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Autumn Bliss in Delaware Gardens

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Autumn beauty at the Delaware Botanic Garden…a long-awaited visit to the latest botanic garden on the East Coast.

Autumn is a season I look forward to every year. The heat of this summer made me realize that some features of my garden need to be reconfigured. Autumn tells a special garden story. The success or failure of certain plants becomes quite visible. The gardens I recently visited in Delaware were inspirational and instilled a sense of hope for next year’s garden.

Members and friends of GardenComm – Region II recently ventured to Delaware and explored several select gardens. John Boggan, Region II member, curated a day in Delaware featuring various gardens for a taste of autumn near the shore. It was a beautiful day to escape and enjoy gardens anywhere. I missed the first garden filled with annuals and tropicals in a planned golf course community. The second stop of the day at the Delaware Botanic Garden at Pepper Creek is where I met the group.

AUTUMN AT DBG

The Delaware Botanic Gardens at Pepper Creek have been the talk of the horticultural community. Located in Dagsboro, Delaware, the latest Botanic garden on the East coast offers five different garden rooms to inspire all who visit.

Raymond J. Sander, President of DBG Board of Directors welcomed us and answered as many inquiries as possible about the beginnings of the garden as well as the mission.

The mission of the Delaware Botanic Gardens at Pepper Creek is to create a world-class, inspirational, educational public garden in southern Delaware for the benefit and enjoyment of all. One can only envision the future of this garden and the effect it will have on the landscapes of the future.

THE GARDEN ROOMS

Brian Trader was our official tour guide as we wandered about the property and embracing autumnal bliss.

Brian Trader escorted our group through the five gardens found at the Delaware Botanic Gardens. The Meadow Garden is a design of Piet Oudolf. He is known for his highly acclaimed naturalistic landscapes around the world. What an honor to visit this special place. This garden is beautiful in every season. Planted with 85% native and pollinator plants, the colors in autumn are just magnificent. A ribbon of soft-toned grasses and perennials danced in the middle of the field.

Autumn ribbons of color grace the landscape at the Delaware Botanic Gardens at Pepper Creek.

We visited the Inland Garden which featured plantings that mimicked how the landscape would have appeared many years ago. Karen Steenhoudt explained to us the significance of an Inland garden. We were invited to visit often and see how it continues to evolve.

Signage helped us identify the different areas like the Inland Dune garden.
The Learning Garden, sponsored by Dogfish Head Craft Brewery is considered an outdoor classroom. This compliments the Inland Dune garden and has a freshwater pond as well. The perfect demonstration of what the landscape would have looked like over 30,000 years ago.
When visiting the Learning Garden, guests will see nature up close and at the water’s edge so to speak.
The Folly Garden offered a sense of whimsy. A wrought-iron gate was left standing where it was used as an entrance years ago. The homestead is long gone. Bricks found on the property lined the walkways.
A crevice garden is also found in the folly Garden. Even in autumn, crevice gardens intrigue and excite me.

The Woodland Edge Garden featured a branch border. Branches from the trees along the way are used to define the pathways. There were benches along the way for pausing and just enjoying the view.

The views of Pepper Creek leaves visitors wanting to return. Membership, as well as donations, are needed to keep this vision alive. Funding will allow development to continue.

The Woodland Gardens offered the familiar sounds of nature. From the whisper of the wind to the chirping of the birds…serenity was all around us. Oversized manmade nests were tucked among the trees. Educational whimsy created smiles in our group. Imagine 12 acres in its native state. With vernal pools edged with ferns, tall native coastal trees and more. There is a lot to envision and explore.

One of the coolest things was the nest. It was HUGE!! The entire group gathered inside one for a photo. As the twigs breakdown and return to the soil, one could consider this a living earth science space to discover life in the garden. It was amazing!!!
Dotted along the woodland paths, these nests created a stirring in my heart. I could imagine incorporating a small scale nest in my garden. Public gardens are meant to intrigue and inspire!!!

REVISITING NEXT SEASON

This was just the start of a wonderful day in Delaware. Exploring new gardens for inspiration in autumn is refreshing. I highly suggest visiting the Delaware Botanic Gardens at Pepper Creek in any season. Embracing nature and imagining the possibilities of what this site will become is quite intriguing. One of the latest Public Gardens that will educate and inspire all who visit.

Find out more information about the Delaware Botanic Gardens at Pepper Creek by clicking here

Wondering how Piet Odoulf has designed and touched the world of horticulture and landscapes around the world, click here

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Gardencomm…Why Join??

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If you are a gardener, scouting for that near perfect spot to thrive  can be difficult. Having a passion for beautiful gardens, plants, garden books, and…well, all things garden or garden related can make finding your place in a community difficult. When you want to write, teach, or share your vision of gardening so it reaches the masses, finding a practical place is key. As I asked around, it was recommended that I join The Association of Garden Writers, currently known as GardenComm.

As my daughters attended elementary and middle school, I researched Virginia Master Gardener courses. A stay at home Mom, I made time to take the Master Gardener classes to learn all I could about gardening. When I became a parent liaison for the science club, we installed a butterfly garden at Grafton Village Elementary school. I was known as the worm lady of Fredericksburg, Virginia, according to the Freelance Star.  Proudly, as one of the founding farmers at the Eitt – CSA in Stafford County, I enjoyed gardening organically. From picking bugs off of the crops to laying news print from the Freelance Star between the rows as weed block, I devoured the knowledge of growing organically.

As a Master Gardner in training, I remember saving my money to buy Dr. Dirr’s Manual of Woody Ornamentals. At the time, as a part-time stay at home mom who just happened to also garden part-time, this book was a huge expense. The excitement of reading the words and identifying ornamental plant material was epic. I was so thrilled to acquire this book for my growing library. To this day, I am a true horticultural bookworm.

I am no longer the little girl whose dad did not allow her to play in the dirt. Learning Latin words was fun and I enjoyed it. Giving back to my community by volunteering as a Central Rappahannock Master Gardener was quite important.

Fast forward to a different life outside of Fredericksburg, Va.  I wanted to reach out to people who could only imagine gardening. It was a defining moment. I decided to blog. Writing/blogging is a way to share gardening, garden travels, and finding the beauty that surrounds us naturally. I reflect on how much I have practiced gardening, read about gardening, visited garden centers, attended talks, and given talks. The conclusion – I have realized my passion. My experiences, in my voice, just might be unique.

As I write, travel, speak and share in my own voice and it continues to be quite freeing. The opportunity to network with like-minded passionate plants people has opened up a whole new world for me. I look at the authors on my bookshelf and I realize that I am in GREAT company (including Dr.Dirr) as a garden communicator. I am even considering writing a book. Why? This community inspires me. Sharing my thoughts on all things beautiful is a wonderful way of having my say.

If you want to be YOU-nique in this wonderful word of horticulture, networking, and experience opportunities otherwise unheard of, GardenComm just might be what you are looking for. The sense of belonging, the camaraderie, the genuine support I find in this garden of communicators is amazing. As with any organization, what you put into it can make the organization what you want it to be. I can proudly say…I am GARDENCOMM!

Meet the Author

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A Native Washingtonian, garden communicator Teresa Speight has found a niche sharing the beauty of this earth via her blog https://www.cottageinthecourt.com, speaking engagements, Garden Experiences, and civic involvement. Former Sr. Gardener for the City of Fredericksburg, Virginia, Owner – Cottage In The Court Landscape Maintenance -specializing in Estate Gardens, Vice President/Communications Director of the Capitol Hill Garden Club as well as Region II Director for Gardencomm, finding and creating unique interpretations of all things beautiful is her passion.

Click to find out more about gardencomm

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