Charles W. Ireland Sculpture Garden

 

Today's garden is a little bit different.  It's not so much about the plants, as it is the artwork.  The Charles W. Ireland Sculpture Garden, located in Birmingham, Alabama, is part of the Birmingham Museum of Art.  It is a 30,000 square foot garden designed in 1993 by Elyn Zimmerman.  It has three levels with changing exhibits:  The Red Mountain Garden area which houses sculptures of Augusta Rodin and contemporary artists, a Lower Gallery which is for temporary exhibits, and the Upper Plaza which is for monumental sculptures.  Two very nice features are the waterwall, entitled, Lithos II by Elyn Zimmerman, and the colorful Blue Pools Courtyard by Valerie Jaudon.

The gardens are a nice place to go for a leisurely stroll, or to park yourself on a bench and admire the artwork.

The gardens are open Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM and Sundays from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM.  Admission is free.

South Arkansas Arboretum

 

The South Arkansas Arboretum, located in El Dorado, Arkansas, was opened in 1965, and is Arkansas' only state park located within a city.  It's a 13 acre garden which features plants found in the Arkansas West Gulf Coastal plain.  Visitors will enjoy a pretty stream and small waterfall along with all of the flowering plants.  There are about two miles of paved trails and nice places to stop and have a picnic.

The Arboretum is open daily, except for holidays, from dawn to dusk.  Admission is free.

Jasmine Hill Gardens

 

Jasmine Hill Gardens and Museum is located in Montgomery, Alabama.  It is known as "Alabama's Little Corner of Greece."  There are over twenty acres of flowers and classical sculptures, including many of Olympic heroes and mythical gods.  One fascinating feature is a full-scale replica of the Temple of Hera ruins as found in Olympia, Greece.  The Museum on the grounds displays memorabilia of Olympic games of the past.

The gardens are open Friday and Saturday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and Sunday from noon to 5:00 PM.  From July through October, they're open on Saturdays only.  Admission for adults is $10.00 and for children, it's $6.00. 

Quarryhill Botanical Gardens

 

Quarryhill Botanical Gardens, located near Glen Eden in California's Sonoma Valley, was founded in 1987.  It is a 25 acre botanical garden that houses one of the largest collections of Asian plants in North America.  Visitors will enjoy flowering Asian trees and plants, magnolias, rhododendrons, and walking paths with places to sit and enjoy the beautiful ponds and waterfalls.

The gardens are open daily from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.  Admission is $10.00 for adults and $5.00 per child.

Cypress Gardens

 

Cypress Gardens is located in Monck's Corner, South Carolina. (This is different from the Cypress Gardens in Florida.) It was created in 1927 by Benjamin R. Kittredge. Today, it is a 163 acre garden that contains three miles of foot paths. Visitors can also view the gardens from flat bottom boats. It's really a lovely place. The black swamp water reflects flowering dogwoods, daffodils, and azaleas beautifully.  Also on the grounds, is a greenhouse filled with butterflies (there is a display of the lifecycle of them), birds, a pond, and an arthropod exhibit.

For those who like trivia, Cypress Gardens was the site used for filming several movies, including Cold Mountain (2003), Swamp Thing (1982), The Notebook (2004), and The Patriot (2000).

The gardens are open daily from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Cost of admission for adults is $10.00, and for children, $5.00.  A guided boat ride would cost an additional $5.00, but you have the option of an self-guided tour for no additional cost. 

Propagating Plants

 

Using one plant to grow another—is the act of propagation. It's a simple way to add to your plant collection or share it with others. Golden Pothos is one of the easiest to do this with. 

Step 1:  Make the cut. I like to trim a piece with a few leaves on it just below the bump where the leaf attaches to the stem.

Step 2:  Place in water. Put the cut end in a clear glass of warm water. Make sure there's enough space for the roots to grow and expand. 

Step 3:  Let it sit for 2-4 weeks near a window and watch as roots sprout. The picture above are plants that are 4 weeks old. You can see the roots sprouting. They're ready to be planted in soil. (The parent plant is right next to them.)

Step 4:  Plant in soil. Choose a pot with good drainage. Gather the roots in a clump (root ball), and plant about two inches below the soil's surface. Keep the soil moist for at least a week as the baby plants get used to the new environment.  

Then place them around your house or give them as gifts to others.

 

Nemours Mansion and Gardens

 

Nemours Mansion and Gardens, located in Wilmington, Delaware, is a 300 acre estate with French formal gardens.  It was created by Alfred du Pont in 1910, and patterned after the gardens of Versailles.  The grounds are beautifully landscaped with fountains, pools, and statues.  Featured gardens include the Boxwood Garden, Maze Garden, Reflecting Pool, Sunken Gardens, and the Temple of Love.

The gardens are open May 1st through December 30th. The garden can be viewed only by taking a guided tour.  These are held Tuesday through Saturday at 9:30, 12:00, and 3:00, and on Sunday at 12:00 and 3:00.  Cost of admission for the guided garden walk is $10.00 per person.  Cost of admission for the guided mansion tour is $15.00 per person.