Fond Memories of Chanticleer

Chanticleer is a magical place.

I shared a few of my thoughts about it and photos last September, after the Philadelphia Garden Fling. But when I couldn't attend this year's recent Puget Sound Fling, it had me thinking about Chanticleer again.

My words and photos can't do it justice, but it seems like a good time to share a bit. I don't have tags for all the varieties of plants in my photos, but I did my best to ID most of them. Mainly, while at Chanticleer, I wanted to simply take it all in at this special place instead of focusing on the details too much. I definitely want to go back again...

The plantings were regal throughout the grounds, including these groupings of Birds-of-Paradise (Strelitzia nicolai), Elephant Ears (Colocasia esculenta), and Spider Plants (Chlorophytum comosum).



The pathways throughout the grounds were well-maintained and great for visitors of all abilities; subdued, but also beautiful.



The meadow edges were naturalistic, but at the same time artfully arranged.

This grouping of hedges and border plantings was organized, yet comfortable.



The Ruin Garden was fascinating--combining the beauty of historical structures with lush, beautiful, draping plants.



Here and there were surprise combinations, like this potted grouping of succulents.



The naturalistic, yet creatively placed, elements throughout the grounds really appealed to me--like this pollinator house paired with beautiful rocks, mosses, plants, and structures.



The wildlife seemed at peace at Chanticleer, too, like this juvenile great blue heron.

While I don't have all the variety names, here are some individual blooming plants that captured my eye:

Tricyrtis formosana

Physostegia virginiana

Lantana camara 'Samantha'

Hydrangea macrophylla

Echinacea purpurea 'Green Jewel'

Dahlia pinnata with Symphyotrichum spp.

Dahlia pinnata

Colchicum autumnale

Anemone x hybrida

The water features, perhaps most of all, really captivated me during our visit. Many who reported on Chanticleer after the Fling noted these lovely floating displays of mixed colorful blooms and foliage.

Nymphaea mexicana with koi

The koi fish enjoyed the Waterlilies as much as we did.

Nymphaea nouchali

Nymphaea mexicana

Our time at Chanticleer was enchanting and way too short. I must go back.

To learn more about the Garden Fling--past, recent, and future--visit gardenfling.org.

Flinging at Longwood Gardens

I'm just getting settled at home after a wonderful trip to Philadelphia for the Garden Fling. Garden bloggers, writers, photographers, podcasters, and video-makers on public social media platforms from around the U.S. and several other countries visited public and private gardens together.

I'm still processing the experience and reliving the beautiful memories, but here are some brief thoughts about our first stop: the fabulous Longwood Gardens. So many photos and observations; here are just a few...







I really enjoyed the border gardens at Longwood. The plant combinations--colors, structures, foliage, and blooms--were beautiful and creative. 



Can you believe these are Lantana trees? I wonder if I could train Lantanas to do this: potted and outside during the summer, and in the sunroom during the winter. Hmmm...



Longwood has several beautiful areas devoted to native plants, like these New England Asters (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae), Cardinal Flowers (Lobelia cardinalis), Goldenrods (Solidago spp.), native grasses, and others.



The potted collections and arrangements were impressive, too.



We had a behind-the-scenes session demonstrating Bonsaii care and development, which was fascinating and fun.

And the roses...











Whenever I see a rose display, I must stop and sniff and dream!

Another behind-the-scenes session focused on Longwood's water lilies (Nymphaea spp.)--so dreamy and lovely!

I can't share everything about this amazing trip, but stay tuned for more coverage in the days and weeks ahead. And check out many more descriptions at the Fling website.

For more information about the history and philosophy of Longwood Gardens, visit this link.

Sunday at the 2022 Fling: Perfect Weather and More Great Gardens

The sunken garden at Rotary Botanical Gardens

On the last day of the 2022 Garden Bloggers Fling, the weather was fabulous, as were the gardens.



We split into two buses at separate gardens again, and the first garden my bus visited was the colorful, delightful garden of Jane and Duane Miller. It really makes a statement out front, with colorful paint, bowling balls, and display plants. It was bright and beautiful on this nearly cloudless summer day.



Jane has a creative, artful way of arranging her garden items and plants. It's very welcoming and you want to wander into the nooks and crannies, to see what's around each corner.



The vibrant plants and the unique props complement each other.



Next, we headed to Ann Munson's peaceful, mostly wooded garden. She, too, has fun and artsy garden displays.



Ann has lovingly cared for her garden for 43 years. She started with a small veggie garden, and has gradually expanded to include her entire 3/4-acre suburban lot. There's no lawn—paths and natural structures weave in and among the garden areas.



Ann created her gardens using storybook themes, and the result is a warm, whimsical trip through a great collection of plants and props. 



We next traveled to Janesville, Wis., to visit Rotary Botanical Gardens. I've always enjoyed this view, which you can access by climbing a few stairs to a patio that overlooks the Formal French Garden.



The various gardens cover 20 acres, featuring 26 areas that surround a lake.

Benches at the gardens share words of wisdom from historical sages.

In the afternoon, we headed to Stoughton, Wis., about 30 minutes southeast of Madison. Janet Aaberg began creating her colorful garden in 1999, which features blooms and fabulous foliage from early spring through November.



Lilies, colorful shrubs, and amazing climbing plants grace her sun-filled property.



Janet shared a welcoming sign to say "hello" and "goodbye" to our Flingers.



The final private garden of the day was that of Jim Ottney and Jay Hatheway, also in Stoughton. When they bought the property, it was an untended field of weeds, an oil change sand pit, volunteer trees, and invasive plants. They turned over the entire lot by hand, transforming it into a tranquil sanctuary.



The result is a comfy oasis, filled with amazing plants and garden art. Jim describes it as "a private escape and a space where we can entertain small groups of friends."



Since I last visited, Jim and Jay also have beautified the nearby waterfront with the blessings of local officials.

Finally, we ended the Fling at the UW-Madison campus Allen Centennial Garden. It's described as the "artful living laboratory" of the university's horticulture department. Beautiful, healthy annuals and perennials are displayed in 14 areas of the compact 2.5-acre property.



Veggies, ornamentals, and plants of all types are displayed and tested here.

We think a youngster helped create this welcome sign.

And that was the end of the 2022 Fling! It was fun, educational, and done in the blink of an eye. We hope everyone who attended enjoyed it; we certainly were happy to reconnect with plant-loving friends we hadn't seen since the summer before the pandemic!

Thanks for joining me on this journey! To read more about the 2022 Fling and learn about the 2023 Fling, visit the Fling website.