FANTASTICAL BOTANICAL GARDENS NOW
The most beautiful botanical gardens are in their glory now, in the ripening spring. We've done a survey of the greatest beauties happening right now at three of the best gardens in the world. It was not a tough job.
Photo: Dave Bledsoe, New York Botanical Garden, Crabapple Trees
When the crabapple trees start busting out at the New York Botanical Garden, there is nothing sweeter. A range of pinks and white confetti flutters against May/June skies. There are 80 varieties in full bloom now in the Donald J. Bruckmann Crabapple Collection, set above Daffodil Hill, in the Bronx, NY. Many of these mature specimen trees have gracefully gnarly armatures, with broad canopies of blossoms. Some weep. Some are like bouquets of giant’s babies breath.
Photo: Courtesy of New York Botanical Gardens, Spring Trees in Bloom
Everywhere you walk, though NYBG’s fifty gardens in springtime, leads you many mile away from the concrete and skyscrapers that surround them, as you are transported to another time and place down every path..
Photo: Courtesy of New York Botanical Gardens, The Four Seasons
The Four Seasons exhibition just opened, featuring four monumental whimsical sculptures by artist, Philip Haas, all created out of organic matter, using their innate forms as a point of departure.
Photo: Courtesy of Longwood Gardens, Virginia Bluebells
A frenzy of Virginia Bluebells sweep across the woodland grounds this time of year at Longwood Gardens, one of the oldest and finest botanical gardens in the US. They are a joy to stroll through. Set on more than 1000 acres, with over 11,000 species of plants, Longwood Gardens are a great place to get lost. Right now, you can also see a mindblowing variety of the most voluptuous peonies at the American Peony Society Show, there.
Longwood has just opened its open air summer concert series, with a mixed bouquet of performances, including Tony Bennett, Philadelphia Orchestra, Peter Yarrow, and Buddy Guy. The Wine & Jazz Festival on the meadow and the International Organ Festival played out on the Garden’s 10,010-pipe organ are special treats.
Photo: Tony Hall, Kew Gardens, Azalea Gardens
The Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew are frothing with blooming azaleas now. Massive mounds, in sugary candy colors line garden path and edge the groves. The individual blossoms are sometimes as full and lush as lilies. Swaths of intense color next to pastels change the view at every turn.
Photo: failing_angel, "Kew Gardens"
British gardens are known for their special brands of beauty. Some, soft and flowing, like cottage gardens, and many are super formal and ordered. Kew’s Order Gardens are particularly interesting now, with their spring beds containing unique plant families, ordered to show their relationships to each other. There is beauty in relationship. And it adds a fascination component to the viewing experience.
Photo: Courtesy of Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew
Kew’s Rose Pergolas are like fairy archways, festooned with climbing roses, dripping down the sides. Walk through them, and you might think you are dreaming, except that the fragrance wafting around you lets you know you are awake and present.
We will cover more botanical garden beauties this summer. There is always something special popping up.
