Time Travel Gardening

September 12, 2015 by dorannrule

You bird lovers out there probably already knew the answer to the question in yesterday’s post about Ridgely Historic Gardens.

That ghostly hanging thing was a clump of sheep’s wool!

Songbirds love this well-insulating, all-weather fiber that’s ideal for their nests and there for the pickin’!

Ridgely Gardens is a historic two-acre mountainside property overlooking the town of Clifton Forge in the Alleghany Highlands of Virginia. This week my friend, Norma, and I had a private tour with Donald Roberts, the current owner and gardener!

The Roberts believe gardens are to be shared and welcome visitors, including groups, garden clubs, and folks like Norma and me, who are just curious.

These beautiful gardens were first started in 1902, professionally landscaped in 1932, and now the original detailed plans and blueprints are on display.

Donald Roberts – Ridgely Historic Gardens

Mr. Roberts cleared, managed, maintained and stuck closely to the original plans and plantings which included a boxwood maze, a large variety of heirloom plants and extensive Depression era stonework. Fishponds, fountains, a stone pagoda, a greenhouse, a sunken stone hothouse, and a gardener’s cabin are other features of this remarkable place.

Posted in Birds, Camera-Walking, Country Adventures, Country Fotos, Country Lore, Country Thoughts, Gardening, History and Places, Out of Town, Travel in Virginia, Virginia | Tagged Alleghany Highlands, Birds, Clifton Forge VA, country living, country places, gardening, Historic gardens, nesting, photography, Ridgely Historic Gardens, Virginia | 28 Comments

28 Responses

on September 12, 2015 at 3:02 am Mama's Empty Nest

What a neat place! And I’m glad to see that odd thing is actually something good!

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on September 12, 2015 at 3:13 am virginiabornandbred

This looks beautiful and I didn’t even know it existed!! Thanks for sharing.

_____

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on September 12, 2015 at 3:58 am suzicate

I did not guess sheep’s wool! I was thinking more on the line of some sort of cocoon.

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on September 12, 2015 at 4:07 am dorannrule

I had the same reaction. 🙂 Glad to see something weird that serves a better purpose.

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on September 12, 2015 at 4:08 am dorannrule

You are not alone Julie. I never knew this bird treat existed either. 🙂

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on September 12, 2015 at 4:08 am dorannrule

I thought it was a Halloween decoration they may have put up early. 🙂

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on September 12, 2015 at 4:20 am pattisj

Beautiful! I love the stonework. Sheep wool! I guess our birds don’t have that option here.

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on September 12, 2015 at 4:28 am dorannrule

Just when I think I know it all, I discover something new. I may string up some dog hair when we begin dog sitting.

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on September 12, 2015 at 4:29 am pattisj

They’d probably like that!

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on September 12, 2015 at 4:44 am Dianna

Beautiful photos — I sure missed out on the sheep’s wool…!

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on September 12, 2015 at 5:43 am Jill Weatherholt

Oh wow, Dor…what a beautiful place. I might have to use that in my next book!

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on September 12, 2015 at 6:36 am Charlie@Seattle Trekker

It sounds like such a remarkable garden, if I can get into that area again I am going to try to put that on my itinerary.

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on September 12, 2015 at 7:04 am Anne Mehrling

The picture of the fountain is fantastic. I was staring at it and had a hard time deciding whether the water was moving or not. It was mesmerizing.

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on September 12, 2015 at 7:31 am Mary

Interesting about the sheeps wool – those lucky birds!

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on September 12, 2015 at 7:47 am photosfromtheloonybin

Well, it still looks ghostly. Woooooooo!!

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on September 12, 2015 at 7:54 am dorannrule

I missed guessing right about the sheep’s wool too Dianna so you are not alone. Good idea but where will we get some sheep’s wool unless we go to a farm?

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on September 12, 2015 at 7:57 am dorannrule

It is quite lovely and even more so in April, May or June, or so says the gardener. He will take you on a private tour if you call ahead and make an appointment and it’s free. 🙂

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on September 12, 2015 at 8:02 am dorannrule

Yes, the water is moving in that fountain Anne. I’m so glad you found it as interesting as I did.

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on September 12, 2015 at 8:05 am dorannrule

Perfect for a horror movie or a prop in a haunted house!

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on September 12, 2015 at 9:40 am Mary Strong-Spaid

Ok! I have lived in Virginia for over 20 years, and most of the places that you are mentioning–I have not seen! I need to get in my car, turn on my GPS, and start driving around. Oh and, considering how often my GPS is wrong, I also need to get a map. 😉

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on September 12, 2015 at 10:06 am Eliza Waters

Lucky guess, huh? 😉 Looks like a lovely spot to spend an afternoon. Your shot of the fountain with the blue and yellow reflections is lovely.

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on September 12, 2015 at 11:53 am Jill Weatherholt

Thanks, Dor! I’ll have to keep this in mind.

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on September 12, 2015 at 11:57 am dorannrule

Drive to Lexington first Mary o.k.? We can go to some of the places together and I might not even need a map. 🙂

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on September 12, 2015 at 11:59 am dorannrule

I had no doubt you would be the first to guess right about the sheep’s wool Eliza. And you were the only one who had the slightest idea until Rita joined you. 🙂

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on September 12, 2015 at 12:21 pm Mary Strong-Spaid

Sounds like a plan. I’m free in October. Could even see the changing of the leaves….

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on September 12, 2015 at 2:01 pm dorannrule

October is definitely “the” month to travel around in Virginia. The problem is I won’t be able to meet up with you until the latter part of the month. 😦

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on September 21, 2015 at 3:46 am The Coastal Crone

Never would have guessed sheep’s wool! What a beautiful place! Good post on it.

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on September 21, 2015 at 8:53 am dorannrule

Thanks coastalcrone! I was shocked that it was wool too. Who knew? 🙂

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