Put 100 garden bloggers on buses and send them out to see fabulous gardens for three days, and it might be heaven on earth. Our fearless leader, Tammy Schmidt holds a special place in my heart for her efforts, as well as her team of assistants. 'We were wined and dined, driven, and motivated, day after day. When this group gets together, they call it a fling, it's exhausting!
There was plenty to get excited about, the first full day was our Washington DC day with a morning at Hillwood Estate, Museum, and Gardens. It's on Linnean Avenue - of course. And so began my appreciation of art in the garden, because here the two collide. The embarrassing part, I've never been there; shame, shame!
Once home to Marjorie Merriweather Post, the only daughter of Ella Merriweather and Charles William Post, the founder of Postum Cereal Company, later named General Foods Corporation. As a businesswoman, inheriting the company when she was only 27, she became one of the wealthiest women in America. Marjorie also collected art, exquisite, rare, glorious art. I could easily have spent the entire day here.
The inside of the house takes your breath away. Room after room of paintings, Russian art, Faberge eggs, jewelry and more. I stopped in front of this painting by the Russian painter Konstantin Makovsky, painted in 1883, titled "The Boyar's Wedding". The light is magic, the warmth, and the size, it's a life-size painting.
And so much more...
This began my appreciation of art in the gardens which continued into Maryland and Virginia. Much of it was humorous, some even utilitarian. You may find the soul of the gardener in their plants and flowers, but I really think you find it in their art.
This elaborate wood form is designed as a habitat for pollinators, particularly bees, located at the Mary Livingston Ripley Garden, on the mall in DC.
I will highlight the containers, plant combinations and various other wonderful things that were all part of this not so far flung fling.
It's a treat to see the art inside the Hillwood house, as I didn't make it inside. Lovely pieces!
Posted by: Pam/Digging | 06/30/2017 at 11:06 PM
I also see that I missed a lot outside, I really could have spent all day there. So much to see.
Posted by: Karen Rexrode | 07/01/2017 at 08:07 AM
Apparently you are drawn to focal points.
Posted by: Scott | 07/01/2017 at 02:49 PM
Beautiful photos, Karen. It is an interesting mix of formal gardens and informal ... I love the gardens at Hillwood, and did you know that Marjorie Meriweather Post also built Mar-A-Lago in Palm Beach from 1924-1927?
Posted by: Barbara Patton | 07/02/2017 at 08:55 AM
Thank-you Barbara, I did not know about the house in Mar-A-Lago. I found this article about it, she spared no expense, much like Hillwood.https://www.biography.com/news/mar-a-lago-history#!
Posted by: Karen Rexrode | 07/04/2017 at 07:28 PM
The art was splendid in many of the gardens. I enjoyed it all. Great post! ~~Dee
Posted by: Dee | 07/07/2017 at 11:45 AM
Dee, I was "over the moon" with the creative ways people employed art into the landscapes.
Posted by: Karen Rexrode | 07/10/2017 at 04:49 PM
Fabulous look at all of this art work. Wow.
Posted by: Lisa at Greenbow | 07/15/2017 at 08:55 PM
Lisa, There really was sooo much of everything. What a delightful time we had.
Posted by: Karen Rexrode | 07/16/2017 at 07:22 AM