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Quote of the Day: Vita Sackville-West

August 21st, 2011

“The man who has planted a garden feels that he has done something for the good of the world.”

Vita Sackville-West

I really enjoy visiting beautiful gardens like Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello in Charlottesville, VA.



P.S. DuPont’s Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, PA.


F.A. Seiberling’s Stan Hywet in Akron, OH.



There’s something quite inspiring about these old gardens that have survived for years. My gardens will never be this vast or ornate, but I can glean interesting details from them when I visit. I certainly appreciate those that spent some of their fortunes building gardens that we can still enjoy today.

What’s your favorite garden to visit?

13 Comments to “Quote of the Day: Vita Sackville-West”
  1. Michelle on August 21, 2011 at 4:58 am

    I’ve always wanted to visit Monticello… that looks amazing. I wish my living situation were stable enough that I could have more than a container garden. :(

    I always loved going down over the hill and visiting my neighbors’ vegetable garden. They own a beef cattle farm- not very big- and Mrs B had a luscious veggie garden. Huge sunflowers and beautiful greens everywhere. :) I spent the first half of my life there, and I miss it everyday.

    Reply to Michelle's comment

  2. Diane on August 21, 2011 at 7:34 am

    I’ve always wanted to see the walled garden at the Nearing homestead in Maine. Have you been there?

    Reply to Diane's comment

  3. goatpod2 on August 21, 2011 at 8:33 am

    I don’t have a favorite garden but have always enjoyed Kingwood gardens though. My T is up.

    Amy

    Reply to goatpod2's comment

  4. Jennifer on August 21, 2011 at 9:22 am

    Have you visited the Phipps Conservatory in Pittsburgh? Some great formal gardens

    Reply to Jennifer's comment

    • Susy on August 22, 2011 at 12:48 am

      I have not, I’ll have to do that someday. It’s close enough that I could take a day trip over there, thanks for the recommendation!

      Reply to Susy's comment

  5. KimH on August 21, 2011 at 12:31 pm

    What time of year did you go to Monticello? Those photos look like the exact time I’d like to visit… I dont want to go too early in the year and I dont want to go too late either.. but I am definitely going one of these years.. perhaps next summer.. sigh.. I keep saying that.

    I really should get over to Stan Hywet Hall too. Its too close to ignore.

    Have you been to Lantern Court at The Holden Arboretum? Its just beautiful too. I volunteered for a while at Holden (still do some at the booths at the Home & Garden Shows) and I just love the whole place.
    They’re rebuilding/planting some of the landscapes so next year there will be many new additions to see. I only live 12 miles from Holden and dont get out there near as often as I should, fer shame, fer shame. ;)

    Reply to KimH's comment

    • Susy on August 22, 2011 at 12:51 am

      This visit was in late July early August last summer. It was a lovely time, wish I lived closer so I could visit every season. Stan Hywet is really nice during peony blooming season – I’d highly recommend making the trip then. Or perhaps buy a membership and go each month for one year! I have been to Holden a few times, it is quite lovely.

      Reply to Susy's comment

      • KimH on August 22, 2011 at 9:48 am

        Wonderful, Thanks for sharing that. Next year, I have got to get myself off & out to see the beautiful places I want to see more than I have this year.
        I think Im going to start planning my trip to Monticello in earnest this winter for next summer. I have the strongest affinity towards that place & the gardens and have since I first read of it as a child in the early 70s in grade school or Jr High. I get so emotional when I see photos of it.. Its so wild.
        I love Jefferson too.. and love many of the same things he loved.. its like a connection across the ages.. Odd but endearing as well. ;)
        If you ever get a chance to try Esopus Spitzenburg apples, give them a try.. They’re a spicy amazing apple and I happened upon 1 source for them in Eastlake a few miles from where I live. Turns out they’re Jeffersons favorite apple as well.. simply amazing since I dont even normally like apples.. well, not the commercial varieties anyways. ;)

        to KimH's comment

  6. Lindsey@NW Backyard Veggies on August 21, 2011 at 8:53 pm

    Are all gardeners such voyeurs??? I LOVE to peek at what other people are doing!!

    I would love to go to Monticello – I have always dreamed of seeing Jeffersons 24 varieties of lettuce….

    I love to walk through the Seattle Tilth demonstration gardens – it gives me hope that not everything has to be so beautiful – sometimes it can look messy and still be amazing!

    Reply to Lindsey@NW Backyard Veggies's comment

  7. Xan from Mahlzeit on August 21, 2011 at 10:12 pm

    I grew up a few miles from Longwood Gardens. Thanks for the memory.

    Reply to Xan from Mahlzeit's comment

    • Susy on August 22, 2011 at 12:58 am

      Oh, I LOVE LOVE LOVE visiting Longwood and hope to take a short trip to see it in September.

      Reply to Susy's comment

  8. Allison on August 22, 2011 at 9:48 am

    I haven’t really visited many different gardens, but I have read a lot about Thomas Jefferson’s and I would love to see it in person one day!

    Reply to Allison's comment

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This is a daily journal of my efforts to cultivate a more simple life, through local eating, gardening and so many other things. We used to live in a small suburban neighborhood Ohio but moved to 153 acres in Liberty, Maine in 2012.

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