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Japanese Maples Fall Color

'Skeeter's Broom' is the most colorful maple in our garden. I have just returned from a 2-week trip to Japan. This was my first ever trip outside the United States. It was an amazing experience and one I will never forget. Japan was wonderful - they really have their act together and I think the U.S. could learn a few things from them. There was one disappointment on the trip - the fall color had barely begun there and was really just beginning as we left. That is okay because the gardens were still spectacular, and I got a nice shot of fall color when I got back. 'Ryusen' I missed a few things - our ginkgo had just turned a glorious color the day before I left, and the leaves were gone by the time I got back.  'Sango-Kaku' I came home to many leaves on the ground but still a lot on the trees. 'Osakazuki', a beautiful red maple always changed color very late and therefore doesn't usually last long. When I left there was no color but a few remaini
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Jasmine Hill Gardens



It would be well worth the 50 mile drive south of Petals from the Past in Jemison to Wetumpka, Alabama to visit Jasmine Hill Gardens.  Wetumpka may be home to the women's prison in Alabama and a shooting location for the Tim Burton film Big Fish, but Jasmine Hill is a little gem that no one seems to have heard of, even people who live there! They really need a better PR person because this is truly a unique experience.


Known as "The Little Corner of Greece", it was once home to Benjamin and Mary Fitzpatrick, who started a chain of stores in the South. They sold their businesses in 1927 right before the big stock market crash and spent the rest of their lives turning their home into a showcase for Greek statuary. They made over 20 trips to Greece to purchase art objects to display in their expansive garden. And what a garden it is! Stone pathways, terraces and water features gracefully accompany the statuary which is intermingled with azaleas, camellias and other perennials, shrubs and trees.


We first fell in love with Jasmine Hill almost twenty years ago when we took a vacation to Callway Gardens and Bellingrath and stopped by Jasmine Hill after a friend told us about it. Words can't really do it justice so I'll just let the photos speak for themselves. These were taken this past Saturday.





















Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy
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  1. Randy EmmittApril 11, 2011 at 6:54 PM

    Phillip,
    These are some really cool photos. The gardens are amazing, all the broken Greek Columns are really eye catching.

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  2. debsgardenApril 11, 2011 at 7:46 PM

    I have heard of Jasmine Hill! I have thought of visiting but never made the effort. Your photos have made me push a visit up on my priority list. It looks wonderful!

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  3. UnknownApril 11, 2011 at 7:47 PM

    Just incredible! I went to Petals from the Past for the first time yesterday! This one is definitely now on my "to do" list!

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  4. GingerApril 11, 2011 at 7:55 PM

    what fascinating sculptures! nope, never heard of this place when I lived in AL for 3 years for law school. I'd like to visit it when I come that way for work sometime, though!

    re: tomatoes. for less sweet and more acid flavor, y'all should definitely get some yellow tomatoes. Tasteful Garden had a huge selection of them with thorough descriptions. I know they sell out of some varieties quickly though, so you may want to go on and check out their website!

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  5. MashaApril 11, 2011 at 8:19 PM

    Thank you for posting about this beautiful garden. Your pictures are lovely, wonderful compositions with classic statues and lush azaleas and rhododendrons. Thank you for such a well-written and illustrated virtual tour!

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  6. Chandramouli SApril 11, 2011 at 9:00 PM

    That looks stunning and your great photography skills showcases it well. The creators did have a great sense of taste and greek art - I am a fan of it too.

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  7. Anne BoykinApril 11, 2011 at 11:13 PM

    What a beautiful classical garden. Your photographs are gorgeous. Those flagstone pathways are to die for.

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  8. Lisa at GreenbowApril 12, 2011 at 4:56 AM

    It must be a huge garden with all that statuary fitting in along with those huge pillars. WOW. Beautiful. One of these days I hope to go through the south and see some of these gardens.

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  9. GailApril 12, 2011 at 5:43 AM

    Phillip, It's fantastic! There are several areas that remind me of Cheekwood~The classic pillars are incredible. I love Southern gardens and azaleas. gail

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  10. LarryApril 12, 2011 at 7:00 AM

    How marvelous! Your photography is as wonderful as the place... thanks for sharing! Larry

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  11. DarlaApril 12, 2011 at 7:51 AM

    Thanks for the tour, I have never heard of this garden either...just stunning at every turn.

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  12. Dee/reddirtramblingsApril 12, 2011 at 8:04 AM

    So beautiful Phillip. Thank you for taking us there.~~Dee

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  13. Dirt PrincessApril 12, 2011 at 10:05 AM

    A while back our fellow Alabama Bloggers Jamie and Randy visited Jasmine Hill and I had never heard of it!!! It is beautiful!!!! I really need to pick a weekend and go. Your pictures are amazing. i can only imagine how beautiful it must be in person. Hopefully I will find out soon.

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  14. KelseyApril 12, 2011 at 10:40 AM

    I think virtual garden tours are one of the most fun aspects of garden blogs! Thank you loved this tour! We don't have the soil for azaleas here so I LOVE seeing them on display. I loved all of the rock work as well! Thanks!

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  15. Peggy HillApril 12, 2011 at 11:52 AM

    Hi Phillip,
    I love your blog, and especially the pictures of your garden. My garden club was wondering if you ever do private tours.

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  16. Phillip OliverApril 12, 2011 at 12:19 PM

    Peggy, yes I do. May is the best time. Just send me an e-mail - oliver@hiwaay.net

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  17. LesApril 12, 2011 at 6:03 PM

    Wow, what a great place, and I have never heard of it. I love the full and broken columns.

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  18. compost in my shoeApril 12, 2011 at 7:31 PM

    Cool looking garden. I will expect the tour when I come visit one of these days!

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  19. Rob (ourfrenchgarden)April 13, 2011 at 5:05 AM

    Very impressive place.

    Beautifully illustrated tour, courtesy of your wonderful photographs.

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  20. BlogFrontApril 14, 2011 at 1:25 AM

    Hi Philip,

    BlogFront.org is committed to uphold the quality standards of blogging. We strive to maintain and promote only the most credible blogs in their respective fields.

    Spam blogs or "splogs" has been a problem for some time now and people are getting confused about which blog to trust.

    We would like to thank you for maintaining such a reputable blog. We know that it takes time, effort and commitment to keep such a blog and as such, we have added your blog as one of the top Gardening Blogs.

    You can see your blog listed here: http://blogfront.org/gardening/6

    You can also claim your BlogFront Top Blogs badge at http://blogfront.org/badges/gardening

    Thank you for keeping your blog credible. Let's keep the blog revolution alive!

    Maria Blanchard
    BlogFront.org
    Blog Revolucion

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  21. sweetbayApril 14, 2011 at 7:42 PM

    Very interesting and beautiful post. The Fitzpatricks created a spectacular garden.

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  22. LayaneeApril 15, 2011 at 7:08 AM

    What a place! Someday I hope to get there to visit.

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  23. AnonymousApril 15, 2011 at 10:16 PM

    My Master Gardener class chose this as our field trip. I was not enthused - I'd rather see plants than statuary. Then I saw your pictures - just in time since our trip was April 15. Because of the weather threats, only 3 of us made the 2.5 hour trip, along with 3 guests.

    It was beautiful even though many things were between bloom time. We had a beautiful sunny morning for the tour and I made it back home without any weather incidents, though things deteriorated rapidly after that. Thank you so much for helping to reveal this "best kept secret". I WILL be returning one of these days to see again this magical place.

    Barbara H.

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  24. AnonymousApril 16, 2011 at 6:04 AM

    Next time I head to Montgomery, I will make a visit there. Thanks for bringing this garden to my attention. Mary

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  25. Charlotte WeychanApril 16, 2011 at 9:41 AM

    What a wonderful place! I'll just have to get there one day. So much like home after all the Florida gardens I've been visiting this month!

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  26. Benjamin VogtApril 17, 2011 at 4:24 PM

    Incredible. Gorgeous. And I'm not into this style for myself, but I sure do appreciate the history that's in that space, how it's workign together, the narrative of plants and human culture.

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