Hilarious Advice from my Aunt

Dumbarton Oaks Art Installation

It's pathetic how many photos I have of Dumbarton Oaks in the fall and winter, and how few I have of the spring.  I suppose it's indicative of how busy folks in my field are each spring.  But yesterday, for Easter, I actually took the afternoon to enjoy a visit.  

Perhaps the most lovely surprise was the new art installation, Cloud Terrace, by Andy Cao and Xavier Perrot.  It's placed on the Arbor Terrace and composed of chicken wire and Swarovski "Elements" (according to the info sheet the Gardens' provided).

On such a bright sunny day, seeing the dense gray "clouds" of the wire made a marked contrast.  But sadly, photos don't accurately capture the dazzling rainbow of colors reflected by the crystals, which are tethered to the wire.

The black reflection in the pool highlights some of the ruby and sapphire hues that were twinkling when a breeze lifted, but photos don't do it justice.  Definitely check it out between now and autumn!

Leucojum aestivum

I was at my folks' place yesterday after doing some site work in a nearby town.  I wanted to check up on the garden and see how things were looking.  I have to say, I was pretty pleased!  The whole front looks like we're almost in May, rather than just in the first days of April.  The boxwoods are growing like mad, and the Chionanthus virginicus has tons of buds on it.  Iris germanica is in full bloom, but no sign of the Allium giganteum, which, last year, was blooming at the same time as the irises.

Dotting the garden, in little pointillist spots of white, were the blossoms of Leucojum aestivum or spring snowflake.  

This is a great go-to bulb in this area (Virginia).  The deer stay away from it, it multiplies like crazy and it's perfectly lovely.  The tall stems of white blossoms remain visible over the burgeoning perennial foliage and it adds a lovely sprinkling of botanical salt (or as the common name suggest, snow) on a spring garden.