As promised, here are more photos from my visit to Willowwood Arboretum. This is the cottage garden which is situated in front of the main house.
A pot of pretty succulents (above) is set on a plinth near the entrance to the cottage garden.
The main axis of the garden is centered on the front door of the house. There is an allee of evergreens marching down the center of the beds, with perennials and annuals surrounding them.
The nineteenth-century Tubbs house, with a conservatory on the left. In addition to the cottage garden in front (which is across the road you see at the bottom right of the photo), there are also gardens surrounding the sides and back.
Here is another shot of the entrance to the cottage garden. Can you see the beautiful wrought iron gate?
Leaning out over the central path is a beautiful specimen of yellow baptisia (above). I have seen this in purple, but never yellow. Lovely!
There were some beautiful purple alliums in bloom as well.
You can see the exuberant character of the cottage garden plantings here. The evergreens add structure, along with the wooden obelisk and pergola, but the billowing plants are the soul of the garden.
I love these blue columbines (above and below). Blue is my favorite color in the garden.
There were also some white baptisia (below). I've got to find a source for these beauties. Baptisia does well in my garden, and the deer don't seem to find it too tasty. :)
(OK, now someone has to tell me that this is not actually Baptisia at all, right?)
I must have taken 150 pictures here. lol
Next week, I'll show you some of the natural shade garden. But I promise, not as many pictures. ;)
Willowwood Arboretum
300 Longview Road
Chester Township, NJ 07930