Tag Archives: Garden Bloggers Fling 2017

Peg Bier Garden—2017 Garden Bloggers Fling

Peg Bier’s Garden-Tyson’s Corner, Virginia

I began writing this description of the Peg Bier Garden on July 7, then life went other directions for a while. Seeing several recent posts about the 2017 Garden Bloggers Fling prompted me to take it up again. There has been a flurry of signup activity for the upcoming anniversary Austin Fling in May which I will not be able to attend, so I am a bit wistful in looking back at the gardens we visited in the D.C. area.

My home state of North Carolina borders Virginia and supports many of the same plants as we saw during the Fling. I felt at home in this garden. The owner Peg Bier greeted us as we unboarded around 4:30 pm on Saturday, June 24, 2017.

Peg Bier’s Garden-Tyson’s Corner, Virginia

Off to the right of where Peg was standing is a little secluded secret garden that was home to a little fairy collection. Amidst the hellebores and ferns an azalea was still blooming.

Peg Bier’s Garden-Tyson’s Corner, Virginia

Behind these gorgeous elephant ears, Kris had zeroed in on an interesting hanging specimen.

Peg Bier’s Garden-Tyson’s Corner, Virginia

Beneath a small tree a memorial plaque was surrounded by a verdant array of hostas, ferns, heucheras and more.

Peg Bier’s Garden-Tyson’s Corner, Virginia

A stone path led out into the lawn, revealing sunshine and pots of brightly colored flowers.

Peg Bier’s Garden-Tyson’s Corner, Virginia

This was a lovely collection of container plantings under a dogwood and of course, I loved the blue hydrangea in back.

Peg Bier’s Garden-Tyson’s Corner, Virginia

I no longer remember the precise route but within a couple of minutes I found myself in a peaceful wooded area near some service buildings. The birds seemed to own the place and sang freely. I stood for a couple of minutes listening to an eastern towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus). Turn up the volume and listen for two repetitions of the towhee’s signature “drink! your tea.”

A serene path with dappled sunlight guided me along past a small lawn with spheres and over a wooden bridge.

Peg Bier’s Garden-Tyson’s Corner, Virginia

Free from the tree canopy, this open section is planted with iris, echinacea, lychnis among many other things.

Peg Bier’s Garden-Tyson’s Corner, Virginia

Here, a more formal grouping of evergreens and bench create a vision of calm, with attractive brickwork curving around the tree.

Peg Bier’s Garden-Tyson’s Corner, Virginia

Green, cool, restful…

Peg Bier’s Garden-Tyson’s Corner, Virginia

This seating area was one of my favorite spots in this Virginia garden.

Peg Bier’s Garden-Tyson’s Corner, Virginia

There was lots of color to be found as well, so I will finish with some of Peg’s lovely containers. Love those blue pots.

Peg Bier’s Garden-Tyson’s Corner, Virginia

Hope you enjoyed touring this special garden.

Merrifield Garden Center—2017 Garden Bloggers Fling

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Merrifield Garden Center- Gainesville, Virginia

Who does not enjoy exploring a new garden center? On Sunday morning, the final day of the Capital Region Garden Bloggers Fling, my group’s first stop was Merrifield Garden Center in Gainesville, Virginia (though my photos are all geotagged as nearby Manassas).

The site was expansive. The indoor area was filled with an eclectic collection of decorative garden items, tools and equipment.

Merrifield Garden Center- Gainesville, Virginia

Even the folksiest displays were genuine and bright.

Merrifield Garden Center- Gainesville, Virginia

A first in my garden center experience, there also was a wine section. The selection included many local Virgina wines.

Merrifield Garden Center- Gainesville, Virginia

Merrifield’s friendly staff welcomed our group with a tempting array of fruits and baked goods.

A Warm Southern Welcome

Eventually I found the extensive selection of plants.

Merrifield Garden Center- Gainesville, Virginia

For the first time during the Fling I began to wish I had driven from North Carolina to D.C. As it was, I knew packing would be a challenge for the flight home so when I came across some Chuck Hayes gardenias, I could be tempted only for so long before coming back to reality.

I had planted a hedge of these at the back of my western border when we first moved into our current house in 2001. They thrived for a decade before several years of severe drought finally caught up with them. Garden centers around me no longer carry them, nor even seem familiar with them.

A helpful staff member offered to ship some to Chapel Hill, something I have not ruled out.

Gardenia ‘Chuck Hayes’

There were quite a few Crape Myrtles, including some with dark foliage.

Crape Myrtle Lineup at Merrifield’s

The flowers on this one were more purple than the photograph suggests. It is named Black Diamond ‘Purely Purple.’

Black Diamond ‘Purely Purple’ Crape Myrtle at Merrifield’s Garden Center

Colorful hybrid coneflowers have not performed well in my garden, but I would be willing to give this one a try.

Echinacea

Merrifield’s does a nice job of grouping plants for display, but what caught my eye here is the ‘Kent’s Beauty’ oregano in the huge container at top right.

‘Kent’s Beauty’ Oregano

The sign explains ‘Kent’s Beauty’ Oregano is an “ornamental oregano featuring beautiful hop-like, blush-pink bracts. Demands well-drained, sandy soil in full to part sun. For those of us who don’t have that sandy soil, a pot is the answer. This one has done well for years in this pot. Display potted 2014. Sorry, not-for-sale.”

‘Kent’s Beauty’ Oregano

Another grouping that was attractive includes toward the back one of my favorites, Aconitum napellus (Monkshood). Although my former next-door neighbor grew it for years, unfortunately I have had no luck growing monkshood. This display also featured several beautiful hollyhocks, Alcea rosea ‘Peaches ‘n Dreams.’ The middle yellow layer is coreopsis with an interesting story.

Attractive Display -Merrifield Garden Center

A hybrid first introduced as Coreopsis verticillata ‘Electric Avenue’ PP24688, this plant is now designated as Mayo Clinic Flower of Hope™. The Mayo Clinic website states Mayo Clinic Flower of Hope™ is an “honorific” title; they do not receive revenue from sales.

To recognize the Mayo Clinic Sesquicentennial in 2014, we looked for a flower that would grow at each Mayo site – Minnesota, Arizona and Florida, as well as the Mayo Clinic Health System campuses in Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin. Result: the Mayo Clinic Flower of Hope™.

The flower is used in landscaping at all Mayo Clinic locations.

Mayo Clinic Flower of Hope™ Coreopsis, Aconitum napellus (Monkshood), Alcea rosea ‘Peaches ‘n Dreams’ (Hollyhock)

Patterns and color in this collection of Elephant Ears caught my attention as I was returning inside to reconnect with other Flingers and taste one of those quinoa mini-muffins. Delicious. Someone took several group shots of us in front of that food table, but I have not seen the photographs yet. It will be fun if they show up.

Elephant Ear (Colocasia)

Franciscan Monastery—2017 Garden Bloggers Fling

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The Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land in Washington, DC was an interesting destination on this year’s Garden Bloggers Fling.

Franciscan Monastery-Washington, DC

The Neo-Byzantine style church was built between 1898-1899.

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre

At right of the church sits the Rosary Portico.

Franciscan Monastery-Washington, DC

Our group arrived just after lunch. I had been curious to see this site, described as an oasis of peace, with over 1000 roses, and enhanced by many perennials and annuals.

On this hot summer day the strongest color came from annuals such as begonias and lantana.

Begonias and Lantana

As in many gardens on this year’s Fling, daylilies played an important role as well. I enjoyed the way the coloring in this grouping reflected the exterior of the Rosary Portico, echoing the terra-cotta roof tiles.

Exterior – Rosary Portico

I quickly wound my way out of the sun, passing along the Rosary Portico. Pausing to explore the architecture of the columns, I felt the temperatures moderate under the vaulted ceiling.

Interior – Rosary Portico

Interior – Rosary Portico with varying styled columns

Eventually an open gate revealed an expansive panorama. Steep stairs led to gardens below.

Franciscan Monastery-Washington, DC

Graceful magnolias towered over the shady lower gardens.

Lower Gardens – Franciscan Monastery

I read up on this monastery after returning home. Franciscans have been tasked with caring for holy Christian sites for 800 years. Envisioned as a holy land for America, a number of shrines are represented here with accurately-scaled replicas.

Though intended to be welcoming and inclusive to all, the very nature and purpose of this place, the reason for existence is a religious one, and I felt a bit of an interloper into this spiritual setting.

In looking through the photographs I took that day, I have been surprised by my reaction but I want to be honest. In considering the plants and garden design I never sensed a real “Oh, wow!” moment during my visit. Without intending disrespect, I confess, aesthetically, the garden and statuary were simply not to my taste. The tombs were rather eerie and the manmade stone I found particularly off-putting.

Franciscan Monastery-Washington, DC

Lourdes Grotto, Franciscan Monastery-Washington, DC

Franciscan Monastery-Washington, DC

I am glad to have had the chance to explore this place, and am looking forward to seeing what aspects other Fling visitors responded to in this setting.

Normally drawn to quiet, meditative spaces, I had eagerly anticipated seeing the monastery’s contemplative grounds; however, in the end I never felt a strong connection with this garden.

Garden Bloggers Fling 2017

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I first heard of Garden Bloggers Fling when it was scheduled for Asheville in 2012. My garden blog, pbmGarden, was a mere one year old.

My little backyard filled with some pass-along plants barely seemed to qualify as a real garden and at the time I, hesitating to refer to myself as gardener, would only tell people I liked to garden.

In awe as I was at the unique gardens I was reading about across the web, amazed at the depth and breadth of knowledge the authors held, I lacked the confidence to step up and call myself a garden blogger. Because really, what did I know about gardening or blogging? And so, I did not go to that Fling in Asheville.

Actually though gardeners and (garden bloggers) are wonderfully accepting people, helpful and eager to share information and ideas. Looking back at my early posts and seeing how the meditation circle and borders looked that spring of 2012, I feel I should have had more courage.

: Clematis ‘Jackmanii’

: View from Southern Border

: Southern Border

: Aquilegia canadensis (Eastern red columbine)

: Meditation Circle

: Iberis sempervirens ‘Purity’ (Candytuft)

: Garden View From Northeast Corner April 10, 2012

: Baptisia ‘Purple Smoke’

Still today I hesitate to call myself a gardener. Instead I might mention I like to garden.

But missing the opportunity to attend that fling just a few hours away in my home state is something I have always regretted.

When Washington, DC was chosen for next year’s gathering of garden bloggers I knew I could not pass this one by. So courage found, I am registered, the hotel and transportation are set and I am looking forward to meeting the people behind some of my favorite blogs and exploring public and private gardens with new friends.

Coming? It would be wonderful to see you there.