This Friday, I'm taking you back east to the first stop on day one of the Capital Region Garden Bloggers' Fling,
Hillwood in Washington DC. This 25-acre estate was owned and developed by
Marjorie Merriweather Post and opened to the public following her death in 1973. While we had over an hour at this location, that timetable included both a group photo (which you can find on the Fling's Facebook page
here) and lunch so there was no time for dilly-dallying in any one area.
The bloggers assembled at the back of the mansion facing what is known as the Lunar Lawn due to its crescent shape so I'll start there.
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The lawn area was huge. The photo on the left was taken from the portico behind the mansion. The photo in the middle was taken somewhat closer up of a bed on the right side of the lawn. The photo on the right was taken from the Vista Terrace, sited between the 2 long beds edging the lawn. |
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The lion, sculpted in 1700 and acquired from an English estate, sat on the mansion's portico. The faun sat on the Vista Terrace. |
Following the group photo, I headed out beyond the lawn area to the Japanese-style Garden. Although every single area of the estate was meticulously manicured and maintained, I was most impressed by this area, where layers of foliage rather than flowers created drama.
From the Japanese Garden, I slipped through the French Parterre and, from there, stopped briefly in the Rose Garden before venturing a short distance along the Friendship Walk.
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The French Parterre was organized around a statue of Diana, Roman goddess of the hunt. There were a number of marble sphinxes featuring female torsos with the limbs of lions. Frankly, they gave me the creeps. |
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The rose display was past its prime in late June but it was still attractive. According to the tour guide, Post's ashes are enshrined in the base of the pink granite monument at the garden's center. |
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The Friendship Walk was created at the instigation of 4 of Post's friends as a gift to honor her philanthropic efforts |
I returned to the front of the mansion and considered joining a docent-led tour of the gardens but the tour was slow to get moving and, with less than 30 minutes available prior to lunch, I moved on to the Greenhouse and, from there to the large Cutting Garden at the front of the property.
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A statue of Eros, the god of love, welcomes visitors who pass through the motor court at the front of the mansion |
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The greenhouse was full of orchids, bromeliads and other exotic plants |
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Both the Cutting Garden and the Greenhouse were designed to supply fresh flowers and foliage for use inside the mansion and Visitor's Center |
From there, I walked through a wooded area to see the Dacha, Post's version of a Russian country house, built in 1969 at the height of the Cold War.
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The Dacha is used for special programs and exhibitions |
On my way to the Cafe, where the bloggers were having lunch, I snapped a photo of another feature reminiscent of the Cold War.
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This is a Fallout shelter, constructed in the 1960s as a safeguard in the event of a nuclear attack |
I'll close this post with a couple of pots that attracted my attention during the course of my tour. Like everything else, they were perfect.
Enjoy a great weekend!
All material © 2012-2017 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party