Longwood Gardens through my Lenses

The sprawling 1000+acres of "Longwood Gardens" (Pennsylvania) are known for their expertly manicured gardens, rare collection of plant life, majestic fountains and captivating seasonal displays of vibrant blooms. This Mother’s day my son and husband surprised me with a wonderful day at these magnificent gardens. Founded in 1906 by Pierre S. du Pont (an industrialist), the Longwood Gardens started as a small family farm with Pierre’s objective being to save a collection of historic trees. But since then it has matured into a horticultural showpiece that draws over a million visitors annually! This post is going to be a photo essay of sorts and that means I’m going to let the pictures do most of the talking for me.

With over 25 outdoor garden displays to explore and a 4 acre indoor conservatory, the botanical masterpiece takes over 5 hours to tour. If you are visiting these splendid gardens make sure to wear a comfortable pair of shoes and load up on sunscreen and water. So let's get started, shall we?

"Idea Garden" - The whole purpose of the Idea garden is to encourage experimentation and sample artistic new combinations of flower pairings. At this time of the year, flower beds teeming with over 75,000 tulips made for some breathtaking scenes.

I thought I had seen it all when it came to tulips, apparently not! Look at the deep colors and do take notice of those frayed edges of the petals....aren't they exotic?

"Flower Garden Walk" - Sweeps of pretty sunshine hues along a brick walk guide you through one of the original gardens laid down by Pierre himself. I've been told that "The mix of flowering plants changes with the seasons and progresses from cool lavenders and blues to fresh pinks, reds, oranges, and warm yellows".

"Square Fountain" - Bursts of colorful Poppies cradle the square fountain and makes for a delightful setting.

"Forest Walk" - the meandering paths of the forest walk takes one back in time.....Experience Pennsylvania’s virgin forests like it was in the past! With spring being the season incharge, colorful carpets of blooms flank either side of the walkway making the experience at Longwood an unforgettable one.

"Large and small lake" - makes for an ideal resting spot to relax those tired legs. Look around and take in the beauty of the spring-fed lakes and the kaleidoscope of colors marking the banks of these water bodies. Another ideal season to explore Longwood gardens is Fall. With colorful foliage making for a scenic backdrop, the photo opportunities are endless.

"Topiary Garden" - is a work of art with sculptural shapes in verdant hues delighting visitors of all ages.

"Wisteria Garden" - The timing was perfect as these beauties bloom in the month of May. Knotty branches of these striking flowers are pruned and trained into three-tiered forms drawing bees and visitors alike with their gentle fragrance!

"Orangery" - Is the most impressive greenhouse that I've seen till date! Part of the 4 acre conservatory, it features an ever-changing display of flowers and foliage. 

"Bonsia Display" - Trained meticulously, each bonsai is nothing less than a piece of art. Some of the bonsai's date back to the early 1900s!

Silver garden : houses plants mostly succulent variety from the Mediterranean and desert regions.

"Peirce-du Pont House" - Constructed in 1730, the house has experienced a sea of change over the centuries. The house now contains the Longwood Heritage Exhibit that showcases "a collection of historic photos, artifacts, home movies, and video that tells the story of the stewards of the land who preserved and developed the property".

 I love how the Japanese Wisteria outlines the architecture of the Peirce-du Pont House!

With that we come to the end of the virtual tour of Longwood Gardens. I do hope you enjoyed the tour of these premier gardens and explosion of color through my lenses. If you live in driving distance to these magnificent gardens, don't miss out on the opportunity to experience them up close and personal.

Have a wonderful day!

Images: Clicked by Sruthi Singh. Please do not use without prior written permission. 

Images are the property of Sruthi Singh and subject to copyright.

Holland in Haymarket - Festival of Spring

Juggling a hectic schedule on weekdays can drain you. My family and I decided it was time to slow down over the weekend and head outdoors to explore the "Holland in Haymarket - Festival of Spring”. With overcast skies and a sudden drop in temps, we went ahead with our plans anyway as we are big fans of supporting local businesses. Hosted by Burnside Farms in VA, the event is one of the largest pick-your-own flower events in the world! 

  

 With more than five acres of spring flowers in bloom, the sweeps of resonant colors were breath taking! Burnside is a darling little seasonal farm that offers a selection of both "conventional" fruits, veggies and local organic offerings. Also available at the market place are jams, jellies, pickles, and other "canned" foods. However, what interested us was definitely the colorful blooms of daffodils and tulips that carpeted the fields. 

You are aware of my fascination with tulips.....To see so many varieties of tulips on display was truly spectacular. The "Regular Tulips" (as I like to call them) were dressed in a consistent color and had a simple structure to them, while the Peony Tulips were grand in every sense of the word with multiple layers of petals. They also had the Lily Flowered Tulips that were getting ready to put on a show of their own in a day or two. My little guy wanted to be my helper and pick the flowers for me. So with our basket in hand and a quick read of “how to pick the tulips guidelines” we had our own little bouquet of flowers to bring home with us!

We spent a good two hours at this place! It was a welcoming change from the daily grind and the folks running the place made the experience an enjoyable one. They had a good system in place to keep the flow of traffic structured. The parking lot can get crowded on weekends I’m told but since we reached early on the scene, we did not have to deal with any such issues. It's a flower lover’s paradise and offers some wonderful opportunities to take some lovely family pictures. If you live in driving distance to this wonderful farm, make sure you don’t miss out on this opportunity! (Tip: Before you head out make sure you check their updates about the blooms on their Facebook page). 

A look at the blooms that I brought home adding cheer to a corner of my living room......

Hope all that color helped to cope with the Monday morning blues! Have a fantastic week ahead:)

Images: Clicked by Sruthi Singh. Please do not use without prior written permission. 

Images are the property of Sruthi Singh and subject to copyright.

Turning Up the Color Outdoors

Gardening to me is way to collaborate with "Nature". I'm usually the kind of person who likes to be in control of everything (well almost everything..;). But ever since I began gardening, I've come to realize of who's actually in-charge and who get's to control, direct and take the lead when it comes to the landscape outside. The duration of each plant's lifespan is under the direction of Mother Nature. And that's what makes gardening such a joy is to be able to partner with such an influential force and turn the outdoor canvas into a collaborative work of art.

Here in Virginia, gardening is not an easy task. The seasons take a toll on the gardens and there's a lot of damage control to be done after winter. This year though we did a little planning ahead of time and planted bulbs belonging to the "Blazing Star", Dahlias and Tulips family to amplify the color quotient of the pathway to my door. These plants not only add an exotic feel to the area but also help to paint large sections with bold strokes of color. 

I've landscaped every inch of soil at my disposal and I know I've done it right, when I see the bees and butterflies partying hard in my garden. Here are a few closeups of the exquisite beauties from my garden......... 

I like treating my outdoor spaces as an extension of my indoors. Materializing that thought process, I've also managed to create a little private oasis for my family by incorporating weather resistant furniture, potted plants in colorful containers, and beautiful garden accessorizes. By drawing inspiration from the colors used in my sunroom and favoring deep hues ranging from reds, oranges to pinks, the space flows effortlessly once the doors are thrown open for entertaining.

The outdoor walls do not give me the liberty to hang shelves to display plants. However, my end of the season bargain hunts were fruitful and I landed myself these wrought iron plant display stands that give me the room to add layers of interest at different levels. 

Colorful watering cans are not only functional but also add a dash of color and can be used as a garden/outdoor accessory too. 

I hope you enjoyed the snapshots of my garden tour and I do wish you find your outdoor calling and enjoy every facet of gardening be it the anticipation of a new leaf, bud or flower, the mystery of not knowing how the season is going to contour the garden, the sense of contentment when things go as planned, or the angst of watching a loving plant struggling to thrive.........

You'll take care and do drop me a line as I love hearing from you'll. As for now, I'm going to pack my bags for a weekend trip to New York, so miss me while I'm gone.......see you'll back here next week :)

Images: Clicked by me. Please do not use without prior written permission. 

Images are the property of Sruthi Singh and subject to copyright.

Go Pick your Own (Butler's Orchard)

There's nothing like a family jaunt to a neighborhood orchard or farm on a summer weekend. Picking your own fruits and vegetables not only helps make a connection with nature and promotes local farmers but it's also a great educational trip for the kids. There's also the added benefits of fresher fruit than that what is available at the grocery store, fewer chemicals used for storage and cheaper prices as transport and import costs are not included. 

 It doesn't get any  fresher than this 

A love for healthy and organic living was inculcated in me by my granddad (nana). An offshoot of advocating such a lifestyle was his very own vegetable patch burgeoning with chilies, tomatoes, Indian herbs like coriander, curry leaves, papaya, mango, jack fruit, drum stick trees and the list can go on.......This was a way of everyday life and I had taken so much for granted. 

But now, fruits trees in the backyard can only be an ambitious dream given our swamped schedules and the seasonal variance. But when the opportunity presents itself in summer, in the form of farmer's market or an excursion to the farm, my family and I make the most of it. We've been to a couple of farms but the one that seems to call out to us every single time is Butler's Orchard. For those of you in my neck of the woods, this orchard is an hours drive from Virginia and is based in Maryland . 

My 7 year old busy picking  his own strawberries

Last weekend we made our way yet again to Butler's Orchard. This time around, I had my parents join us for strawberry picking and I tell you, it was enjoyed by my son and grown ups alike;) 

This place is very well organised and there are no long waiting lines. Tractors drive you to the fields and you can either bring your own containers for picking or buy them at the farm. Eager farm assistants lead you to the rows of strawberry bushes ready to be picked. Sifting through rows of bushes, you look close for that perfect red ripe berry that would be making the cut to go home. 

The orchard is a beautiful place to explore and with some fun activities for kids, an entire morning can be spent here. Make sure you take lots of water, sunscreen, closed shoes and wear dark colored clothing as the strawberry juices can ruin your outfit.  

Loved the Yellow Superbells hanging against the red barn walls

Swing all you want

You can also shop for preserves, local honey, gourmet condiments, seasonal decorative items, cider, and more at their market shop. And for the garden lover's, they have some wonderful  perennials, annuals, vegetables, herbs and these stunning Hanging Baskets  !!!

We had a magnificent time and came home with a basket full of plump and juicy strawberries and some wonderful memories. Most of our pick was enjoyed as is but some we used to make milk shake for a father's day brunch. 

Father's Day Brunch 

I do hope this post urges you to plan a trip to your neighboring farms and support them, all while your family and you enjoy some sun and outdoor fun:) However I do suggest that you checkout the farm harvest schedule before you head out.

Happy weekend !!!

Images: Clicked by me. Please do not use without prior written permission. 

Images are the property of Sruthi Singh and subject to copyright.

A Dreamy Weekend.......

I love a vacation for the simple reason that "Time" does not get to play, "Dictator". I have an opportunity to simmer down and escape the ho-hum of the daily grind. My weekend getaway to Deep Creek Lake (situated in Garrett County of Maryland and a 31/2 hrs drive from Virginia) was just that:) 

View from our Deck

I loved everything about this trip : we got to spend some quality family time together, made new bonds and connections with the wonderful friends that we planned the vacation with, the sweeping mountain views were breathtaking and the weather, Oh so awesome !!! 

Perched on a hill top, the Mountain lake villa (from Taylor made vacation homes) was the perfect choice for our stay. With stunning views Deep Creek is a popular destination all year round. Fed by the Youghiogheny River, the lake offers an abundant choice of water sports. If your not a water person, then take delight in the long walks on some wonderful  trails along the waterfront or hike the gorgeous mountain trails. 

If your an outdoor person, then Wisp Resort is the place for you. An entire day can be spent here. Wisp is a 4 season resort and is sought after during the winter months too as they offer adventure sports like  cross country skiing, snowmobiling, snowshoeing and more. The must do is the Mountain coaster which is a hybrid coaster car going 3,500 feet downhill over 350 vertical feet on the eastern side of Wisp Mountain. Another favorite is the scenic chairlift ride. On reaching the top this magnificent view greets you !!!

Looking to spend a quiet afternoon by the water, the Swimming beach at Deep Creek Lake State Park is a wonderful place to unwind. With a beach blanket and a picnic lunch, the little ones can have their share of the fun in the shallow waters (it's wonderful that a life guard's there to watch over you:)

We had a great kitchen at our disposal and with some talented cooks in the group and every single one of us pitching in to help, we had our feast ready in no time. This was one situation where too many cooks didn't spoil the broth ;) When the sun came down, the red wine and cocktails came out !!! Once dinner was over and little ones were tucked in bed, the grown ups sat down for some heart to heart conversations and danced the night away to some soulful music........

A snapshot of a memorable evening 

I hope you enjoyed the captures through my lens and the post was resourceful in planning your own summer getaway !!!

And finally a picture of the wonderful bouquet of Wild Flowers that my  son picked up for me :)

You have a wonderful day !!!

Images: Clicked by me. Please do not use without prior written permission.
Images are the property of Sruthi Singh and subject to copyright.