Pictures of the Gardens and Grounds at
Village Green Resort
What is happening in the Gardens
January
While most of the garden sleeps, the cold weather is intensifying the
colors in the bark of the Cornus 'Midwinter Fire' and the Flame Willows.
By mid January, the Sarcococca will be blooming. It’s tiny white flowers
are hard to see, but it’s intoxicating fragrance will definitely catch
your attention. Witchhazels are also starting to bloom - a little
promise that Spring is not far away.
January is a time to look closely at the "bones" of the garden, it's
structure, design, and simplicity. It is also a time to look for jewels
in the garden in the form of frost on seed pods, cyclamen peeking from
under the snow and the lovely veil of the morning mist.
February
February is a month of promises. Little Reticulata Iris, Early Crocus,
Witchhazels and Hellebores all open their blossoms under lead colored
skies. The earliest Daphnes are perfuming the air. The Pulmonaria start
to show new life and the Snowdrops and Early Narcissus are awakening.
Towards the end of February, we host our "Hellebore Days" Retreat.
March
March is a long month for gardeners. No longer winter, yet not quite
spring, we need every little bit of cheer the garden can offer.
Fortunately, the Evergreen Clematis is beginning to open and spread it's
fragrance. The earliest spring ephemerals, the Fritillarias, Trilliums,
and Lamb's Tongues are blooming. Towards the end of the month, the
Magnolias will put on a show along with many Camellias. Swifts and
Swallows return to set up housekeeping in the boiler chimney and in the
many birdhouses scattered through the gardens.
April
Spring is in full swing in April beginning with the Bleeding Hearts and
Primroses. The Ferns are unfurling their fiddleheads as Veratrum struts
it’s architectural beauty. Lamb's Tongues are still blooming and the
Primroses are competing to see who will be Belle of the Ball. As the
Flowering Currents open their blossoms, the hummingbirds return in full
force. Rhododendrons are blooming and the Jack-in-the-pulpits are open
for preaching.
May
May is a month for Mothers and nostalgia. The lilacs and the clematis
are blooming, everything is lush green, and the birds are nesting. At
the Village Green, we place an abundance of birdhouses for the use of
the Tree Swallows that come in every year. Our old boiler chimney is
home to hundreds of Chimney Swifts every night, and the Killdeer
regularly nest on the gravel road at the back of the garden. Luckily,
Molina, the resort cat is too fat and lazy to hunt for baby birds. She
spends her days sleeping in Cindee's office or curled up in some warm
sun trap.
June
The first of the roses are making a show,
along with clematis, lilies and most of the early summer perennials.
This is the "Cottage Garden" month, where the gardens look like
something out of an English garden magazine. Now is the time for
picnics, graduations and weddings.
July
The gardens are making their slow change from lush pinks and pastels to
the hotter colors of summer. We see more reds, oranges and yellows in
the garden now as the sun heats up the garden. The Gathering Grounds are
ready for weddings, family reunions and other festivities. Herbs and
vegetables are being harvested from the Kitchen Garden and the Courtyard
is filled every week-end for weddings.
