Bunny Williams' Manor House

A friend and I recently had the privilege of spending the day in Connecticut touring some fabulous gardens thanks to the Open Days program with the Garden Conservancy.

 There were three gardens open that day one of which was Manor House, the home of decorator/designer Bunny Williams.  

The impressive Adirondack/Greek Revival temple is actually the pool house.  There is a dining area, kitchen and changing areas for guests.  

The pool is crafted from stone slabs imported from France.

Down the hill is a sizable greenhouse.

Just outside are the formal vegetable gardens.

The formal boxwood gardens are surrounded by brick pathways.  This garden is outside of the guest house.  As you will see, it's good to be a guest at Bunny's!

The dining area overlooks the formal garden and is filled with amazing plants.

This is quite the bar set up.  I'm feeling a drink may be in order.

Looking down from the upstairs landing.

We then went on to the main house and surrounding grounds.

Garden accents are artfully placed throughout the grounds. I loved the porch ceiling painted blue.  It's a very "Southern" thing to do.

Careful attention was paid to the beautiful, dry stacked stone walls.

The persicaria was a show stopper in the mixed borders.

It was very warm that day and the dogs took full advantage of the antique trough.  We were very tempted to join them. 

Distracted by Springtime

Last week I spent a wonderful time catching up with old friends in the beautiful state of Virginia.  I wanted to post my pics as soon as I arrived home, but I was just so amazed to find my own gardens bursting with color, that, well, needless to say I was a tad distracted.

One of my favorite azaleas.

You see, when I left hardly anything was up, let alone blooming.  Virginia is a good two weeks ahead of us here in Upstate NY so I was in heaven touring their gardens. 

First stop was Kenmore, Home to George Washington's sister, Betty Washington Lewis.

Love the contrast between the box woods and the yuccas.

Next stop was the home of Mary Washington, George's mother.

This stunning tree peony at the Mary Washington House in Fredericksburg was in full bloom.

The week before was the annual Virginia Garden Tour.  The Mary Washington House had empty picture frames scattered about the gardens.  

 

Picture perfect!

So going to make this as a seasonal bed.

Oatlands, just outside of Leesburg,  was home to the Carter family.  The plantation house and surrounding grounds are simply breathtaking.

Great architectural feature in the vegetable garden.

The second oldest greenhouse in the United States dating to 1810.

Underneath the canopy of the Japanese maples outside the greenhouse.

 One day we ventured into Washington DC and spent the afternoon at the home of Marjorie Merriweather Post.  I wish I could share pictures of the fabulous interior, but there was a suspicious guard lurking about. 

I did manage to take this picture from M M Post's bedroom window!

One of many azalea lined walkways.  Some specimens are over fifty years old.

Japanese inspired gardens.

The greenhouse with a collection of over two thousand orchids.

This one was fascinating.

My last day was spent in the quaint, historic town of Leesburg.  Antique shops galore with  most items reasonably priced.

Of course, every great adventure must end with an equally great meal.  One of the local shop keepers recommended Tuscarora Mill and we were not disappointed.

Fried Green Tomatoes...Perfect!