Chanticleer Gardens is thus far my favorite garden in the world. If Longwood is best represented by the concept of spectacle, Scott by community, Mt. Cuba by nature, Chanticleer is summed up most simply by saying, this is a garden devoted to the creation of whimsical, textural art. And it accomplishes this in most spectacular ways. Often by combining elements of impressive stonework and eclectic themes.
For example, the ruin garden: a garden based on the concept of the ruins of an old house on the property, complete with a fountain full of marble faces protruding from the water, a mysterious and somewhat foreboding dinner table and fireplace, and minimalist spacing of low walls and plants to suggest the outlines of specific rooms and windows.
Its a bit eerie.
Its a bit eerie.
I also enjoyed the use of edibles such as those bright poppies in the very first picture, and the lettuces and cabbages that will show up later in the post. Here is a picture of part of their actual edibles garden, where they grow all sorts of vegetables for the staff. Nothing quite like the synthesis of beauty and utility:
Here's your basic example of the use of texture (and lawn alternatives).
From the Asian Woods garden, and the meadow walk, which follows a beautiful little creek that is currently all lit up by Primula japonica.
The pond garden
One of the things that really makes Chanticleer impressive is how detailed all the beds are. The landscape photos I have taken don't really communicate the detail and tiny flecks of color hidden all throughout these gardens.
Here's a fun tidbit: They don't label anything, so at each major garden they cleverly hide a plant list, which has all the plants in all the gardens listed by location, and provides pictures of seasonal plants of interest.
The Gardens at the Main House
The Tea Cup Garden
I thought there would be a lot more to say but, really the pictures do the job pretty nicely. Check out their website, the year to year diversity of their gardens is amazing. There is a sense of peace, and wonder that cannot be expressed.
Here's your basic example of the use of texture (and lawn alternatives).From the Asian Woods garden, and the meadow walk, which follows a beautiful little creek that is currently all lit up by Primula japonica.The pond gardenOne of the things that really makes Chanticleer impressive is how detailed all the beds are. The landscape photos I have taken don't really communicate the detail and tiny flecks of color hidden all throughout these gardens.Here's a fun tidbit: They don't label anything, so at each major garden they cleverly hide a plant list, which has all the plants in all the gardens listed by location, and provides pictures of seasonal plants of interest.The Gardens at the Main HouseThe Tea Cup GardenI thought there would be a lot more to say but, really the pictures do the job pretty nicely. Check out their website, the year to year diversity of their gardens is amazing. There is a sense of peace, and wonder that cannot be expressed.
Adventure is out there.
Well, some of these pictures have decided to turn sideways. Will fix as soon as i can figure out just what is going on.
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