Let me tell you a secret.
There is a magnificent garden to visit in LaGrange, Georgia.
A map of the garden started in 1841 by Sarah Coleman Ferrell as she expanded a garden started by her mother in 1832
My wife and I made plans to go to LaGrange for a Saturday visit with some friends. Dekie and I like to visit small towns and see the sights, the architecture, and to just get a feel for the places that we visit. I have driven through LaGrange many times on my way to and from my hometown of Columbus, Georgia. I had never stopped to look around until this past weekend. Our friends mentioned the Callaway Estate (not to be confused with Ida Cason Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain) that had some “interesting grounds.”
And the grounds were, indeed, interesting. I took pictures as we walked through the beautiful gardens and I will share these in several articles. I knew it was going to be good when we drove up and I saw the pruning job on the plants around this sign:
carefully pruned shrubbery by an entrance sign.
I looked around after we parked and saw that the natural areas were inviting and interesting.
Natural areas and pathways welcome us from the parking lot
The well-tended loropetalum plant against the welcome center wall was a great blend of color and texture.
I love that shaped loropetalum
The entrance plantings were delightful. I wanted to shrink myself down and get lost in the maze.
A boxwood parterre on each side of the entrance to the visitor center carries a sort of magic feeling
We were about a week late for the azalea bloom but I could tell that they had been magnificent. The garden, however, is able to stand on its own without depending on the azalea blooms and I’m sure that our visit was a lot less crowded than it would have been.
There are lots of isolated visual treats
Another view of the entry garden shows that the background is also very important and well-done.
I love the way the background merges with the total picture.
When we walked out on the rear landing, right away, I was taken by the pathway meandering through the vista. The trees were all manicured and precisely placed.
I wonder what’s at the end of this pathway?
I love planters as accents. This arborvitae topiary was matched on other corners.
topiary plantings in flower pots make a statement
There were a lot of Chinese fringe trees (Chionanthus retusus). We were just in time to catch the flowers. I could tell that the trees had been totally full of blooms a week before.
Chinese fringe trees make a statement
All of today’s pictures were taken before I even got to the actual gardens. I will post more in another post in a few days. Stay tuned.
The garden tour begins from this point. Tune in for the next article, or subscribe.
