Memories of Going to Grandmother's House

I’d wash and bury my face in the towel, just taking in the fresh scent of the laundry that had been hung outdoors on the line in the pine-scented air of the open spaces of the farm where there was a blackberry patch of delicious ripe berries near the barn with a few cows and a kitty near the creek with a bridge leading into the woods with lots of blueberry bushes and deer flies buzzing around my straw hat.  My aunt and my mom and I would pick the blueberries for the pies that would cool on top of my Grandfather’s roll-top desk in the corner of the kitchen that had a wood stove near the bedroom where I would sleep and wake up to the sound of the rooster crowing in the yard, and to the sweetness of the pine-scented air through the open window. The farmhouse is gone now, lost to housing development, but the memories remain with me, as vivid as yesterday.

(Thanks to my friend JP who had requested stories of going to Grandma's house, for one of her many projects. This led me to reflect on many happy childhood memories.)

Gardens of Greater Boston Tour - Day 3

It's the final day of our tour. Our first stop was one of the largest garden centers of New England - Russell's Garden Center in Wayland, MA. 

Refreshments were awaiting us when we arrived. 

("How do you like that hibiscus, Geo?")

I spent a lot of time looking at shade-loving perennials, but when I wandered into the area displaying indoor plants, that's what really grabbed my attention. Many of the plants looked quite exotic. The colors of the foliage were especially striking.

Wouldn't this one be a great painting?

The zebra plant is more common, but it's not often that I see one in bloom.

The bottom of our bus was beginning to load up with everyone's souvenirs!

Our final stop was the Tower Hill Botanic Garden in Boylston, MA.

There are eight different kind of gardens here, trails, and gorgeous views. It seems like any way you'd turn, you'd be surrounded by beauty.

I walked around these fields, just taking it all in.

We had lunch in an atrium with palm trees. Then we walked out into the formal gardens.

Here's one of my favorite flower photos:

And how about these daylilies:

Then I wandered into the vegetable garden. This could be anyone's garden, but growing here I saw the more unusual veggies, like black tomatoes and purple kale.

                        

 

Beyond the veggies was a brick walk that led to the arbors. I loved the views from here and took lots of photos from different directions.

One more photo before heading home!

"Thanks, Geo! We had a great time."

Gardens of Greater Boston Tour - Day 2

Everyone on the bus by 8:00 AM, and it's on to the first stop of the day - Wilson Farms in Lexington, Massachusetts. 

This is a massive produce market growing its
own plants, flowers and veggies, also selling
cheese, meat, seafood, and bakery.

Produce is started from seed, new crops planted daily. Everything is hand-picked and made ready for market.

Here's a view of the fields: 

It had rained the night before, so the ground was quite muddy.

("I'm right behind you, George!")

Rows of Swiss chard:

After seeing the fields, we made our way back to the market AND to the bakery! I thought Geo would like this berry tart.

I'd choose the eclair, no doubt about it! The most luscious I've ever seen...

I would definitely grocery shop here if we lived anywhere near this area. 

After the market tour, we boarded the bus for Glen Magna Farms in Danvers, MA.

Glen Magna is an estate that exemplifies the North Shore summer lifestyle. The original house was purchased by Joseph Peabody during the war of 1812. It was expanded and remodeled in 1893. In 1926 the gardens were awarded the top medal from the Massachusetts Horticultural Society. The house is being restored to look as it did in the early 1900's. This place is popular for summer weddings.

The backyard provides the perfect aisle for the bridal party.

And here's the place to say, "I do."

Another view of the gardens:

A great addition to any garden - a fountain.

I love the waterlilies!

Every garden needs a secluded spot. These trees provided a circular shaded area. Very peaceful.

I noticed the lovely blooms on this tree. Not sure what this is or if it would even grow in our Zone 4.

We had lunch at Glen Magna in one of the elegant dining rooms. Then it was on to an amazing site - the Arnold Arboretum in Jamaica Plain, MA.

This was my first visit to an arboretum, and Arnold Arboretum is our country's first, established in 1872. There are 281 acres here; we covered about two miles. The landscape was originally designed by Frederick Law Olmsted to be a living collection of trees and shrubs. Truly magnificent.

Here's our energetic and knowledgeable guide.

  

Each tree is identified.

I was told that the Dawn Redwood is one that could actually grow in Vermont. I'd like to see if we could add this one to our yard!

Geo is getting a closer look.

The bark on this one peels away to reveal unique copper coloring.

The arboretum is a popular place for strolling or hiking. Years ago, carriages would come through so people could view the trees without touching the ground.

 Some blooms along the way:

The oldest specimen I saw was a bonsai - outdoors - that was started in 1737. Yes, 1737. Very historic. (I'm sorry I did not get any bonsai photos.)

One of my fave photos is overlooking one of the ponds.

I truly loved the arboretum, especially seeing the play of sunlight and shadows on the ground under the trees, then looking up and seeing the blue sky through the leaves. 

Lesson learned: Do not take for granted trees and shrubs when planning the garden.

Gardens of Greater Boston Tour - Day 1

When Geo and I heard that Charlie Nardozzi was leading a garden tour, and when we saw the itinerary, we signed up. For three days we traveled with about fifty other people to some very remarkable horticultural sites just a few hours from home.

This was our first stop: 

If you've ever heard of "Proven Winners" plants, this is where they're from. Pleasant View encompasses about 28 acres of greenhouses and outdoor plant production areas. The "mother stock" for the plants comes from Costa Rica. We were given a guided tour of the Proven Winners display.

(I'm not a big fan of ornamental grasses, but I have to admit I do like the red color of this one.)

There were lots of ideas here for the home garden. Even the more common flowers looked spectacular.

There were displays with combinations that work well together.

Then it was on to Portsmouth, NH and Strawberry Banke.

This area dates back to the 1600's. There is ongoing restoration of homes taking place here, with an historic village to tour. 

Although there are examples of gardens across the centuries, what I really enjoyed seeing were the recreated interiors of the homes, furnished as they may have been during the mid-1800's to mid-1900's.

 

This type of cookstove was the first of its kind. Before this, cooking was done on an open hearth. We were told it took people time to adjust to this "new technology."

The most recent time period represented was the 1950's.

In a grocery store illustrating the 1940's, I saw items on the shelves that I actually recall from the 50's!

Oh, yes, the gardens...

This could be a 1940's Victory Garden:

Here's an entrance to a more formal garden:

And here's a view of that garden from the second floor window of the home:

And all of this was only the first day of our tour!