Our first class field trip wasn’t to a far away place, but it was a world apart in terms of design. Winterthur, an “American country estate”, is also a du Pont horticulture legacy much in keeping with Longwood’s own history. However, Henry du Pont, or at least those folks in whose capable hands he left Winterthur, had a much more “relaxed” sense of design, creating sweeping hills and meadows as a framework for enchanted pocket gardens and wooded nooks. There is a penchant for peonies and azaleas while there are no real formal settings and certainly no conservatories. The walk around the grounds was led by Colvin, although most of us were consistently getting left behind when we lingered over a particular plant, usually one of the outstanding spring bloom specimens. I am looking forward to returning to Winterthur when the peonies are in bloom. Since it’s only a short drive from Longwood, I might also stop over there for a summer picnic sometime. Would be a jolly good time, don’t you think?
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PHOTOS FROM WINTERTHUR – APRIL 2008
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Merrill Magnolia
Geophytes in bloom, creating a carpet of blue
Geophytes
Merrill Magnolia heavy with blooms
Another magnolia but not sure which one specifically
Gold Finch Hellebore
Rolling Vista
Exploring Winterthur
