Archive for the ‘Nature Places’ Category
Some things, I suppose, are universal—such as unfinished garden chores.
Even here in Geneva, Switzerland, where I am on business this week, this quaint pink house across from my hotel has had bags and bags of neatly stacked mulch sitting around the garden waiting to be spread since I arrived here on Wednesday. I’m so anxious to get back into my own garden to complete the long list of springtime chores I considered sneaking out at night to spread the mulch for them. Wouldn’t it be funny if they woke up one morning and found a garden fairy had done their work for them?
Sadly, I forgot my garden gloves. Still, I’ll be checking daily until I leave to see if the gardener has gotten his or her mulch spread. And I’ll be thinking about the second truckload of mulch I still need to purchase and get down in my own garden before long.
I consoled myself in my garden-less funk this afternoon with a leisurely stroll through the Jardin Botanique—the Geneva Botanical Garden. It is clearly early spring here in this part of Switzerland. The forsythia and daffodils are just starting the bloom. The greenhouses are stuffed with hothouse plants although I could hardly linger to examine them the humidity and plant funk smell were so overpowering. My camera lens clouded up and I had to rush back into the cool air before I passed out or my camera busted.
The gardens here also had a small assortment of animals—I suppose to make up for the fact that there is no big zoo here in Geneva. I was amused, however, to see some incredibly noisy Starlings. I’ll need to ask someone if they are the same invasive birds we have problems with in the US. It seemed odd to have them prominently displayed as some rare creature.
There is also a fantastical carousel with animals that seem to have clockwork innards. I’m guessing that’s a nod to the city’s watch and clock fame, but I did have to wonder if the children don’t find the animals somewhat frightening. What do you think?
All is not gardens and strolls while I am in Switzerland. I’m actually here in Geneva for work where I visited the World Health Organization (WHO) today to facilitate a meeting. On driving to the WHO’s massive office complex, we passed an apparent long-term protester who was set up for the day with an elaborate pictorial and slogan display vilifying the WHO for ignoring the plight of millions of children irradiated during the Chernobyl meltdown. I say he was an apparent long-term protester because his display was a bit tatty, he looked tired and bored—oh, and rather than trying to get the attention of the numerous passers-by with his important message he was leaning against a tree while reading the morning paper and drinking his coffee. I suppose even protesters must ease into their work day.
I take it that the WHO and the USA are not universally adored here in Geneva. Among the various themes on “USA s*%&s” (some slogans were quite colorful and inventive!) on the local bus stop shelter was “No WHO. No Bush. No way.” And an official at WHO referred to the US as the “most wealthy and arrogant” country in the world.
Prior to my trip people warned me of two things about Geneva—1) The people are cold and somewhat rude and 2) The prices are outrageous.
Well, from my short experience thus far, I will agree with the astronomical prices. The hotel where I am staying unabashedly publishes a US equivalent of $18 for a bowl of vegetable soup. A club sandwich will set you back $28 US. If you want grilled sole delivered to your room, expect to pay $65 US. And today, at a modest roadside patisserie frequented by the locals I paid $16 US for a half portion salad topped with some cheese and sitting atop a small piece of bread. Cocktails for me and two of my clients here in the hotel came to $68. And we only had one drink each!!! Thank goodness the client picked up the dinner tab. (HAH! I would have billed it back to him anyway.)
So, people were right about the prices here in Geneva. I won’t be shopping, that’s for sure. There are no Swiss watches in my near future.
Given the local sentiments toward the US, I was a little worried that with my less-than-fluent French and what I feared was my obvious American appearance, the reputidly cold Swiss wouldn’t be nice to me. But despite the fact that I’m from the USA, where Bush “s*%cks” and our country is “arrogant,” I have to say that I find the Swiss very charming, helpful and even friendly. It’s not just the hotel where they fawn all over you (as they should for what you’re paying). I stopped at a small local grocery store on the bus route to the hotel to buy some fruit and water. And although I didn’t understand that I had to bag and sticker my fruit, the cashier was very friendly and helpful when I explained “Je ne comprend pas.” Next door at the small wine shop, the young fellow didn’t speak a word of English when I explained the type of Swiss wine I was looking for, so he happily called his brother on the telephone to translate. But before his brother could relay the message a nice man in the store smiled and asked “It’s not easy, is it?” He inquired what I was looking for and helped me make a selection. Amazing, but true, it was a nice bottle of wine for the US equivalent of $8.
And although the Swiss aren’t given to excessive smiling (and in what country can you say they are?) they do not push or shove to get on the bus or ahead of you to get a table or in line. There is no honking in traffic here in Geneva. I have seen young motorcycle men snuff out their cigarettes on the sidewalk and carefully pick them up and put them in their pockets. People politely avail themselves of the helpfully placed plastic dog poo bags posted in dispensers on the city street corners when their dogs answer the call of nature.
I did have to laugh though when I called down to the hotel front desk to inquire if I was dialing my client’s room number correctly since the call didn’t seem to be going through. He tried the number and told me that the call wasn’t completed because the line was “engaged.”
“Oh, that’s the problem!” I said.
“No, that’s the reason!” he laughed.
So, I suppose it’s all in the matter of how you interpret things, eh?
Off to plan a weekend of activities now. I’ll be thinking of all of you toiling away in your spring gardens and somewhat wishing I were doing the same! Please don’t worry about me. I will console myself with some Swiss chocolate.
(I have added a new Geneva album to my photo albums if you want to see more of my trip. I’ll be posting more as I see the sights.)
Robin
Followed by a trip to San Francisco. It’s difficult to go right now because of all that needs to be done in the garden.
Plus, look who showed up yesterday.
Our first bluebird of the season.
And look who I saw in the back yard.
We don’t often see the foxes in the daytime. Better keep my little dogs inside.
Never a dull moment around here.
Robin
Lovely country location just yards from the Chesapeake Bay.
Easy dining in your own hay field. Stylish gourd-style homes. Immediate occupancy.
What do you think? Will I get any takers?
We were very fortunate to have bluebirds set up house in our first year as bird landlords. I am hoping that the rural habitat is as enticing to purple martins as it has been to the bluebirds.
If you’re familiar with the site of these gourd houses or the condo-style houses you see atop tall poles in open spaces but don’t know what they’re for, these are purple martin houses. Purple martins in the east rely almost exclusively on human-provided housing. They prefer tall nesting sites located within 100 feet of a human dwelling and at least 40 feet away from trees and other tall structures where predators can hide.
The purple martins migrate up from South America very early in the season, usually returning to their homes from previous years.
Like some of those aggravating folks who line up even before the plane arrives at Southwest Airlines, the purple martins migrate so early because of the competition for housing. The earlier the bird arrives the greater the chance of getting the location they find desirable.
New colonies like mine are usually first visited and used by birds hatched the previous year who are searching for their own homes. These “scouts” arrive four to six weeks later than the mature purple martins.
According to the scout reports from the Purple Martin Conservation Association, the adult birds are nearly here to our area of Southern Maryland. Well, my houses are ready and I’m playing the dawn song on the outdoor speakers, just in case there are some martins looking for some new digs.
So, we are now open for business. Pass the word.
Reminder: Please register you response to the survey at the top right of this page!
Robin
For me, there’s nothing like seeing the real thing to learn about plants.
That’s one of the reasons I make visiting botanical gardens, parks and flower shows a high priority when it comes to travel and my free time. Aside from the enjoyment of being outdoors or seeing all the wonderful new combinations, I can see the three-dimensional version of the plants in a natural setting. I can see their real size and color. I can smell, touch and feel the plant.
When I look at the flowers and plants in magazines and catalogs all seem to run together after a while. The photographers make them all just lovely. And how can you really judge color or size in print? Forget about smell.
When I’m visiting a park or garden I will sometimes photograph a particularly striking arrangement with the plan for making a similar arrangement at home or just to add to my photographic idea book.
Here’s an example. On the left is a container arrangement I saw at the Dixon House and Gardens in Memphis last May. I was particularly taken by the holly, primroses and parsley packed into the beautiful pot. The unusual shape of the holly made a dramatic statement in the container arrangement and added some vertical interest.
On the right is a version of the same arrangement I made at home with flowers I found at the local garden center, including a sky pencil holly and some miniature petunias. I didn’t have the fabulous container they had at the Dixon gardens, so a simple terra cotta container had to do.
Could I have gotten such an arrangement idea from a book? Sure. But by actually seeing and copying an existing arrangement, I had a much better idea of the outcome to expect.
I haven’t had nearly the same success with packages of plants sold to create specific effects. White Flower Farm has some spectacular arrangement collections and photographs that make me salivate. They are drop-dead gorgeous. Still, I’m not buying them anymore though because I can never recreate the same effect in my garden. It’s frustrating to spend a lot of money on plants and then be disappointed in the outcome. I’ll save my money for seeds, fabulous pots and plants I can be confident will do well here at Bumblebee.
Of course, not all of the arrangements here at Bumblebee are copies. But I think copycat gardening is a good strategy for learning about plants until you’re ready to fly solo.
Robin
I recall a conversation from years ago with my dear old friend Claudia.
She has just moved into a charming little cottage in the old Ortega section of Jacksonville, Florida. The house was surrounded by old trees and magnificent, mature flowering shrubs. I was completely taken with the place.
I commented to Claudia that I would garden constantly if I lived there. Her response?
“Oh, I love the idea of gardening. But I just don’t want to be outside there all by myself. It would be so lonely!”
SUNFLOWERS AT THE CHICAGO BOTANIC GARDEN
Although this conversation took place, oh, nearly 10 years ago, it has stuck with me, and occasionally crossed my mind, because the feeling that Claudia expressed is so foreign to my own needs and desires for being with nature.
See, while Claudia yearned for company to enjoy nature, I am more like the legendary Hollywood star.
“I want to be alone.”
When I am indoors, I continually bounce from one activity to the next, multi-tasking between home and office and getting distracted with one thing or another. My mind leaps from one idea to another…
“Need to clean the frig…haven’t heard from that client yet…what am I going to do about that programming issue…should I go to the spinning class tomorrow…oops, need to finish that project schedule…can I deliver that report early…”
The internal chatter is a lightening speed, incessant drone.
When I am working in the garden, that chatter gradually subsides. I become lost in the activity. Minutes at a time go by without my having a single thought other than about what I’m doing with my hands.
And although there is no shortage of work for which I could use an extra pair (or more) of hands, I don’t nag my husband or son to join me in the garden because I just want the company of the wind and the birds. (And little dogs, of course.) When they do join me, we usually work at a distance, all of us lost in our own internal worlds. Happily, they share my desire for quiet time.
So you see, perhaps, why I wasn’t entirely sad to be alone in my visits to some of the country’s most spectacular public gardens this past year—the Phoenix Botanical Garden, the Chicago Botanical Garden, the Denver Botanic Garden and the Dixon House and Gardens, among others. Although part of me would loved to share the experience with my husband or another friend, the selfish part of me was happy to have the gardens to myself.
As I wandered through, I could go at my very own pace, lingering over an unusual combination of primroses and cabbages, admiring the coy in the Japanese garden, sitting under the shade of a well-placed trellis.
I observed many groups of families dutifully trudging along after the more enthusiastic members of their parties. Not all the groups looked entirely happy, I must say. Most of the kids looked bored to tears. Not a few were arguing.
So I was glad not to feel I was holding someone back—or dragging them along on my personal nature adventure. There are certainly times when I enjoy the company. But those visits have a different purpose altogether, and it’s not mostly about nature.
And you? Is nature something you prefer to share?
Robin
According to the Nature Conservancy, fewer Americans are spending time in outdoor activities, which could have a serious impact on our environment.
This was one of the stories on the NBC evening news last night.
The Nature Conservancy conducted research that revealed Americans are spending more time with indoor activities, such as the Internet, electronic games and movies and less time at outdoor activities such as camping, fishing and hiking. In fact, the percentage of the American population enjoying the outdoors is at an all-time low.
Although I haven’t seen the research, my own observations of how people spend their leisure time tells me this is probably true.
The reason this is worrisome is that with fewer people spending less time at nature-based activities, nature will become unappreciated and unexplored. If we learn everything we know about nature from the television, our first-hand understanding and appreciation of the importance of clean air and healthy soil and forests and abundance wildlife is diminished.
It’s interesting, too, that participation in outdoor activities is down at the same time there are record numbers of people who are overweight and obese.
I wonder how many of us consider visiting a local nature park, hiking or going to the seashore among the weekend entertainment options of movies and eating out? I know the last time I suggested a hike to Calvert Cliffs State Park to a friend-who-shall-not-be-named I was met with the “you must be mad” expression. We went to an Indian restaurant instead.
So what do we do to reverse this trend? How can we as individuals encourage outdoor activities, particularly those that respect the environment and encourage conservation efforts?
Robin
Globe trotter that I am, I am writing from Colorado where I happened upon this amazing cloud forest tree at the Denver Botanic Gardens.
It’s not a real tree, but is actually a steel and foam construction. But it is absolutely smothered in epiphytes–orchids and other plants that grow on trees for support, not nutrients.
Cloud Forest Tree, Denver Botanic Gardens
The cloud forest tree is named for the trees that grow high in the mountains of Asia, Africa, Central and South America where the mountain mists and clouds descend and touch the tops of the tangles of forest.
I was taking refuge in the greenhouse from the crushing heat and had just reached the end of the main part of the structure when I walked into a separate enclosure. It was so surprising–and stunning–that I let out a little yelp, making the other tree-gawkers jump!
The gardens here in Denver were so beautiful and inviting, I was stunned that the cab drivers didn’t know where it was and that the people I spoke with at the hotel hadn’t visited. It makes me wonder how many people haven’t visited the gardens in their own cities.
Have you visited your own local botanical gardens? What do you find most extraordinary there? And will you share the URL if you can find it, please!
Your globe trotting correspondent,
Robin
One of the problems with visiting historic or other public gardens is that it takes you away from the work in your own garden at home.
But since the guys were headed off to Mount Vernon, home of George Washington, I couldn’t just stay at home watering and pulling weeds! Do you blame me for neglecting my own chores for the day?
Mount Vernon, Home of George Washington
I have been to Mount Vernon several times before. But it has always been in the chill of autumn or in the dead of winter. Given my interest in historic, particularly Colonial gardens, I was aching to see the gardens in their full glory.
The lawn in front of the house is a wide swath that provides a panoramic view of the house–even if the lawn is a bit parched from the drought. Of course, the house is now nicely restored to its full glory after periods of neglect during which the house was derelict and in danger of falling down. The brick paths that wind down either side of the lawn are now shaded with centuries-old trees. I have to wonder what the original scene was like when George and Martha lived here.
On the left (facing the house), is the upper garden and greenhouse, where mostly flowers, ancient boxwood and fruit trees grow.
Upper Garden
On the right, is the Lower Garden, a working garden with gorgeous old boxwoods that are all gnarled with age.
Lower Garden
There are also mature and impressive espaliered and cordoned fruit trees.
Lower Garden
You can visit more of Mount Vernon by going to my photo gallery.
Given the busy work week I have had and the sad state of affairs in my own garden, I’m headed out to make amends now. So much to do…so little time.
Robin
One of the least-trafficked areas of the Chicago Botanic Garden the day I was there were the greenhouses.
Frankly, I found them a welcome relief from the wretched heat and crowds. The air was reasonably cool and there were only a few people to stumble past. And what a fabulous place to hang out…if only they had some benches in the greenhouse. NO BENCHES. NO PLACE TO SIT AND ENJOY the plants. Is that right?
Anyway…
I MOST loved the topiaries. I think I am in love all over again with topiaries.There were these two charming, dancing topiary bunnies–the very best kind of bunnies, I think.
Topiary Bunnies, Chicago Botanic Garden
And right inside the door of one of the greenhouses–the desert greenhouse, I think–was this crazy topiary armadillo, covered with hens and chickens and some other small succulents. Again, the very best type of armadillo. I actually laughed out loud when I saw it!
Topiary Armadillo with Hens and Chickens, Chicago Botanic Garden
There were beautiful, mature palms and even more topiaries. (Someone really loves topiaries.)
Greenhouse at the Chicago Botanic Garden
Greenhouse at the Chicago Botanic Garden
I particularly appreciated the floor at one end of one of the greenhouses–slabs of concrete and grass in a checkerboard pattern that reminded me of that huge chessboard in one of the Harry Potter books. (Can you tell I’m reading Harry Potter?)
(Oooh. I am either cranky tonight or, perhaps, I have just saved some of the less-than-perfect photos for my last post about Chicago.)
Although the Memphis Botanical Garden doesn’t hold a candle to the Chicago Botanic Garden, I did rather like its Japanese garden better. It’s not nearly as expansive. But it does incorporate more color, including the red half-moon bridge, some fabulous yellow sedge and flowers. The Japanese garden in Chicago is so very green, green, green. Unrelieved green. And more green. No flowers in sight…More green…No flowers…More green…(You get the idea.)
Weights on tree limbs in the Japanese Garden create the effect of age
What I did appreciate were the plaques strategically positioned around the garden explaining the Japanese garden philosophy in convenient, easy-to-digest chunks. For example, Japanese gardens strive for an “idealized” notion of beauty, not really a natural landscape. One plaque explained the Japanese veneration for age, even aged trees. They will prune out branches of pines for a more skeletal appearance and weigh some them down to create an architectural illusion of the weight of time. Zig-zag paths are supposed to confuse unlucky spirits and keep them from following you. And the wide roofs of the pagoda-type house ornaments are for collecting the snowflakes, which are prized for their variety and beauty.
Japanese Garden, Chicago Botanic Garden
The rose garden at the Chicago Botanic Garden was HUGE. And disappointing. What is it about roses that gardeners cannot seem to mix other plants with them? Do roses really have to be stand-alone plants? There were wide swaths of roses. Unrelieved roses next to more roses. There were only a few boxwoods as a backdrop. And a weak effort to use catmint. What is it that gardeners think catmint and roses are nicely complimentary? I have mixed them and they don’t really complement each other at all.
There was, however, a fabulous shady arbor at the back of the rose garden. I longed to take a nap there.
Arbor Behind the Rose Garden, Chicago Botanic Garden
I also visited the Dwarf Conifer Garden. Sadly, this seemed a bit of neglected space up the side of a hill. In fact, it was here that I saw the ONLY weeds–and even a feasting bunnie rabbit–in the whole 300+ acres.
Dwarf Conifer Garden, Chicago Botanic Garden - Not the best-maintained part of the gardens there
Okay, that’s it. No more about the Chicago Botanic Garden. Tomorrow–Mount Vernon. I visited there yesterday, where they had a huge thunderstorm. Still, I risked my life and limb to get some photos. Tune in and see…
Ciao!
Robin
To continue with my visit to the Chicago Botanic Garden…With so much to see and only a few short hours, I decided to set some priorities. Since I’m in the throes of my own vegetable garden maintenance, I first headed over to see how the professionals fashion and keep up a vegetable garden in the summer heat.
It seemed that everyone else had the same idea, because the place was packed with people ogling tomatoes, leering at berries and salivating over apples.
The entrance takes you over a foot bridge and past a bed of miniature sunflowers that were in their glory. I couldn’t help myself snapping photos of other people’s children who were entranced by the sunny flowers.
Cute Kid (not mine) at the Entrance to the Vegetable and Fruit Garden, Chicago Botanic Garden
Just beyond the entrance and to the right is one of the most clever combinations of flowers and vegetables that I have ever seen. The fascinating mixture of cabbages, primroses and golden coin (I think) topped a concrete retaining wall that surrounded espaliered apple trees.
Cabbages and Flowers in the Vegetable and Fruit Garden, Chicago Botanic Garden
Mixing vegetables and flowers isn’t at all a new idea. Our Colonial ancestors mixed all sorts of plants into a pleasing and workable jumble. But this combination was, I think, absolutely artful.
Espaliered Apple Trees, Vegetable and Fruit Garden, Chicago Botanic Garden
Whoever planned the vegetable garden at the Chicago Botanic Garden has a real fondness for orderly fruit. There are rows and rows of espaliered apples, espaliered pears and colonnaded apples. They even have whipped rangy raspberry and blackberry plants into submission into orderly rows, climbing obediently up trellises. I envision a jack-booted gardener with a crop patrolling up and down to ensure no one gets out of line.
Collonaded Apple Trees, Vegetable and Fruit Garden, Chicago Botanic Garden
The rest of the vegetable garden is also highly organized and beautiful, if not as inspiring as those cabbages and fruit tree contortionists.
Cold Frames, Vegetable and Fruit Garden, Chicago Botanic Garden
There were beds of basil, which beautifully illustrated the wide variety of plants in the basil world. Tomatoes were grown on iron trellises typically used for vining flowers. And here and there, flowers were mixed in to provide some continuity between the beds and some color. There was a lovely cold frame area connected to a very small, and probably inadequate greenhouse.
Basil Bed, Vegetable and Fruit Garden, Chicago Botanic Garden
Finally, I was most amused with a sign announcing an “under construction” exhibit—FOR WEEDS! Hah! My weed exhibit is flourishing. At least in this area I excel beyond the Chicago Botanic Garden!
There is more to report in the next couple of days. I have also posted a series of photos on the Chicago Botanic Garden in my photo album, where you can see other places I have visited.
Ciao!
Robin
