More Leonard J. Buck Garden photos, a glass of iced tea...

Iced tea with blood oranges. Great color and taste.


Friday the 13th
I take my tea strong
the waiter smiles

ag ~ 2012

The Leonard J. Buck Garden

The Leonard J. Buck Garden in Somerset County, NJ is one of the premier rock gardens in the eastern US.  It consists of a series of mature and breathtaking alpine and woodland gardens situated in a 33-acre wooded stream valley.  Mr. Buck and the landscape architect Zenon Schreiber, worked to develop a naturalistic garden which incorporated several large rock outcroppings found on the property.  Their aim (begun in the late 1930s) was to create a garden that would be ecologically correct and not be recognizable as being man-made.  Each outcropping is slightly different, creating varying exposures and microclimates which enable different plant associations to thrive.  Wildflowers flourish and multiply.  This is the introduction from the park commission.  

Their vision is an astonishing success to this day and an inspiration for all gardeners and especially landscape designers.

This an example of a harmonious and spontaneous (happy) plant colony.

A Canada Goose at rest.

If you must have Forsythia - give them space.  Notice that they are not sheared into boxes.  Love the reflection.

~ ~ ~

This garden is simply delightful, oozes charm and is very romantic.

The fairies dance and sing wildflower melodies.

If you are very very quiet and joyful - you may just catch a glimpse of one and if not

you may just fall in love again.

http://www.somersetcountyparks.org/parksfacilities/buck/LJBuck.html

Procrastination or Inspiration

windshield wipers

on the lowest setting

rippling pastels

Yesterday I was out early cleaning/pruning/weeding my garden while rain fell lightly. It did not feel like work at all. Afterward, I had to decide if I was going inside to pay bills, do laundry, vacuum etc. I decided to embrace the spring showers and instead took a road trip. I stopped by The Artsy Fartsy Yard Sale run by the Three Chicks. All are artists who were huddled around a firepit that was more smoke than fire. They clapped as I drove down the driveway relieved to see anyone come out in the rain. I admired their work and we chatted about their new adventures and then I was on my way. Next stop - the always superb Leonard Buck Gardens in Far Hills. So many wildflowers in bloom and new ones poking their heads through last year's debris. Dogwoods, Redbuds and native Azaleas filled the woods. It was sweet soulfood. So I call it inspiration rather than procrastination even though I put off until tomorrow what I should have done today!