Sunday, April 5, 2015

Shakespeare Garden at Festival Hill

We're touring the gardens and grounds of Festival Hill, a performance and learning center for musicians, in Round Top, Texas.  In the last post I showed you the Roman Ruin garden and in this post we're touring the Shakespeare Garden.




Shakespeare Gardens feature plants mentioned in the bard's sonnets and plays.  I'm pretty sure that's Mexican Honeysuckle so a bit of artistic license taken here even though honeysuckle is in Shakespeare's works.  Some of the Shakespeare gardens I've visited extend the plant selection to those grown during the Elizabethan Age. This garden is somewhat simple compared to those found in public gardens I've visited and more of a tribute than a specific collection of plants.  Festival Hill hosts an April poet's forum in addition to their popular concert series and musician clinics.  "Oh to be in England now that April's there..."



My favorites were the Iris in peak bloom last week and perfect for an Easter Week garden visit.


Must plant more iris


A few bits of whimsy perhaps the bard would approve.


Shakespeare mentioned over 150 plants in his writings.  Fennel shown here and other plants in garden include rosemary, thyme and lilies.




Salvia urica, salvia or sage is not mentioned in Shakespeare, but Yorick is.







More honeysuckle, a native spring bloomer


Golden Ramie, an herb used to treat wounds.  "He jests at scars that never felt a wound."  The pharmacy garden is next on our tour.


The Shakespeare garden is next to the Menke House, a 1902 Gothic Revival home moved to the site and restored.  This view looks back at the Roman Ruin garden featured in my last post.






The house is currently used for food service and meetings.  The large patio is a nice relaxing spot for guests.




 Next post is the Pharmacy Garden, greenhouse, and lake with a fabulous stone bridge.
Posted by at 10:54 PM
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10 comments:

  1. TexasDebApril 6, 2015 at 8:33 AM

    A fascinating glimpse at what is clearly a springtime paradise of sorts. Interestingly, these spaces are not very "Texan" in appearance which I say not by way of complaint, but rather in admiration/acknowledgement of the work done to thematically present garden spaces that work outside of any particular location or time.

    Thanks for the tour!

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    1. ShirleyApril 6, 2015 at 9:34 AM

      Are you sayin' east Texas isn't Texan? The gardens do look more like their east Texas roots. With their east-central Texas location the gardens are not Hill Country style due to different soil and about twice as much rain.

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    2. TexasDebApril 15, 2015 at 9:17 AM

      East Texas is VERY Texan, didn't mean that at all. I more meant the formality and classical references at Festival Hill are not what I'm used to in Texas gardens because most of the gardens - and gardeners - that I know well are working in slightly humbler spaces. : )

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    3. ShirleyApril 15, 2015 at 12:53 PM

      Ah, the buildings here have been preserved because they are so special. The gardens are very typical of the area.

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  2. www.ravenscourtgardens. comApril 6, 2015 at 9:54 AM

    What a great space and how fun to have a Shakespearean garden.

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  3. Michael - Plano Prairie GardenApril 6, 2015 at 9:26 PM

    The gardens and buildings in the last two posts are very interesting. And who would have expected a coffee cup planter made from a trash can?

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  4. Beth at PlantPostingsApril 7, 2015 at 8:52 PM

    I know--I need to plant more Irises, too. They make such a beautiful statement--before, during, and after they bloom. What a great place to tour. I love the idea of a Shakespeare garden. :)

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  5. outlawgardenerApril 10, 2015 at 8:44 AM

    Interesting garden and I am in LOVE with the house. How fortunate that it was moved and restored. Too many of our older buildings are demolished each year to make room for progress.

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  6. rickiiApril 12, 2015 at 7:22 PM

    One of those giant concrete baskets look silly in our local stone yard. Right pot, right place? Oh, those iris!

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    Replies
    1. ShirleyApril 12, 2015 at 8:16 PM

      Oh yes! Those baskets are ubiquitous in the south where they typically overflow with cheery annuals. There are more than a few in my neighborhood planted with cactus and succulents for easy care. Even empty they don't look silly at all.

      Delete

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