Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Tower Hill Botanic Garden


I had a lovely day touring Tower Hill Botanic Garden with my dear, longtime friend Celia who is visiting from Hawaii. What could be better than sauntering through a beautiful garden, catching up on conversation and enjoying a delightful al fresco lunch on a lofty terrace with spectacular views of  mountains and the Quabbin Reservoir. The weather was a perfect 71 degrees, sunny with a thin scrim of clouds to tone down the intensity of the near to solstice sunlight and a light breeze that carried the scents of flowers and newly mown grass. Sigh...
 
I've never been to Tower Hill this time of the year before and although it doesn't have as much drama as later in the season when all the tropicals and temperennials from the conservatories are outside, hardened off and strutting their stuff, there were hundreds of blooming shrubs and trees that made for a great walkabout.
 
Beautiful specimen of  Euphorbia tirucalli (Stick Plant) and Aloe ferox (Cape Aloe) in the entrance garden.
 
 
Some of the conservatory collection gettng hardened off for ther outdoor summer locations
 
 
 
 
A beautiful specimen of Cedrus atlantica 'Glauca Pendula' (Atlas Cedar)
 
I wish I had room for this one in my garden!
 
They have many beautiful specimens of Fagus sylvatica (Purple Columnar Beech) throughout the gardens
 
Great grouping with Spirea 'Ogon' in the foreground
 
 
 
 
 
 
I want to find some of these great little Allium karataviense (Kara Tau Garlic)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Enkianthus campanulatus, love this shrub!
 
Lovely blooming Aesculus carnea (Red flowering Horsechestnut tree)

 
The splendid double arbor and stairway.
 
 
I've decided I'd like to get over here once a month or so during the growing season to see how the emerging perennials and new annuals fill in and change over the season.  Of course I'll have to have another al fresco lunch on the beautiful terrace...
 

 

14 comments:

  1. Although those conservatories are great for a winter garden fix, I much prefer to visit this time of the year :). Visiting once a month is a good idea. Wish it was closer.

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    1. Yes Sue, I wish it was closer as well but the drive is certainly worth it. We really should meet there for lunch from time to time. I'm definitely planning on making a point to get back there more often than I have in the past and in fact will probably buy a membership. I was very happy to see that their temperennials are in about the same shape as mine are right now. I'd never seen them right out of the greenhouses before and that is encouraging.

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  2. I remember this special place from Sue's winter post about a visit there with you! Who could forget that picture of her spitting a stream of water at the turtle. The gardens are gorgeous this time of year and I hope you post monthly as it will be wonderful to watch how it evolves through the seasons through your lens! Happy Gardening!

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    1. Hi there, many thanks for commenting! it is a wonderful place and I wish every gardener could visit. There is also a lovely watercolor exhibit going on there now and I"m hoping to get to a lecture by the artist in residence next weekend. Should be fun.

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  3. Splendid looking place, and they have some very nice tropicals too!

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    1. Thanks guys, it is definitely a splendid garden

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  4. I spy a fringe tree, still fresh with blooms. That would be the perfect place to catch up with old friends.

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  5. I too spied the fringe tree... I moved mine this spring and wonder how they will fare....
    Lovely everything...as seen through your eyes Deanne!

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    1. Thanks Marie, I'd love to find a place for a fringe tree here too

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  6. How fun to see Tower Hill in this season; I have enjoyed every visit I have paid there, but always in summer. Just let me know when you pay a return visit to Celia, I am way overdue to get back to Hawaii-I'll meet you there !

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    1. Thanks Kathy, I was thinking of stopping off in Napa for a couple days on my way to visit Celia!

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  7. Wow...what a beautiful garden! I love that 'fringe' tree...such an artistic shape.

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  8. What beautiful gardens!!! So nice to view this wonderful site with your friend.I have never been there but I now have it on my agenda. I will research it and learn more about it and see if my friend in MA will meet me there. Thanks for the heads up. LJ

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