Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Azaleas at the New York Botanical Garden



I just wanted to share a few more photos from the New York Botanical Garden with you today. As you might imagine, I shot a lot of photos. :)




These are all from the newly opened Azalea Garden. Sited in an old growth forest, the paths of the garden wind their way up a hill, to culminate in a small open clearing. Overall, the azalea garden covers about 11 acres, and numbers some 70,000 new plants, including 40,000 bulbs, 28,000 new woodland perennials and ferns, and 3500 trees and shrubs.

But the numbers don't quite convey the genius of the garden, which is designed to appear as if it grew naturally out of the 200-year-old forest which once covered the site.




There are pockets of plantings nestled against ancient glacial boulders, and complimented by an understory of low perennials, including barrenwort, foam flower, bugloss and sedge. The garden paths wind past the rocky outcroppings and meander through semi-wild wetlands.




It is a very soothing place, filled for the most part with soft pastels. White, pale pink and lavender swathes of blooms paint the forest. The stronger reds appear in a separate planting, where they light up their wetland landscape. It is a tribute to the designers that this very important plant collection is presented in such a natural and beautiful manner.




And I will just leave you with a shot of one of the NYBG's beautiful planters, located near the entrance to the garden. So pretty and inspirational!

14 comments:

  1. Oh how very lovely! Spring has sprung again for me...ours have all bloomed. Cathy

    ReplyDelete
  2. I can never get too many flowers. These photographs are inspirational, Mary. Keep 'em coming. xx's Marsha

    ReplyDelete
  3. Lovely and innovative design. I enjoyed seeing those waves and gradations of pink.

    ReplyDelete
  4. What a beautiful place! It must have been amazing to visit!

    ReplyDelete
  5. What a wonderful garden, beautifully captured.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Absolutely gorgeous! The picture of the flowers up against the glacial boulders in amazing.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Gorgeous!! Last weekend I visited the Azaela Gardens at the National Botanical Garden in DC and the flowers were all gone by:( We did have time to check out part of the Asian Garden there before the downpours sent us home....I am happy to be able to enjoy your photos here!

    ReplyDelete
  8. It was photographer's heaven! I have one billion kajillion shots and I only had a few minutes after you left and, then, an hour on Friday. It was so glowing - I LOVED how natural it was (like you described), fitting in with the forest, like that. And the plants were in such perfect bloom - beautifully tended - it was just spectacular! I would, personally, love another chance at it all. Of course, I'm sure it's changed so much, already.

    My mom is working on a way to get us all down there, again. You see, we missed the zoo....=D

    Mary, your photos are just beautiful, as usual! I was trying to get rid of the plant name markers but they're, actually quite wonderful - beautiful in their own right because of what they are. (As per usual, I hope that makes sense.;) )

    ReplyDelete
  9. I missed the opening of the new azalea garden at the NY Botanical Garden this year, as I was traveling again. I'm so happy to see your photos, Mary! So beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  10. This a wonderful place. Just so very beautiful.

    ReplyDelete

Thank you so much for taking the time to read and comment. I love to hear what you have to say!