Linwood Gardens

Tree Peony Festival – Day 921

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Practically Luminous Tree Peony – Photo: L. Weikel

Tree Peony Festival

As you know from my posts over the past several days, last weekend we visited Linwood Gardens, in western New York, for their Tree Peony Festival. We were especially keen to visit because we knew first-hand how beautiful the estate was back when Sarah and Sage were married there. As beautiful as it was that month, everyone who was familiar with ‘the Farm’ told us again and again that the place becomes even more exquisite when the tree peonies bloom.

The caretakers of the premises do their best to have the Gardens open to the public when the peonies are peaking. It sounds like this year was particularly challenging with the fluctuations in temperature. They kept having to shift around the weekends they were open because it would appear as though the peonies were on track to ‘pop’ a certain couple of weekends only to have a cold snap hit, significantly slowing down their final approach to launch.

Given the state of the gardens last weekend, I can only imagine how spectacular a treat visitors will be in for this weekend. While there were more than enough plants, including peonies, blooming last Saturday – there remained at least quadruple that number waiting in the wings for just enough more warm days to fully fledge into a bloom extravaganza.

The colors of these tree peonies were ethereal – Photo: L. Weikel

Ants and Peonies

I’ve always loved these flowers (and been fascinated by the big ants that swarm the buds on our version – which are not ‘tree’ peonies). There was some debate over whether ants hang out with tree peonies as much as the shrub version, but it turns out ants are equal-opportunity nectar lovers. Supposedly. But it sure seemed like they found the shrub version tastier.

I learned last weekend that my belief/assumption that the ants were somehow essential to the pollination of peonies was erroneous. Actually, the love affair between ants and peonies are an example of biological mutualism. And while the ants may not be essential to the pollination process per se, they can be considered the peonies’ protectors. They’ll take out other bugs that come sniffing around their peonies (bugs that would harm the flowers) and ask questions later – if ever. Wink wink. Survival of the fittest.

Given that Ant is often associated with the strategy of patience, maybe those who love peonies are cultivating their ability to exercise this virtue when they need it most. Certainly those who exercised patience this year and scheduled their visit to the Gardens later than they might have otherwise were (and will be) amply rewarded.

If you doubt that, just look at these photos and remember, it still felt just a few days ‘early’ when we were there.

Some of these blooms were simply breathtaking.

Not sure if a tree peony but captivating nonetheless – Photo: L. Weikel

 

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Creatures Reveal Themselves – Day 919

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From afar – Photo: L. Weikel

Creatures Reveal Themselves

It’s no secret how much I delight in how creatures reveal themselves to us in the landscape, including the plants, the trees, and the clouds. And while I have a few photos of some remarkably older ‘gentlemen of the trees,’ they are not my focus this evening. (But I promise, they will be within the next day or so. Yea Ents!)

Tonight I want you to experience what I did as I simply walked closer and closer to a swimming pool built on the property of Linwood Gardens. It’s a lesson in revelation.

My mind was not looking for anything, quite frankly. I was simply trying to find some unique aspects of ‘the Farm’ that might spur conversation or trigger an interesting post.

Coming Into Focus – Photo: L. Weikel

Phoenix or Dragon

At first I was enamored with the way the branches of the tree I noticed were twisty and turny. They almost looked as though they were arms waving in some exotic belly dance.

But then, as I got closer and kept taking ‘candid’ shots of the tree, my perspective shifted. Suddenly the massive almost parrot-like beak of the made me wonder whether this was a Phoenix or a Dragon.

Late Night

I have to admit, I worked the polls all day and evening tonight and I’m bushed. But in some small way, looking at this creature not only makes me smile but also brings a fire back into my belly.

In the meantime, though, I invite you to embrace the magic that was revealed to me as I drew closer and closer to this turn of the 20th century concrete swimming pool.

I cannot decide what this creature is, but it most definitely is not your average animal guardian.

What do you think?

Maybe I’ll ask the Ents tomorrow night what they think.

Unmistakable – Photo: L. Weikel

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Metamorphosis – Day 918

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“Hi, I’m Gorgeous” – Photo: L. Weikel

Metamorphosis

In our wanderings around the premises of Linwood Gardens over the weekend, we were treated to a smörgåsbord of flora and fauna in varying states of development and metamorphosis.

We encountered them everywhere, from tightly closed buds to fully flowered explosions of color and luminescence. Most tantalizing were the blooms ‘on the verge,’ so filled with the promise of bursting into magnificence yet almost magically held back by the thinnest evidence of restraint. It’s difficult to look at those achingly promising buds and not viscerally feel our own urge to burst forth into the world in a dazzling expression of our own uniqueness.

With respect to the flowers, it was hard to ignore the accumulation of life force in each bud. The earlier buds, those that were obviously not going to blossom within, say, 24 hours, were tough little nuggets of prospective beauty. But there was no mistaking those buds that were begging for just another hour or day more of warmth before unleashing themselves on the world.

Can’t Hold It In Any Longer – Photo: L. Weikel

Fantastic Frogs

Of course, the classic examples of true metamorphosis are our amphibian friends, which happen to populate the premises in abundance. In each pond, pool, and fountain we found evidence of every stage of life. Indeed, there were a few times that we realized if we sat still long enough and just stared into the water, even without the aid of a microscope we were witnessing almost countless examples of life being lived at a furious and frenzied pace.

From massive tadpoles to shy froglets to adults displaying themselves in glory as they basked in the sun’s warming rays, we were treated to a veritable science exhibit on the miracle of transformation these creatures display. We take their process for granted – at least I know I do. But the process of change from tadpole to frog is astonishing.

Tadpoles – Photo: L. Weikel

Teeming Life

In some ways, it felt like we were being given an opportunity to witness evolution on a micro scale. For myself, it felt like reassurance from Mother Nature herself that even if we humans really mess stuff up – which, let’s face it, in many ways and in many places we already have in a very big way – life will find a way.

Looked at one way, this is an extremely reassuring message. In another, it’s a stark reminder of just how inconsequential we humans are.

No matter how you look at it, it’s hard not to feel a sense of awe. It’s also worth pondering, for me at least, what transformation I want to continue creating in my life. Is another metamorphosis in the offing?

“Hey” – Photo: L. Weikel

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Linwood Gardens – Day 917

Posted on by Lisa Weikel Leave a comment
A Tree Peony – Photo: L. Weikel

Linwood Gardens

For the second night in a row, I became so enamored with the photos I took over the weekend that I ran out of time to write much of anything. And while I will regale you with a variety of photos from our visit this weekend, I do want to let you know that Linwood Gardens will be opening this Wednesday (May 19, 2021) for a special extra day of floral indulgence.

If you have an opportunity to take a spontaneous mid-week road trip, I highly recommend a trek to the Genesee Valley, just south of Rochester, NY. The tree peonies that are the specialty of Linwood Gardens are just now coming into full bloom, and the addition of another day this week that visitors can immerse themselves in the magic of this place is a treat to seriously consider.

While there are a number of special encounters and discoveries I made this weekend (and was luckily able to capture at least semi-adequately with my iPhone) that I want to write about specifically with their own unique posts, I’m including in this post a few photos that only barely do the gardens justice.

I’m mentioning the opportunity to visit mid-week this week because it’s my understanding that usually the premises is only open to the public on the weekends during the peak blooms. Indeed, it appears from the website that this coming Wednesday is the only day upon which there still remain some open reservations.

Just one of hundreds of tree peonies – Photo: L. Weikel

Almost Can’t Imagine

I have to admit, I almost can’t imagine how overwhelming it will be on one of the days very soon to come when the vast majority of peonies bloom all at once. It was intoxicating enough to meander from one exquisite encounter to the next. But the truth is, there were more blooms quivering on the brink of bursting open than not.

While I realize many of my readers have obligations that would preclude them from embarking upon a 4.5 hour road trip in the middle of the week – I know there are some of you out there who just might be ‘crazy’ (in the best way) enough to say, “Let’s go!”

And to that, I would say, “YES! Plant the seed of spontaneity in your life and prioritize the pursuit of beauty and earthy encounters with Nature Spirits.” Your senses and soul will love you for it.

The scent of these lilacs was amazing – Photo: L. Weikel

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