebores in abundance


The Woodland Rock Garden


In the shade


A flowering Dogwood


Delicate blue flowers under mature evergreens


A tulip in brushstrokes





Purple European Beech


Peony in the Memorial Garden


Fern-Leaf Peony


Monday, May 23, 2011

Dawes Arboretum

On the way back from the Phipps Conservatory we stopped at Dawes Arboretum. We love visiting Dawes at any time of the year. There was a chill in the air and a little wind, but we enjoyed our visit. Because Dawes was celebrating National Public Gardens Day, there were tram rides and free Sun flower seeds. Well, I am not known to pass up a packet of seeds. Now if only it would stop raining so I can plant them.

According to their website, Dawes has 1,800 acres with hiking trails and a driving tour that is four miles long. Lots to see at Dawes. Please visit their website to add meaning to these pictures. Most were taken from the tram while moving, so enjoy the ride.

View of Dawes Lake



Azalea Glen




All Seasons Garden
Honshu Japanese Kerria





Wayfaring-tree Viburnum




Prague Viburnum







Dawes Memorial


Buckeye Collection







Buckeye 17
17 Ohio Buckeye trees planted to commemorate Ohio being the seventeenth state to enter the union


Cypress Swamp




Observation Tower


A 2,040-foot-long Hedge of Woodward Arborvitae spells out "Dawes Arboretum" seen from the lookout tower










Spirea Collection


Mayapples





Crabapple Collection


Holly Collection


Views from the tram











Flowering Dogwood
Cherokee Chief




Slender Hinoki False Cypress
(center front)


Lilac
Tinkerbelle


Carolina Silverbelle


Conifer Collection