Thank you .. ‘Dirt du Jour’

for the glowing review! "Go ask Alice ... where all the best vineyard gardens are. She's an erudite charmer; you'll have fun!"
Botanical Gardens

Brooklyn Botanic Garden's Cherry Blossoms & Native Flora

A much anticipated annual garden event…

…the Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s Sakura Matsuri cherry blossom festival takes place May 1 & 2 this year: Visit the BBG web site for details.

Springtime Vista - Brooklyn Botanic Garden (ALICE JOYCE photo)

The Brooklyn Botanic Garden is an especially alluring destination in Spring, when the green haven of the 2-acre Native Flora Garden captivates the senses with arrays of Trillium species, Clematis, bellworts (Uvularia) and shooting stars, among the woodlanders emerging in April and May.

The Garden is positively aglow in the Cherry Esplanade, Japanese Garden, and Daffodil Hill area while avenues of cherry trees are blooming. I enjoyed a ramble through the gardens with Scot Medbury, President of the BBG and former director of the San Francisco Botanical Garden/Conservatory of Flowers, and was delighted to be introduced to Uli Lorimer, curator of the Native Flora collection.

The botanically inclined will find fetching displays decorating the gardens, like the sight of fallen petals floating on the pond, as captivating to the eyes as the bounteous, blowsy blossoms themselves. At this tine of year, there are fragrant lilacs, exuberant azaleas, and a cacophony of frilly peonies, along with a wisteria-draped pergola that signals the coming to life of the Cranford Rose Garden. Plan a summer visit and you’ll be swept away by the fragrance that envelops you in this classic, formal setting.

UNDER CONSTRUCTION ….

Slipper Orchid – Cypripedium

Click on the Brooklyn Botanic Garden map to see the garden’s layout, plant collections, and design features.

One comment - (Comments are closed)   Botanical Gardens, New York   , , ,  
California Wine Country

Benziger Winery's Bio-Dynamic Gardens

 

Benziger Winery Discovery Trail © Alice Joyce

The Bio-Dynamic gardens of Benziger Winery offer a perfect day in Wine Country, with a self-guided Biodynamic Discovery Trail that takes its inspiration from biodynamic agriculture: a movement associated with philosopher and founder of anthroposophy, Rudolf Steiner.  The Trail melds ornamentals, edibles and insectary plants, with demonstration stations describing the farming practices Benziger employs on its 85-acre Sonoma Mountain ranch land.

Benziger Winery Vista with Palm Trees

Especially eye-catching – a flow form water feature exhibits an aerating, recirculating vortex pattern.

Benziger Winery Biodynamic Flow Form

Soon after the new demonstration area opened, I toured the estate with Colby Eierman, director of sustainability. It was a chance to see first-hand the integration of sheep, cows, and chickens in the vineyards. In the complex topography of the site, sheep do a great job of mowing under the vines, and on the steeper slopes.

Benziger Biodynamic gardens © Alice Joyce

On the east facing slope of Sonoma Mountain, a lovely arrangement is revealed in the terraced construction, creating a variety of habitats amid plantings of lavender, echiums, bottlebrush, and groves of olive trees.

There is land set aside for insectary habitats to attract the ‘good bugs,’ and edible gardens teeming with herbs, veggies, and fruit trees; providing fresh organic ingredients to the chefs at El Dorado Kitchen – a Sonoma destination restaurant.

Benziger Herbs & Blooms © Alice Joyce

All of which contributes to the health of the organism that is the larger farm system. Grounded in holistic methods, the Biodynamic farming at Benziger affects the soil in distinctive ways, coloring the flavor of the grapes and the quality of the wines. Book the Vineyard’s Tram Tour to enjoywine-tasting, and get an up-close look at the landscape and gardens, barrel caves, and more.

5 comments - (Comments are closed)   California Wine Country, Culinary Gardens, Wine Tasting   , ,  
Historic Gardens

Spring Bloom - Gardens of Alcatraz

A spring tour of the Alcatraz gardens is revelatory, with brilliant, beautifully tended borders rising up amid breathtaking views of the San Francisco skyline, Angel Island, and the Tiburon Peninsula.

Aeonium bloom Chasmanthe Alcatraz Photo © Alice Joyce

Fuchsias - Heirloom Survivor Photo © Alice Joyce

Since 2003 when The Garden Conservancy became involved in the restoration of the island’s historic landscape, some 25,0000 work hours have been logged by staff and volunteers associated with the Conservancy’s Alcatraz Historic Gardens Project, in partnership with the National Park Service and Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy.

Historic Gardens .. Amazon

Alcatraz Ruin Photo Copyright © Alice Joyce

Heirloom plants abound, survivors from the 1940s such as Fuchsia and Aeonium, Echium, bearded iris and Centranthus ruber. A 330-ft long trough overflows with pelargoniums flowering in red and pink hues, melded with a bit of white.

Kenilworth Ivy Whitewashed Brick ALCATRAZ Photo © Alice Joyce

In 2004 work moved forward in an area known as Foundation #8. A handsome variegated Lavatera and Limonium grow here .. along with Kenilworth Ivy that has found a home in the whitewashed brick wall.

Whitewashed Brick Wall and Lavatera Photo © Alice Joyce

Docent tours of the Gardens are offered Friday and Sunday at 9:30 a.m. Those interested must take the 9 a.m. boat from Pier 33 in San Francisco. Alcatraz Cruises –  On Wednesday from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. a docent is located in the garden at Officers’ Row for a talk and to answer questions.

Alcatrz Gardens Volunteer at Work Photo © Alice Joyce

View of Alcatraz from the Ferry Photo © Alice Joyce

3 comments - (Comments are closed)   Historic Gardens, San Francisco   ,  
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