Weekly Photo Challenge: Free Spirit

“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.  To keep our faces toward change and behave like free spirits in the presence of fate is strength undefeatable.” ~Helen Keller

~Blackbird near the top of the tree….Free Spirit soaring through the sky~

The blackbird is a Free Spirit, near the top of the tree, soaring in the warm yellow-orange rays of the setting sun.  Summit Inn, Uniontown, Pennsylvania, USA.

Judy

All text and images are copyright © 2002-2012 and are the exclusive property of Judy Johnson (unless otherwise indicated). All Rights Reserved. All Images are protected under United States and International copyright laws. None of the images on this site are in the Public Domain.

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Beautiful Longwood Gardens, Pennsylvania~

 How fair is a garden amid the trials and passions of existence.  ~Benjamin Disraeli

On our recent spring trip, we visited our cousin who lives near Wilmington, Delaware.   There are  at least two beautiful gardens in the Wilmington area that are connected with Dupont estates.  One is Winterthur and the other is Longwood Gardens.   Longwood happens to be nearby in Pennsylvania.   Both garden estates are spectacular and seeing them in the springtime was wonderful, as all the early flowers had bloomed and trees had budded.   Put these gardens on your “must-see” list.  You will not forget them.  I will post Winterthur’s home and gardens at another time.  

Both Longwood and Winterthur have incorporated naturalized plantings.  As you walk through the woods, you are greeted with redbuds, cherry trees, creeping phlox, scattered daffodils, blue bells, azaleas and many more delights.   It truly is a treasure to behold;  a fanciful, magical setting, and one I’d love to create at my home.  (in my lifetime?!!)    Join me as we begin our walk through Longwood Gardens in the more formal flower beds.   Then we’ll walk through the woods, passing a lovely pond, and finally finish in the huge conservatory.  Let’s go!

Please click on a photo to start the gallery.

Allee~a path through trees. (no accent available)

Passion Flower.

another orchid…..

The Orchid Room….

Hanging baskets of geraniums.

Newel post in the extraordinary children’s area.

Massive hanging basket of Fuchsia.

I love these “Cones”! Haven’t looked them up yet.

The “Living Wall”. Plants on both sides of the hallway. Incredible!

Conservatory entrance….

Wisteria was everywhere! Stunning!

Peace….

Purple creeping phlox.

I loved the pond, as you can see!

Some were Double-Bloom Redbuds.

The naturalized plantings in the wooded area were gorgeous.

Redbud.

All plantings are naturalized.

Lovely yellows.

Whisper in one corner, you can hear in the other corner of this bench.

Foxglove setting.

Formal beds.

I hope you enjoyed our abbreviated  tour of Longwood Gardens.  There’s so much more to see than what I presented here.

If you’d like to learn more about the Gardens at Longwood, click here.

Thanks for visiting today…have a great day!

Judy

All text and images are copyright © 2002-2012 and are the exclusive property of Judy Johnson (unless otherwise indicated). All Rights Reserved. All Images are protected under United States and International copyright laws. None of the images on this site are in the Public Domain.

Water Dragon Weekly Sunday Post: Shelter

Definition of Shelter:  “A place giving temporary protection from bad weather or danger.”  (Google Search)

Frank Lloyd Wright’s famous place of shelter, Fallingwater, is located in the mountains of western Pennsylvania.   The home he designed for the Kaufmann family affords many areas of shelter. While the entire home is a shelter, there are also sheltered doorways, sheltered walkways, sheltered terraces, and a sheltered carport.   In addition, Wright’s design of wide overhanging rooflines, gives shelter in storms, allowing windows to be open during rain.  They also keep the house cool in hot weather when the sun is high in the sky, and provide solar heat in the winter when the sun is low in the sky. 

In my photo, look for some of Wright’s “Mature Organic” design characteristics:

 *wide overhanging rooflines
*long horizontal lines in the home’s design
*typical red paned windows, often with glass meeting glass in corners
*blending the house with nature

Unable to see here: but Wright’s front doors were hidden from view of the regular pedestrian. He felt that would keep solicitors away!
Also unable to see in this photo: Wright kept the entrance to his homes small, with a low roof.  When you opened the door, you entered a room with higher ceilings and more room.  This was the effect that Wright desired.  Feeling compression…..then a delightful expansion when you entered the home. 

Fallingwater by Frank Lloyd Wright.

This is not the traditional view of Fallingwater.  That will come soon!
For more info on Frank Lloyd Wright’s shelter designs,  click here.

Judy

All text and images are copyright © 2002-2012 and are the exclusive property of Judy Johnson (unless otherwise indicated). All Rights Reserved. All Images are protected under United States and International copyright laws. None of the images on this site are in the Public Domain.