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.

Magnolia Plantation and Gardens

 

Magnolia Plantation and Gardens is a 400 acre property that was founded in 1678 by the Drayton family. It is Charleston's most visited plantation, and it's easy to see why.  There's a lot there! It's home to America's oldest garden - The Barbados Tropical Garden. Other gardens on the property include a Biblical garden, topiary garden, a maze of camellias, and a swamp garden that spans 60 acres. Bald Eagles, egrets, otters, and of course, alligators, can be seen in the swamp garden. Visitors can enjoy a variety of bog plants, ornamental grasses, and wildflowers. 

Additional attractions include a petting zoo, Old African American Cabin, and conservatory.

The gardens are open daily from 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM. Cost of admission for adults is $15.00, and for children, $10.00. There is an additional cost for the plantation house tour, nature boat tour, and the Audubon Swamp Garden. All-inclusive tickets are available, but those are rather costly - $47.00 for adults, $43.00 for children.

McConnell Arboretum and Gardens

 

McConnell Arboretum and Gardens, located on the north bank of the Sacramento River in Redding, California, are part of the Turtle Bay Exploration Park.  It was opened in May of 2005. Most of the 300 acres are undeveloped.  The main gardens cover 20 acres and feature Mediterranean plants, a children's' garden, butterfly garden, medicinal garden, and water features.  The "Sounds of Water" fountain has a lot of educational facts about water usage.

The gardens are open Monday through Saturday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and Sunday from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM.  Admission for adults is $14.00.  Admission for children is $10.00.