Elizabethan Gardens (Manteo, NC)

It seems like we can't get enough of the Outer Banks this summer. A few weeks ago, James, Anne and I went back -- this time, to Roanoke Island, to explore the little town of Manteo, which is one of the most charming spots I've ever visited. There was so much to see and do, but our favorite part of the day was spending time at the Elizabethan Gardens on the grounds of old Fort Raleigh.

Roanoke Island is the site of the first English colony in America. It was founded by Sir Walter Raleigh in 1587; by the time he returned from a voyage to England in 1590, all of the 115 Roanoke colonists had disappeared without a trace.

The Elizabethan Gardens were designed as a living memorial to this Lost Colony. Spanning 10 acres, the gardens were laid out to resemble a traditional 17th century English pleasure garden but also includes native plants and a few modern-day flourishes. There's a rhododendron garden, a tobacco walk, and rose and herb gardens, all extending from the Gate House, which houses a mysterious portrait of Queen Elizabeth I.

We enjoyed so much about the day, but I think Anne's favorite part of the gardens was the larger-than-life statue of Queen Elizabeth I. We had a hard time explaining to her that what she was seeing was a princess, since she's used to them being a little more sparkly. But I think Elizabeth serves as a better role model than any of those Disney waifs, for sure.

We're having a ridiculous week, thanks to some unexpected home repairs (long story), so things might be a little slower around here than usual. We'll be back in full force ASAP. Happy Monday!

Miyazaki Japanese Garden

One evening a few weeks ago, we went for an after-dinner walk in the Miyazaki Japanese Garden at Red Wing Park in Virginia Beach. Red Wing Park has several beautiful gardens, but the Miyazaki Garden is our favorite. No matter how hot the day has been, it's always cool there, and no matter how gloomy the skies might be, there are always a few sun-dappled spots to explore.

The garden was planted in honor of Miyazaki, Japan, which is Virginia Beach's sister city. (Side note: I love the concept of sister cities -- Norfolk has several, which you can read about here.) The Miyazaki Garden is a wonderful mix of Japanese plants that fit perfectly with the native Virginia foliage in a way that encapsulates the spirit of both places and feels both familiar and unfamiliar at once. In the spring, they feature the area's best show of cherry blossoms, which we appreciate, since we were big fans of the ones in DC when we lived there.  




Anne had a great time running out some pre-bedtime energy on the garden's shady paths and setting up elaborate Barbie doll panoramas in the azumaya (Japanese-inspired outbuilding). She also tried to take home several of the smooth white rocks from the rock garden to add to her collections. Is there anything more attractive to toddlers than a pile of rocks? If there is, I don't think I've found it.

Happy 4th of July! Hope that everyone has a safe and festive holiday. See you back here on Monday. 

Reflections of Nature at the Norfolk Botanical Garden

I'm guest posting today over at My Active Child! Click on over to read about our visit to see the Norfolk Botanical Garden's "Reflections of Nature" sculpted glass exhibit.

P.S.: Google Reader is closing soon -- don't forget to follow Where the Watermelons Grow on Bloglovin' instead.

Have a great weekend, all!

The Hermitage Museum and Gardens

Last week, Anne and I met up with some friends and visited the Hermitage Museum and Gardens. I had heard of the Hermitage many times growing up, but this was my first visit, and I really wasn't prepared for how gorgeous it would be. The Hermitage, an Arts and Crafts style house, was built in the early 1900s by the a family from New York, and at points over the next hundred years served as their summer retreat, a soldiers' home, and finally, a hub for the local arts community in the Hampton Roads area. Currently, it houses a collection of fine, decorative, and student art.

The house is surrounded by a whopping 12 acres of gardens, which slope down to the Lafayette River on three sides. After exploring some of the house, the kids ran outside to play in the grotto, jump from stone to stone in the millstone courtyard, and exclaim over the fountains and the crenelated wall in the large, circular East Garden. We followed a series of winding paths that crossed over the river wetlands area and finally led us to a sweet little English garden surrounding a beautiful old water tower -- definitely the prettiest water tower I'd ever seen.

I think that was my favorite thing about the Hermitage -- the fact that everything was so thoughtfully useful and decorative. The window-panes featured tiny stained-glass insets, the crown mouldings were set with jaunty inscriptions, and even the roof joists were carved with patterns of fruits and flowers.  Everywhere we turned, there was something to discover, and if you looked closer, something else in that to discover, too. It was shocking how much attention the designer (Mrs. Sloane -- you can see her hand-drawn plans in the Hermitage's library) paid to all of the small stuff. It made me very aware of how people don't do that so much anymore.

I also have to say that I really didn't expect the kids to love the house nearly as much as the gardens, but they did. Pretty early on, Z., the oldest of the three, pronounced it a castle, and they were enthralled from then on out. They were fascinated by the grandness of everything and the little whimsical touches (the pipe organ, the small doors, the old-fashioned, bubbly windows). Unfortunately, photos weren't allowed inside the museum or else I would have taken about a hundred.

Admission to the Hermitage is $5 for adults, and free for children under 6 and to all active duty military personnel. A great bargain, especially considering the wide variety of programs and events they have happening on a regular basis. You can check out their calendar here. FYI -- registration for the Hermitage's summer arts camp starts April 8! (Click here for more details on that).

The Fred Heutte Center

In celebration of the first day of spring, I thought I'd post about one of our favorite outside spaces, which is the Fred Heutte Center in Ghent. The Heutte Center is located deep in a residential area, which means that unless you're a neighborhood resident, you probably haven't come across it before. I first discovered the center and its gardens as a student at Maury High School (it's a few blocks away) years ago, and was surprised that I hadn't ever heard of it before. It's relative isolation means that the Heutte Center one of those hidden gems and well-kept secrets you're always hearing about: peaceful, unspoiled, but also underappreciated.

The FHC takes up a just small plot of land in the middle of Ghent Square, but it's absolutely jam-packed with goodies. The center itself (which offers horticultural and fitness classes) is surrounded by perennial gardens lovingly tended by volunteer gardeners, and dotted with flowering trees, fountains and statuary. On one side of the main building, there's a camellia bower and on the other, an heirloom vegetable garden (the produce is donated to local food banks). And connecting everything together are paths that wind through stands of daffodils and hyacinths and magnolias.

There are so many things to do in the downtown area that the Heutte Center is often overlooked, but it shouldn't be. It's convenient to everything downtown, a great place to stop in the middle of running errands for a quiet moment or quick romp. As the weather has gotten nicer, A. and I have taken to packing a snack or small lunch in the picnic hamper and spending an hour there, looking at every tree and plant, and soaking in all of the gorgeousness. It's a nice way to recharge our batteries and to celebrate the season.

You can read more about the interesting history of the Heutte Center here.

HAPPY SPRING, EVERYBODY!