Meadowlark Botanical Gardens, closing out the 2017 Garden Bloggers Fling

I may have taken my sweet time getting here — and jumped all over the itinerary in the process — but I'm wrapping up my 2017 GB Fling posts with the closing event of the DC Region Fling — and not a moment too soon, since the 2018 Fling kicks off in just a little over eight weeks! Our final stop that hot June day was Meadowlark Botanical Gardens.

Meadowlark consists of 95 acres of ornamental display gardens and unique native plant collections and is located in Vienna, Virginia.

I was a little overwhelmed upon entering the garden and not sure which way to head, I chose the containers (familiarity?)...

Inside that big stacked stone circle was this, along with bits of ash. It must be a fire circle at some point in the year and they'd sunk containers in?

Looking a little more polished was this group.

Agave stricta?

A very pale (and beautiful) Agave desmettiana 'Joe Hoak'.

Looking back over my shoulder...

Cephalotaxus harringtonia 'Prostrata', aka Spreading Japanese Plum Yew, my official Fling crush...which I have yet to track down here in Oregon. Must find this plant!

I got the bee! I never get the bee...

They do Echinacea well in this part of the country.

Diverging from the flowers for a moment I discovered a tropical foliage island.

Tetrapanax have an entirely different feel when you're looking down on those big leaves.

Bromeliads in the ground! And who knew Coleus would look so nice with them?

I had that gorgeous Cordyine (on the right) for awhile. Until it died. I don't think it ever even escaped it's houseplant gig to vacation outside for the summer.

What is this bit of loveliness?

Looks like maybe a Cercis canadensis 'Forest Pansy' that's been coppiced. Do they do that?

Looking back at the building we first entered when we arrived.

And out at the vast land to explore.

It was in this garden that I got the sad news that a dear friend's mother had died. I didn't know her well, although I did attend his parent's 50th wedding anniversary and have known him for some 30 years.

The feeling of sadness definitely colored my visit, although where better to get sad news, and work through it, than in a garden?

And a garden with ruins no less!

Like I said, they do Echinacea well here...

Most everyone was heading down this path to see the Korean Bell Garden...

But I really craved a little alone time so I headed off towards that bridge.

Where I could admire the lotus.

And then rejoin the gang for our closing dinner. Will you be "flinging" in Austin this year? I think they have just 5 or 6 spots left! Check out the details here: Austin 2018. Thank you to Tammy and the whole DC Fling crew, you showed us an amazing time!

Weather Diary, Feb 4: Hi 51, Low 33/ Precip trace

All material © 2009-2018 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

Virginia Gardener, a stop on the 2017 Garden Bloggers Fling

I know what you're thinking..."she's still posting about the 2017 Garden Blogger's Fling? That happened last June!!!"...I know. It's crazy. This is almost the end, just a couple more to go.

This garden was one of the last stops on the Fling, not that I planned my posts that way. From the Fling itinerary: "Virginia’s garden is a classic estate garden that surrounds her historic home built in 1790. Her garden features an herb garden, a secret garden, and bountiful perennial borders as well as views of the rolling hills of world famous horse country." Did ya catch that? Her home was built in 1790. That's 228 years ago. I can't even wrap my head around that! So we move on...

Love the gutter, love the rain chain. Can't imagine that much water falling from the sky in the summertime.

I'm not one who usually appreciates a formal garden, but this place really captured my heart.

Even before I saw these...

Did you think he was real? Even for a second? I did. I spend so much time in the desert SW I temporarily forgot where I was...

I think we were told what part of the house is original and what is an addition, but sadly I wasn't paying attention then. There was an adorable Corgi (my missing Lila on vacation means I must love on every sweet dog that crosses my path) and I had to use the bathroom. Thankfully this kind homeowner allowed that. I even took a photo of the flowers in the bathroom but decided maybe that was too personal to share. They were stunning.

There was a lovely deck off the back of the house.

With a view for miles and miles...

The Lotus were an unexpected feature.

Normally I'm not a fan of weeping Blue Atlas Cedar, but this one gets a pass.

This garden was huge, you're getting that, right?

There were more Lotus in the pond, along with frogs, frogs!

And fish, this pond was a treasure.

With bloggers...

And without...

The pool side included a dripping urn, surprisingly I loved it.

Looking out beyond the edges of the garden...

And walking back towards the lower part of the property where the buses dropped us off, and picked us back up again.

This looked like a commercial operation at first glance.

But now I believe it was all part of Virginia Gardener's homestead. What a life, I appreciate her inviting us to share it for the afternoon.

All material © 2009-2018 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.