While it is delightful to virtually visit all of the bloggers who I have come to know better over the last couple of years, it is an absolute pleasure to meet them in person.  Last week I had the opportunity to meet up with Carol of Flower Hill Farm and Jean of Jean’s Garden.  The three of us met at Flower Hill Farm where we were greeted by the lovely Carol, in addition to a breathtaking view.  The surrounding scenery forces one to slow down, relax, and appreciate all of the beauty that surrounds us.  The lupine and iris were strutting their stuff, and the climbing hydrangea seemed out of a fairy tale as they swirled around the magnificent maple trees.  Carol served an outdoor lunch as the scent of the surrounding Heliotrope made its way over to greet us. As we made our way along the grassy paths of Flower Hill Farm, we found that at each vantage point you can turn in any direction and see something in the distance that catches your eye – beckoning you to come and take a closer look.  After lunch, we made our way to The Botanic Garden at Smith College as well as the Capen Garden – a quiet, tucked-away garden with a rustic pergola surrounded by climbing roses.    The following day we visited the gardens of the Emily Dickinson museum followed by lunch, a visit to Annie’s Nursery as well as Bay State Nursery and then a visit to Nasami Farm – owned and operated by the New England Wildflower Society.  The society propagates and grows over 450 species of native plants, and produces over 75,000 plants annually to be sold.  They work hard to protect our native flora and are recognized as one of the nation’s leading plant conservation organizations.  They have a wonderful variety of plants for sale, and I fell in love with the Stylophorum diphyllum or wood poppy, with its sweet yellow flowers.  It is great for lighting up shaded areas, and requires very little care.
The two-day visit seemed to have a common theme, and that was of majestic trees.  There are three magnificent maples that line that path to Carol’s garden, and several wonderful trees that grace her garden.  The Japanese Maple and Japanese Tree Lilac particularly grabbed my attention.  In addition, she has several magnolias, lilacs and crabapples, which must be an absolute delight when in bloom.  On the second day of our visit we woke to a mystical fog adding a magical element to the landscape…

A visit to the Botanic Garden at Smith College unlocked a landscape I recalled from photographs I had seen on Carol’s blog.  What a treat to see it in person.  I have been dreaming of seeing it again in the fall…

In addition to all of the wonderful trees, the roses will continue to stand out in my memory as they were at their peak.  This little tucked-away garden was full of them, dazzling our senses as we made our way through the rustic pergola…

On to the home and gardens of Emily Dickinson…

Would it interest the children to know that crocuses come up, in the garden off the dining-room, and a fuchsia, that pussy partook, mistaking it for strawberries?  And that we have primroses, like the little pattern sent in last winter’s note, and heliotrope by the aprons full – the mountain-colored one – and a jasmine bud, you know the little odor like Lubin – and gilliflowers, magenta, and few mignonette, and sweet alyssum bountiful, and carnation buds? –From Letters of Emily Dickinson

We had a wonderful time strolling through the nurseries, and nobody went home empty-handed.  Carol and Jean display their new collection of plants…

Thank you so much, Carol, for having us.  This truly was a wonderful retreat, and I so enjoyed seeing your gardens in person.  It was lovely to meet you both!