Monday, January 21, 2013

Two Garden Bloggers and a Saint Visit the Riverbanks Zoo and Gardens


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On a recent visit to Columbia South Carolina I was able to hook up with my good friend and fellow blogger for a visit to the Riverbanks Zoo and Gardens. Her husband, the Saint, also joined us for a day of visiting some neat animals and even neater plants. A word about my friend, Skeeter, before we go further. I don't think I mention to her enough how much I enjoy blogging because she is an partner on this blog who really helps to motivate me. We have worked so darn well together for more than five years now with no end in sight. That says a lot! Many blogs that have more than one partner are commercial or professional blogs. This blog is neither. Skeeter and I simply enjoy sharing our little pieces of garden heaven (at least to us) and we do our sharing together so well that we complement each other and always have. Many of you don't know she and I met through this blog and over the years the friendship has developed to the point we know each other pretty well. I have to say she is a very special friend whom I enjoy spending time with, talking with, blogging with, and not the least, touring gardens with! Thank you Skeeter!!

Okay, on to the gardens. I consider the camellia the quintessential winter plant. Many think of hellebores as the quintessential winter plant; mainly because they bloom at the end of the winter IMHO. No other plant (that I am aware of) will be blooming at both the beginning AND the end of the winter besides the camellia-for me that makes it THE quintessential winter plant. Camelias were in bloom everywhere we looked at Riverbanks. There were some awesome camellia blooms such as the white one pictured above.
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The holiday spirit was in its full effect as well. This welcoming wreath with its red bow greeted visitors to the garden.
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Fall and winter plants such as kale, pansies, and chard livened up the garden beds.
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I am not sure what kind of palms these were but I think they are in the windmill family of palms. I love love love both palms and yuccas for their architectural qualities. They really bring so much to the winter garden that no garden should be without one or the other. And believe it or not palms can be quite hardy. I grow one here in my Zone 7A garden.
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More winter color.
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Paperbush, aka Edgeworthia chrysantha was a big presence at Riverbanks. The little white buds hang off from the bare cinnamon colored branches like Christmas ornaments. They are absolutely delightful! When they bloom the yellow and white bloom perfumes the air around it and really livens up the winter garden. Here, the curators of Riverbanks have used Paperbush in the large blue containers.
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Finally, my traveling companion sans the Saint (he was close by I am sure)....

in the garden....
Words and Photos Property of In the Garden Blog Team, In the Garden

9 comments:

  1. It's wonderful to have a blogging friend that you have met in real life, and that you work so well together here with this blog, sharing your friendship as well as your gardens and others.

    Have a great week ~ FlowerLady

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  2. Hi Tina...Looks like you all had a wonderful time. I really like how they repeated the blue containers. They also add a punch of color!

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  3. Tina and Skeeter, you both are so much fun to read! I adore how you met and developed such a lovely friendship through blogging. Riverbanks is one of my family's favorite destinations. Sadly, I've only been through the gardens once, because our kiddos are usually so wiped out by the time we're done with the zoo that we head home. I think I'm scheduling a field trip for myself one day when they're in school!

    Thanks for sharing the beauty of the winter garden. Cheers!

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  4. Oh Tina you are so kind with your words for me today girl :-) Has it really been 5 years of blogging? I have kind of lost track of it. Wow, I had no idea although it seems you and I have been friends forever! I love getting together with you and Mr Fixit as we seem to have so much in common with each other. Our hubbys and us both. When is our next garden tour?

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  5. Hi Tina,
    Wonderful, beautiful gardens!
    I'm putting them on my 'Bucket List'
    I thought that you and Skeeter must be sisters; you blog so well together.
    Have a wonderful week!
    Lea
    Lea's Menagerie

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  6. How wonderful to see both of you!! Great garden tour too!!

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  7. You ladies sure find the best gardens. I would so be up for a garden tour like this one. Thank you for sharing!

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  8. I wish I had known you all were going to Columbia! We are about an hour away from there. Would have loved to see you and Skeeter!! I need to get to this garden.

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    1. Janet, I did not realize you were so close to Columbia! When next I visit we will for sure all three get together! Visiting Riverbanks together would be most fun!

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