Heronswood Botanical Garden - Early Blooms

 

The Heronswood Botanical Garden in Northern Washington State was not easy to find as there was no signage on the main road, but I didn’t give up and finally found it.  And I was glad that I persisted, as it was a beautiful woodland garden - even being amid the midst of winter.  Not far away, the hills and mountains were still covered in snow. 

In this little peace of plant paradise, I was greeted by a friendly couple who explained to me all the treasures that the garden offered.  Surprisingly, I found many flowers blooming: Hellebores in many colors, Rhododendron trees, Witch Hazel, Crocus, Snowdrops, Hazel trees, Cyclamen, and many more. 

I wandered the meandering garden paths, along small lakes and ponds.  Adding to the blooming plants were a plethora of ferns, mosses, evergreen shrubs, and even several cacti in the rock garden display.

Throughout the year, Heronswood Garden has many events, such as the Hellebores Special Sale on March 9, the Spring Sale on May 4 and 5, the Hydrangea Festival on August 10, and the Autumn Sale on September 14.  You will find more events on their website HeronswoodGarden.org

Heronswoodgarden is located off Hwy 104 in Washington State between Port Angeles and Poulsbo in the Kingston area.  The garden is open in summer from 9 am to 3 pm, Wednesday to Sunday. The winter hours from the end of October to April 1 are 9 am to 3 pm, but only on Saturday and Sunday.  Admission is $10, and youth (7 to 17) $5.

The address is 7530 288th Street NE, Kingston.  WA

Phone 360-297-9620.  Email: info at Heronswoodgarden.org

The garden is owned and operated by the Port Gamble S´Klallam Tribe. It is well worth the visit, either from Port Angeles, from Tacoma, or by a short ferry ride from Seattle.  

A hidden gem for all plant lovers and gardeners. I was fascinated by the many plants that are thriving in the Northwest States - plants that I rarely have seen before. 

Hardy Cyclamen

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Parque El Rosedal in Buenos Aires

 

Imagine ten-thousand roses blooming in a garden and park-like setting on a lake, close to one of the downtown cores of Buenos Aires, not far from the botanical garden and the zoo, both easy to reach on foot.

This rose garden (Rosedale in Spanish) is more than a century old and has received the International Garden Excellence Award from the World Federation of Rose Societies.  As well as its roses, it features a lake with a Greek-influenced bridge, an amphitheater, an Andalusian patio, and a poets' garden with twenty-six busts of famous writers including Alfonsina Storni, Dante Alighieri, William Shakespeare, and the famous Argentinian writer Jorge Luis Borges.

The land for this garden and the surrounding park belonged to the country house of Argentine president Juan Manuel de Rosas until he was defeated in the battle of Caseros on February 3, 1852.  The work to design the garden was begun by French landscaper Charles Thays who created numerous gardens and landscapes in Argentina, and was finished by his disciple Benito Carrasco in 1914.

Av Malabia (from Botanical Garden, Av Santa Fe) southwest

Paseo El Rosedal Garden 

Open 10:00 am - 18.00 pm Tuesday to Sunday, closed Mondays

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