As many of you know, springtime around here means azaleas, dogwood, redbuds and a myriad of other gorgeous flowers popping out in full form. So delightful to see, and smell if you can visit a garden that has enough flower density to concentrate the amazing aroma of fresh flowers. Here in Jacksonville we have the Cummer Museum, a lovely museum property located just along the St. John's River. It's a beautiful place with a rich history in this area.
My friend Nancy is serving as a docent this year and she graciously invited me to a tour and lunch. I gladly accepted. We started with a tour through the gardens before the temps got up there. Nancy had all the details about each garden area, what style it was modelled after and the other interesting tidbits about them. Lots of shady benches to enjoy. Boy, what a delightful way to start the day. Just going to feature some of the beautiful flowering plants now.
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| Azaleas plus the river in the background |
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| More azaleas plus a Holly Fern (I love them). |
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| A Bottle Brush |
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| Foxglove |
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| Pansies |
After a nice leg-stretcher along the river we headed inside for some lunch and then a tour of some of the exhibits. Lunch was quite good, a turkey BLT on croissant spread with Boursin cheese for me and a beautiful salad for Nancy. A few of the exhibits to follow.
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| I don't have any kind of formal training but personally, I liked this one a lot better than a Pollock |
The tiny details of the outfit in this painting are so superb. Nancy mentioned that the Lady in Waiting was sitting in such a way as to show off the details of the back of the dress (in case you wanted to whip one up).
Finally, a painstaking needlepoint of the gardens by Ninah Cummer, so nuanced when you look at it up close. The water, the greenery everything is rendered in multiple shades of thread. I wonder how many hours she spent on it? Labor of love for sure.
It was a great way to spend the day with a friend, thanks Nancy!
Thanks for checking in on me, I have another catch-up post I will be working on soon, so check back sometime. Otherwise, have a great day.
What a lovely garden and that needlepoint picture are fabulous. Nancy gets to spend her working hours in such nice surroundings. I didn't know she did this. I wish we would have those bottle bushes here in Canada. I admired one in the RV Park we were at and Cardinals seemed to like to hang out in it.
ReplyDeleteIt was a fun day. Nancy is quite knowledgeable about the gardens, the history of ownership and the exhibits. I was looking at the bottle brush out front today and it's past it's prime, 😢. Beautiful, but they don't last all that long, sadly.
DeleteSuch beautiful flowers! The delicate foxglove always amaze me, with how beautiful and perfect they are.
ReplyDeleteYes indeed, they were all so pretty.
DeleteI cannot even begin to imagine the knowledge that Nancy has in her head!
ReplyDeleteShe certainly had all the particulars, and she is an artist herself.
DeleteLove the flowers and a visit to look at art is always a plus. What a great way to spend the day with a friend.
ReplyDeleteIt was! Temps just right and lots to see and chat about for sure.
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ReplyDeleteSuch a lovely area and I love your photo by the pretty flowers! All of your photos of the flowers is breathtaking! How nice that your friend was able to give you a tour!
Here's wishing you a pleasant Easter holiday!
Thanks so much and the same goes for you. I have been to the Cummer several times and it never fails to impress.
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