Does anyone do hospitality better than Southerners? Perhaps. But I can’t think of who right now because last week I was in Davidson, NC, speaking at the Davidson Horticultural Symposium where the members of the Davidson Garden Club rolled out the red carpet. It’s very fresh in my mind. And, oh my!
I was there as one of the guest speakers talking about the “Artful Vegetable Garden”—once again riding my hobby horse about how edible gardens don’t have to be utilitarian looking. I rubbed elbows with fellow speakers Allan Armitage, W. Gary Smith , William Welch and Pamela Baggett. The Davidson Garden Club members arranged for our transportation and accommodations, flowers in our rooms and for our lapels, escorts to make sure we didn’t get lost, fabulous dinners and lunches and one very special garden tour.
The garden surrounds the Italian Renaissance-style home of a private couple who have created a very approachable and walkable garden on acres of protected land in Davidson. A pathway circles the perimeter of the house and is planted with fabulous specimens that are evident even in the still-chilly weather of early March.
Careful attention to plant selection, artful creation of pathways to give long views of garden sculptures, creative use of elements for a rustic touch and even mossy paths, contributed unasked, courtesy of Mother Nature, made this a fabulous and memorable garden walk.
You can see more of the garden here.
I appreciate my new friends in Davidson and their fabulous Southern hospitality. Thank you!
Robin
March 10th, 2010 at 8:50 pm
I love the second angle you got of that first area you have pictured here. A beautiful example of what can be done with pleaching… the entire process gets me giddy.
Hope the talks went well. If I ever find myself in NC while that’s going on…
Matt´s last blog ..A contest for indoor (and outdoor) gardeners; free seeds or pots.
March 10th, 2010 at 9:29 pm
I’m glad you had a good time. I loved reading about what you thought of the South. Beautiful pictures.
Anna Flowergardengirl™´s last blog ..Will you have garden pieces to cherish?
March 10th, 2010 at 9:54 pm
I’m drooling over that stunning witch hazel, but the thought of flowers in the room just floors me. I had no idea anybody still did that.
Mr. McGregor’s Daughter´s last blog ..Gardener Snake (Wordless Wednesday)
March 10th, 2010 at 10:23 pm
I would love to meet them all someday. Yes, southerners are wonderful hosts. Don’t you love that witch hazel? Yum.~~Dee
Dee/reddirtramblings´s last blog ..Read any good books lately?
March 11th, 2010 at 7:02 pm
Robin, This is the third time I tried to leave a message~Not your site, but I fell into the rabbit hole looking up pleaching, then from that site ended up looking at tree houses! The grounds are lovely and the pleached trees fascinating…but like Dee and B~the witch hazel is making me smile. gail
Gail´s last blog ..Lilac Tommies On A Hill Need No Prose
March 12th, 2010 at 12:52 am
Yeah, the witch hazel bloomed a little later this year — weird weather patterns. Usually we get it in February in TN, and I assume it’s similar in NC. I’m about to consider a blog post on my own witch hazel.
March 15th, 2010 at 12:52 am
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April 15th, 2010 at 4:06 am
Those pine trees remind me of Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland. Such magnificent parallel towers can really take your breath away.