Back to the Smithsonian Gardens on the National Mall, today we visit the Mary Livingston Ripley Garden, which has a great history. "The Mary Livingston Ripley Garden was the inspiration of Mrs. S. Dillon Ripley, lifelong plant scholar-collector, active gardener, and wife of the Smithsonian Institution's eighth Secretary. Mrs. Ripley conceived the idea for a "fragrant garden" on the eastern border of the Arts and Industries Building - a location that was designated to become a parking lot. In 1978 Mrs. Ripley persuaded the Women's Committee of the Smithsonian Associates, which she had founded in 1966, to support the garden. In 1988 the Women's Committee recognized their founder and friend by naming the garden after her."
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But we have current day Horticulturist Janet Draper to thank for it's present look. According to the Smithsonian website her goal is to "expose visitors to the widest variety of plants possible...to expand the plant palette." I think you'll agree she's done just that, and this is definitely an educational garden, there were labels on most everything.
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Their Yucca desmetiana 'Blue Boy' (aka Yucca aloifolia 'Purpurea') were so very green, they didn't seem to be shaded, I wonder why?
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Looking into the garden, where we'll wander in a bit. First we have to check out the other side of the entrance...
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Wowsa! Agaves and Yuccas and Bromeliads...oh my!
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Jacobinia chrysostephana
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Oh that this beauty were hardy to my Zone 8, sadly it's a Zone 10 plant.
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*sigh*
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Sauromatum venosum, I used to have those big gorgeous leaves in my garden. Perhaps I need to hunt one down again.
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Dianthus barbatus 'Green Tick'
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Fabulous Zinnias, such great form...
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There were an amazing amount of fountains in Washington DC, and unlike many on the drier West Coast of the USA, they were all running.
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Aristolochia gigantea 'Brasiliensis', aka Dutchman's Pipe
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Manfreda virginica
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And it's bloom spike.
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This focal point planter was much photographed by our blogging group, and with good reason.
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It's very well done.
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And backed up by similar plants in the planting beds behind.
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I've never really liked Kalanchoe luciae ‘Fantastic’ — but here it looked, well, fantastic.
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Another great creation, a planted succulent wall.
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This is a gardener having fun!
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And some one high up at the Smithsonian gardens must really love Furcraea, they were everywhere, and so healthy.
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Okay, it probably seems this garden was just ticking off all the current must haves (vertical planting - check, bug hotel, check) but it didn't feel that way in person.
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It's the fault of your tour photographer, moi.
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Hey there my friend, Mr. Daphniphyllum macropodum...
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Great vine too, Cissus discolor aka Rex Begonia Vine (with a little chicken-wire assistance in the climb).
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Time to make our way back out to the main avenue...
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This was such a fun garden, with so many unexpected (by me) plants.
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Crambe maritima?
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One more photo of that Jacobinia, with a Yucca rostrata back-drop...
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Weather Diary, Aug 31: Hi 83, Low 64/ Precip 0
Since it's Sept 1st I had to add a little extra weather info...
All material © 2009-2017 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.
But we have current day Horticulturist Janet Draper to thank for it's present look. According to the Smithsonian website her goal is to "expose visitors to the widest variety of plants possible...to expand the plant palette." I think you'll agree she's done just that, and this is definitely an educational garden, there were labels on most everything.
Their Yucca desmetiana 'Blue Boy' (aka Yucca aloifolia 'Purpurea') were so very green, they didn't seem to be shaded, I wonder why?
Looking into the garden, where we'll wander in a bit. First we have to check out the other side of the entrance...
Wowsa! Agaves and Yuccas and Bromeliads...oh my!
Jacobinia chrysostephana
Oh that this beauty were hardy to my Zone 8, sadly it's a Zone 10 plant.
*sigh*
Sauromatum venosum, I used to have those big gorgeous leaves in my garden. Perhaps I need to hunt one down again.
Dianthus barbatus 'Green Tick'
Fabulous Zinnias, such great form...
There were an amazing amount of fountains in Washington DC, and unlike many on the drier West Coast of the USA, they were all running.
Aristolochia gigantea 'Brasiliensis', aka Dutchman's Pipe
Manfreda virginica
And it's bloom spike.
This focal point planter was much photographed by our blogging group, and with good reason.
It's very well done.
And backed up by similar plants in the planting beds behind.
I've never really liked Kalanchoe luciae ‘Fantastic’ — but here it looked, well, fantastic.
Another great creation, a planted succulent wall.
This is a gardener having fun!
And some one high up at the Smithsonian gardens must really love Furcraea, they were everywhere, and so healthy.
Okay, it probably seems this garden was just ticking off all the current must haves (vertical planting - check, bug hotel, check) but it didn't feel that way in person.
It's the fault of your tour photographer, moi.
Hey there my friend, Mr. Daphniphyllum macropodum...
Great vine too, Cissus discolor aka Rex Begonia Vine (with a little chicken-wire assistance in the climb).
Time to make our way back out to the main avenue...
This was such a fun garden, with so many unexpected (by me) plants.
Crambe maritima?
One more photo of that Jacobinia, with a Yucca rostrata back-drop...
Weather Diary, Aug 31: Hi 83, Low 64/ Precip 0
Since it's Sept 1st I had to add a little extra weather info...
- June/July/Aug 2017 ties 2009 for the 2nd hottest summer on record
- Sunnier than normal! Typical cloudy days for those 3 months = 35, 2017 = 15
- And dry! The driest summer since 2003, which means (as I felt) it's the driest since we've lived here
All material © 2009-2017 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.