Saturday, May 24: This afternoon is gorgeous, so we drive out west into the country to taste some wines at Doukénie Winery, a family operation in Virginia’s Wine Country in Loudoun County. The Bazaco family traces their success back to a 14 year-old Greek girl who in 1919 boarded a boat for the journey to America.
Welcome to Doukénie WinerySilo at Doukénie Winery
In 1981, the land at the foot of Short Hill Mountains was being farmed for corn, hay and cattle. The mid-eighties were an exciting time in the viticulture business in Virginia and the Bazacos decided to plant their first vineyard in 1986. The winemaking business came later as the winery itself was constructed in 1995. In many ways, this activity takes the family full circle as the young Greek girl who was boarding the boat was leaving her farm where her father, a local sheriff, also was a winemaker.
Me at Doukénie Winery
We taste the wines and then buy a bottle, which we share out on the patio under an umbrella, accompanied by cheese and crackers. We have a lovely view of a small pond, some farmland and cows. After having our wine we wander along a path beside the pond. A relaxing afternoon all around.
Mike, Adam and Alexthe vineyardsvineyards and pretty cloudsSilo and picnic tables at Doukénie Winerythe pondthe view over the ponda lone cowDoukénie WinerySilo & pond at Doukénie Wineryfarmland at Doukénie Wineryfence to infinitypond and pretty clouds at Doukénie Wineryfencefence on the grounds of Doukénie Winerya lone cow on the farmducks on the pond
Saturday, May 24: Today, I go with a photography group to visit the Franciscan Monastery in Washington. I already wrote about it a post in August 2011 (the franciscan monastery in washington: gardens & shrines), and I don’t want to repeat myself, so if you’d like to know more of the history, you can check out the earlier post. For today, I’ll simply post some pictures from this beautiful May morning.
Entrance to the Franciscan MonasteryGardens at the Franciscan Monasterythe Monasteryfacade of the Monasterycloisterspeeking out from the cloistersrosesrosesgardensroses and gardensview of gardens from cloistersthe Monasterya cute little building covered in vines
To see a slide show, just click on any of the images below.
Friday, May 9: Today, I drive to Richmond to meet my daughter Sarah to celebrate her 30th birthday, which was on April 26. We’re a couple of weeks late. She’s been busy with four classes and as today is the last of her final exams, she’ll finally be able to relax and enjoy the party. Mike and the boys drive separately to meet us at 4:00. They plan to drive back home after dinner, while I intend to stay the night with Sarah in Richmond. We have some shopping to do on Saturday for that birthday.
Since I arrive in Richmond around 2:00, and Sarah is still taking her exam, I drop by Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens to see what’s in bloom for spring. As far as I’m concerned, this is one of the nicest gardens in Virginia, although I’m sure there must be many more beautiful ones throughout the state that I haven’t visited. Here’s a little of what I find.
Click on any of the pictures below for a full-sized slideshow.
Fringe tree
Fringe tree
Fringe tree
Fringe tree
Fringe tree
Lantana
Lantana
Healing garden
Healing garden
Virginia skullcap
Virginia skullcap
Dahlia
birdbath
chives
Conservatory
pretty gardens
Allium
Allium
Iris
Allium & Irises
Iris
Geums
Lilac
yellow pretties ~ Nicotiana
the Fountain Garden
Papyrus
Bromeliad
Clivea
Orchids
Orchids
Orchids
Orchids & ferns
little lady in midst of orchids
orchids
orchids
orchids
orchids
orchids
butterfly in the butterfly exhibit
butterfly
wings a little tattered
Lantana
garden house
hibiscus
Peony
peonies
peony buds
walkway and stream near the Tea House
two heads are better than one
Aromi hybrid azaleas, or Florida azaleas
Aromi hybrid azaleas, or Florida azaleas
Florida azaleas
Woodland Walk
I have probably misnamed some of the flowers, so I would appreciate any gardeners out there who can set me straight. For instance, I’m not sure if the flowers I’ve labeled azaleas are such, or if they’re rhododendron. And I wish someone would tell me the name of the white flowers with the yellow Chihuly-like centers.
{Thanks so much to Carol of Wanderings of an Elusive Mind and Jonah from Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens for setting me straight on the flower names!)
By the time I finish walking around the gardens on this hot and humid day, I’m soaked and my hair is sticking out like it’s been whipped with egg-beaters. I run to Sarah’s and take a shower so I won’t look like the dregs of society when we go out tonight. The celebration is mainly for Sarah’s birthday, but also for the end of her demanding semester. It’s also a celebration for Mother’s Day. It’s not often I have all three of my children together.
Sarah has the idea to go to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts for wine tasting on the patio. In the pond beside the patio are Chihuly’s Red Reeds.
Chihuly’s Red Reeds
I take a picture of my three children, but, as I don’t have my glasses on, I don’t realize until later that Sarah’s eyes are closed. 🙂
Alex, Sarah & AdamMike, Sarah, Alex & Adam
We then head to dinner at Bacchus on Main, where we have a feast fit for kings, a queen and a princess. As Sarah seems to know all the waiters in the Richmond establishments, we get some little perks, like a dessert we don’t order and an extra appetizer. Happy birthday to Sarah!
Bacchus: Sarah on the left, Alex, Adam and Mike on the right. 🙂
Thursday, May 8: It won’t be long before summer is upon us, so I thought I’d better drop by Meadowlark Botanical Gardens in Vienna to see the spring blooms. Here’s a little of what I found.
Click on any of the photos below for a full-sized slide show. 🙂
Saturday, May 3: In 1921, Mildred Bliss, American art collector, philanthropist and one of the co-founders of Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection, chose Beatrix Farrand to design the gardens at Dumbarton Oaks. The two women developed a friendship that spanned 30 years, while collaborating on every aspect of the gardens’ design. Both women were well-traveled and well read, and they shared a knowledge of European gardens and garden traditions.
the house facing the gardens
Approaching the house from the entrance gate to the gardens, the Orangery, built in 1810, is covered within by a large creeping fig planted in 1860. The outside of the Orangery is draped with fragrant wisteria.
Inside the OrangeryInside the Orangerywisteria-draped Orangerythe Orangery and its wisteriaOrangery and wisteria
Close to the house, Farrand created intimate entertaining spaces, enclosed by walls and carefully selected plantings, according to a Dumbarton Oaks brochure. She designed a series of terraces, framing views of the terraces below to enhance the sense of anticipation and flow.
wall bordering one of the terraces
One of the first views I can see when I walk out of the Orangery is the Swimming Pool and the Loggia’s tile mosaic of Diana and Actaeon. At the end of the Loggia, a path leads upwards through the boxwood to the Beech Terrace and Orangery.
Azaleas along the Swimming PoolLoggia along the Swimming PoolMosaic of DianaMosaic detailMosaic of ActaeonView to the Swimming Pool from the Loggia
The Pebble Garden is a pattern of colored Mexican pebbles designed in the 1960s. The Bliss family crest and motto are incorporated into the design. The arbor around the Pebble Garden is today covered in fragrant wisteria.
the Pebble Gardenthe arbor in the Pebble Gardenthe Pebble Gardenwisteria along the Pebble GardenWisteria
The Urn Terrace is curves of brick and ivy with a pebble mosaic.
Urn Terrace
The Rose Garden is the largest of the terraces. Over fifty varieties of nearly a thousand roses are planted here. The Blisses’ ashes are interred behind an inscribed sandstone slab in the west wall.
View of the Rose Garden from the Urn Terrace
The Ellipse is made of a double row of American hornbeams clipped into an aerial hedge surrounding a 17th century Provencal fountain.
The EllipseProvencal fountain
A walkway leading to the cutting garden has blooming trees offering shade from today’s heat.
shade and blossoms
The Cutting Garden is all about tulips today.
border to the Cutting Gardentulips in the Cutting Gardenpretty tulipsmore tulipsCutting gardenCutting garden
The English-style herbaceous borders are planted seasonally with tulips, annuals, perennials and chrysanthemums. Today, tulips are the stars.
Tulips in the Herbaceous Borders
The Fountain Terrace has two lead fountains within a grass plat bordered by flowers: tulips in spring, perennials and annuals in summer, and chrysanthemums in fall.
Fountain TerraceFountain TerracePurple flower in the Fountain GardenView of Arbor Terrace from Fountain TerraceView of Arbor Terrace from Fountain Terrace
The Arbor Terrace is named after the wisteria-covered arbor. Formerly an herb garden, the paved terrace is a pot garden in summer with tubs of gardenias, lantana, and citrus. An aerial hedge of Kieffer pears partially encloses the terrace.
Arbor TerraceArbor Terrace, looking away from the arbor
It’s a fantastic time of year to explore gardens in northern Virginia before the onslaught of a hot and humid summer. 🙂
nomad, interrupted 