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march08blog
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March 24
It’s spring and the garden is certainly starting to burst with flowers. Daffodils, cherries, magnolias and many other plants are putting out a rainbow of color. Just like the flowers, people are starting to come out as well. On warm sunny days, they pop up everywhere in the garden enjoying the flowers, the fresh air, tram rides and all that the Garden offers. Like moths drawn to a flame, folks head for the big splashy displays of flowers. Right now those tend to be in the sunnier locations of the garden – my personal favorites as well. Normally I don’t mind seeing all those people. In fact I rather enjoy their company, but little girls in sun dresses can be almost as dangerous as gardeners when it comes to  dandelion picking. So . . . I’ve headed to a more secluded area.
This place were I’ve landed is a wonderful secret right in the middle of everything. It is a small secluded patch of woodland trail. Normally it would just be a shady retreat in the summer – cool, lush and green. Evergreen shrubs wall in meandering paths while a southern red oak, a black cherry and a few loblolly pines create the shady overstory. Right now, in the spring, this place is completely different. The oak and cherry don’t have leaves, so the sun trickles through – enough to satisfy me at least. The shrubs include a variety of camellias so rich reds, glorious whites and shades of pinks sparkle on dark green leaves. Japanese Andromeda (Pieris) is the dominant shrub along these paths. The glossy dark green leaves are pretty, but at this time of year it is the dripping cascade of white bells that catch your eye. Most of them are full size and tower nine to twelve feet over my head. It is an impressive view right now. On the outer edges of this woodland is a row of camellias on one side and azaleas on the other, sunnier side. They are starting to bloom – white, electric pink and one that is a mix of the white and pink. Looking at them from  here in the woods they really glow when the sun shines on them.
This wooded hideaway seems far from it all but it is actually quite close to the visitor center. It’s just a quick step from either the Sarah Lee Baker Perennial Garden or Renaissance Court. At one end of the walk is a sculpture of St. Francis with a pleasant green patina, surrounded by a many of the Japanese Andromeda. See if you can find me in the Figure Eight Garden.
March 17
I’m wearing my green today, are you? Of course I wear green everyday. Today I am sitting in the wildflower meadow, near the end of NATO vista. The meadow was mowed down a few weeks ago so I don’t think any gardener is going to come looking for me here. With all the grasses and tall  wildflowers being cut down, it’s easier for me to get some sun. That’s a good thing because it’s colder today than it has been for the last few days.
From here I can see the billowy white blossoms of pear trees in NATO vista. If you catch sight of them out of the corner your eye, you might think it was snowing. Turn and look in another direction into the arboretum and I can see a variety of deciduous magnolias. There is a pleasant range in the different whites and pinks they produce. In the distance I can see several varieties that are white. Closer to me is the Heaven Scent Magnolia with a rich, soft pink. Nearby is one of the “little girl” hybrids, Susan, that is a bright reddish-pink.
To get a true sense of red, however, all I have to do is turn around and look in the meadow. There, right on the edge of the lake, is a beautiful red maple in full bloom. Most people think of this tree as having spectacular fall color and as a nice shade tree, but to see it in flower is also a treat. The flowers of this tree are not the giant, eye-catching flowers like the pear, magnolia or any of the “flowering trees” landscapers like. Instead, the subtle redness of the buds gives way to small red petals with showy stigma and styles. Each flower is beautiful, but not incredibly distinctive. It is the volume of flowers that makes the tree glow in the sun as if it is on fire. On a beautiful day like today, with a clear blue sky, this tree is a treasure in the garden. Anyone can enjoy this gem – you just need to come and look.
March 10
I’ve been sitting here in the Fragrance Garden for a few days. Raise your hand (or leaf) if you know where that is. A lot of people don’t know, but it’s been fun watching them discover it. For the last week and a half, the gardeners have been tearing up the walkway in the boat basin – I heard one of them mention something about “new pavers” – so the path to much of the garden has been rerouted. At first the detour may seem a little inconvenient since it cuts off a main thoroughfare, but really it gives people a chance to explore some different parts of the garden. The detour sends everyone through the Japanese Garden (where a beautiful Cornelian dogwood is in full bloom) and along an azalea lined path to the Fragrance Garden.
The Fragrance Garden is an undiscovered gem to many. Tucked up behind the terrace of the Administration building, many people walk by without ever stopping here. Another garden on the terrace, the Sunken Garden, is as equally charming and infrequently visited. Unfortunately, the gardeners do not neglect their duties up here, so I have to keep a sharp eye out for dirty hands and hoes.
Plants are starting to pop out in both gardens. Hyacinths, evergreen candytuft, daffodils, a camellia and a witchhazel are all in bloom. A wonderful spring bulb is also starting to bloom now – spring starflower. I like it because we see eye to eye on many things – mainly because we’re about the same height. Of course we have our differences, but that makes the friendship so much more interesting. It has a pale blue, sometimes almost white, face compared to my brilliant yellow. It is related to the onion and the foliage is thin and strappy with that slight pungent smell, not strong and robust like my leaves. And of course the worst is that most people love seeing this flower pop up in their lawn but for some reason don’t enjoy it when I grace them with my presence – they are just an excuse to not mow the grass for a few weeks while I seem to be a blight on the quest for the perfect monoculture of green. I just don’t get it.
Well, I’m going to sit here with my friends and enjoy watching people discover this garden and not worry about those things. Hope to see you walk by.
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6700
Azalea Garden Road
Norfolk,
Virginia 23518
(757)
441-5830
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