July 1, 2020. Winterthur, Delaware. Legacy of Henry Francis du Pont, 1880-1969.
A walk not long after dawn through the grounds of Winterthur which opened its grounds to the public today.
The museum is still mostly closed.
Twin trees of a kind which form the high canopy of this parkland greet you as you enter.


American Beech and Tulip Poplar
Heavy dew on the ground at this hour.
Sundial above the Reflecting Pool
Fresh plantings of boxwood and forsythia have been introduced for a little formality in the Sundial Garden.
This is the boxwood whose fragrance is unbearable to some people and heavenly to others.
New boxwood with a dawn redwood ending the sight line
A reminder of man-made order at a time of man-made disorder. I don’t know how conscious this planning was on the part of Winterthur. So welcome, though.
The great flowering bushes and trees are, in the main, done. An exception is an azalea with luscious deep coral flowers.
The hydrangeas are queen now:
delicate and robust. White, lilac, the palest blue and green, pink, mauve and periwinkle.
Oak-leaved hydrangeas, considered a native
Oak-leaved hydrangea at Mt. Cuba, Delaware
Tea of Heaven cultivar, Hydrangea serrata, Shirofugi
at Mt. Cuba, Delaware
at Mt. Cuba, Delaware
at Mt. Cuba, Delaware
at Mt. Cuba, Delaware
at Mt. Cuba, Delaware
at Mt. Cuba, Delaware
Panicle hydrangea
Panicle hydrangea
Panicle hydrangea
Panicle hydrangea
Oakleaf hydrangea, Mt. Cuba, Hockessin, Delaware
The native cohosh (bugbane), gesticulating in the woods and thrusting into your path, vie for attention.
Native cohosh
Ferns massed like armies and seldom alone
and thistles, even lowlier than ferns because they are often pulled out
Thistle in bloom and in seed
Chinese astilbe at the koi pool
and the orange day lily
orange day lily at the carp pool
Me thinks that you love beauty. I enjoyed also the butterflies and the spider.
A refreshing experience and a much needed reminder of a green thought in a green shade” Thank you.
Beautiful walk!
I really liked the photo with the machaon.
I love the photo of the boxwood through the gnarled branches, so beautifully framed. A great read, thank you 🌿