Private Garden Tour, Part I

     Last Thursday, a group of very generous gardeners in Virginia Beach offered to open their gardens to a van-load of people who work with me at the Norfolk Botanical Garden. Of course, my camera and I were on the van as well. Although each garden is different, they are all linked by water. Two of them are both on the same branch of the Lynnhaven River, and the other three are nearby at the oceanfront, and despite a salt-rich environment, the gardens are lush, full and colorful.

The Junkin-Nickols Garden
     This home and garden occupy a spot on a small tidal cove and is basically triangular in shape with the larger part of the garden fronting the street. Behind the house the garden narrows as it gets closer to the water, and there is a large deck made for entertaining and for taking advantage of the views. The garden is full of personal touches, many of them created by the hands-on homeowners.

The Eure Garden
     Like our first stop, the Eure garden also has many personal touches, however, as soon as we pulled in, the plant geeks on the van knew we would have a few more distractions. The front garden is mostly wooded with paths throughout.  A circular driveway leads to the front door and surrounds a small garden whose centerpiece is a large boulder that the gardener had draped with spent allium blossoms. I particularly liked how creeping fig (Ficus pumila) is used on the front steps.

     The back garden is mostly lawn leading down to the river, but in the center flower-filled beds are watched over by a massive oak. Next to the house, a large deck is divided into several different spaces, and occupying a prime spot is a driftwood throne, from which the gardener may sit to survey her creation, cool drink in hand.

     Stay tuned, as there are still 3 more gardens to go, including my favorite.