Sunday, July 29, 2012

La Majorelle

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I’m revisiting this beautiful garden again with photos I’m finally completing from my archives, why did I forget about this beautiful garden?  Oh well, I’m glad to rediscover this treasure of Le Jardin Majorelle and the home of Yves Saint Laurent in Marrakesh.


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The front entrance has these pink stucco walls with interesting layered and carved motifs fronting a simple fountain. The reflecting pool is lined with beautiful blue, purple and green mosaic tiles and a marble fountain base. It felt very welcoming and intrigued visitors to come into the bamboo grove  with colorful pots in primary colors.


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The tall culms of bamboo with colorful pots draw you further into this oasis, I’m shocked to see a whole grove of bamboo in this more typical mediterranean and desert environment.

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The collection of cactus and succulents is impressive with large and mature specimens offering large sculptural vignettes.  Here visitors have placed their marks on some cactus away from the usually pestering guards wandering around.

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Tall palms and desert cactus give a more realistic appeal to the exotic Moroccan topography.

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The signature blue color predominant all over the gardens and villa and gives
Le Jardin Majorelle  instant recognition with its famous blue color.


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Totally loving the huge yellow pots with the all blue fountain adding to the exotic
allure of this amazing place.

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An enticing courtyard with sitting areas invites you to lounge and admire the views.

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More natural sculpture found in the garden.

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Here, the signature Majorelle blue predominates this walled garden and is filled with the
heavenly scent of brugmansia or angles trumpet.

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A large water lily garden creates layered vistas through the entire garden and all the amazing palm collections growing in the gardens. Its easy to sit on the many benches and contemplate the scenery unfolding before you.

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YSL loved his dogs and created many montages that became posters and Christmas cards,
here’s one of my favorites of his dog Moujik.


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I’m wearing blue as a tribute this this amazing place, even though its not Majorelle blue.

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One of my favorite vistas with a hint of blue from the villa with striking yellow curtains.

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Lots of blooms happening with various cactus, here I’ve capture gorgeous blooms from this magnificent specimen.

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So glad to discover these photos again and relive my visit to this alluring garden, hope you also enjoyed the tour of Le Jardin Majorelle.

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Coconut Island Fun

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Summer at last, time to enjoy the simple pleasures.

……like playing in the water and doing crazy fun things

 

 

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….like jumping from towers into warm waters below

 

 

 

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…..or sleeping underneath a large and cool tree.

 

 

 

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and looking up at the leaves in the trees and noticing all the fine details, aren’t they dazzling?

 

 

 

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Along the Hilo bay front is a little island filled with coconut trees sweetly named coconut island. you cross by a long bridged pathway to a grassy area filled with picnic spots, little beach coves and the jumping tower. When its hot, its easy to find cool shade underneath the large autograph trees with their huge fan leaves.

 

   Its so nice to enjoy days like this in Hawaii

 

             ….just a simple day exploring and having some fun.

Monday, July 16, 2012

An Estate in Papaikou


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On a visit to a gorgeous estate in Papaiko with the Hawaii Island Palm Society. We are walking through an old Hawaiian estate with an extensive palm collection along with other beautiful flora.


The main gate is impressive with large bronze bamboo like stems curving in many directions and sweeping around large lava rock pillars which secure an entry gate for walking through.

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After passing through the gate, we are facing a beautiful moss covered lava rock wall graced by this Ganesh with interesting purple leaved elder.

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The main driveway is quite grand and dotted with beautiful statuary, pots and mature palms along with these stands of variegated miniature ficus trees.

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Tall palms line the driveway accented with red ti and mondo grass.


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I love seeing this vignette with the moss covered lava rocks and mondo grass next
to this variegated ficus.

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A bigger view of the expansive driveway.

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Large chinese pots are used for a water garden filled with water lillies and bromeliads
surrounding the pot below.

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Towards the end of the driveway from the house, two huge urns grace another rock wall with tree ferns adding tall lacy details from their fronds.

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Facing the main home is this balinese inspired entry to the interior garden with orchids
attached to the intricate stonework.



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A beautiful sitting area for meditation or conversation, it was a perfect spot for the group
to picnic with the food served in the large pavilion next door.

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A cycad detail with its huge cone prominent and projecting a sharp, textured pineapple like top.
 
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A beautiful and deadly detailed shot of an unusual palm.

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There are orchids growing everywhere along the various palms on the property, they
are pretty effortless growing in these environments.

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The interior garden with covered pergolas leading to the main house.


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I’m fond of these obake type anthuriums, there’s a whole collection growing along the interior garden facing the main home. Each flower is large, at over a foot and a half in length.

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Walking through this densely planted area of palms, we happen onto this rare palm Johannesteijsmannia Altifrons from Borneo. You can see from the scale, the leaves are huge!

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I spot a small stand of birds of paradise, I’m always fond of taking pictures of the colors
and shapes from these beautiful flowers.

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A stairway leading down to the lower gardens with Licuala Grandis providing shade along the pathways.

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We finally make it to the large grassy area in the lower garden, filled with fruit trees like abiu, mountain apples, mangosteen and lychee.

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A detail shot of pods developing on this palm, I love all the texture on the pods.

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This place is a truly magical botanical garden  filled with amazing plants. I’m glad I had a chance to visit with the palm society and take some wonderful photos.


Thanks for taking the tour with me, to visit other gardens for bloom day today go to http://www.maydreamsgardens.com

Monday, July 9, 2012

Filoli Re-visited

 

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Part two of my Filoli visit was filled with more garden rooms to explore. After walking through  the knot garden with beautiful sprays of lavender, santolina, rosemary and chrysanthemums,  we walked quickly through the small potager garden, most of the harvest were being utilized for the cafĂ© menu.

 

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The cutting gardens were extensive, most covered with chicken wire and different cages to deter the wildlife, unfortunately, I was only able to take two photos of this area.

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A detailed poppy shot with bees fluttering everywhere.

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We entered a shady dell where the tennis court is located but mainly used now for rental and outdoor functions. A small stand of white dogwoods where in full display along the walled court.

 

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We passed quickly through this blue garden with a central sundial as a focus with potted pansies.

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The pool area is very simple with brick walkways and large potted digitalis flowers in full bloom.

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The borders along the pool contained elevated beds of California poppies and other

springtime annuals.

 

 

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Heading back towards the side of the main house are views back to the garden room with large chinese pots filled with purple clematis. 

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The other side of the same fence was lined with deep yellow roses with the clematis spilling over from the large pots.

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Almost hand sized red poppies were clustered in beds next to the yellow roses, I’ve never seen poppies this large, I should have used my hand in the photograph to give some perspective.

 

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Along with the outside garden tour, there is also a nice tour of the inside, much of the interior furnishings were sold off, but there were a few original pieces that have been donated back to the organization to fill out most of the interior spaces.

 

I love pictures looking out and making a silhouette of the doors.

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In most of the rooms, gorgeous floral displays were set in prominent areas utilizing the flowers from the cutting gardens. Volunteers expertly create large and amazing floral vignettes.

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The main dining room below.

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I love crystal chandeliers like this elaborate beauty below.

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Another sublime display in monochromatic shades of orange.

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Again another display of different orange colored blooms, I actually love monochromatic mixtures, what do you think?

 

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A detailed study of alstroemerias below

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One last peek into the walled gardens before I head out to the gift shop.

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This was such a fun visit, I loved all the time spent in the gardens and inside the home. If you have a chance to visit the Bay Area, you won’t be disappointed in taking the time to visit Filoli in Woodside.

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