The Garden Awakens
Anise 'Woodland Red' ( Illicium floridanum ) A few weeks ago, I thought spring would never arrive, but now the change is astonishing. The nights are still cold (40s and sometimes even 30s) so planting tender annuals and vegetables is unwise although I have already succumbed, but covering and uncovering things gets old quickly. Someone made a wise comment last week and I must agree with them - "Don't plant anything tender until after May 1". Several plants are blooming like never before. One is the Anise shrub (above and below). I don't know if the recent tree pruning, which is allowing more sun into the woodland path, is affecting it or perhaps it is just age, but I've never seen so many blooms. Michael refers to this as "the stinky fish shrub" and I have to admit to smell of the flowers is quite unpleasant. It is so beautiful that I can overlook that. The old pink dogwood tree, which was already here, shades our woodland path and it too is prett
Phillip, I hope this is your first and last prison to visit! Well, there is also Alcatraz...
ReplyDeleteThe rose border in the first picture looks lovely with a stone wall as a background.
In a previous life (as a teenager dreaming of being an actor), I once participated in a shoot for a TV movie of some sort at the Eastern State Penitentiary outside of Philadelphia. Interesting / spooky place with a memorable ambience - http://www.easternstate.org/
ReplyDeletePS - Al Capone apparently was once a 'resident' there!
PPS - It's fun reading about your trip. Thanks for sharing pics and impressions.
No worse place to be. Makes me unsettled just looking at those tiny cells.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting as well as depressing! Beautiful old stone but know you were glad to get to the Botanical Garden! Enjoyed!
ReplyDeleteDo you think it's haunted Phillip!!?? Can you imagine the history of that place!
ReplyDeleteI second Aaron's recommendation.
ReplyDeletePoor Michael! He thought he was getting away from yet another garden for a while--except he wasn't!
ReplyDeleteThe graveyard--at least there is the beautiful wide open sky, and the wild hills undulating like waves.