A Very Favorite Birthday (I hope you'll feel "treated", too!)

Hi there! I've been hoping to post all week, and finally had a bit of time to sit down this evening. To be honest, I was mortified when I noticed the last time I'd posted, which was a few weeks ago! I knew that life had been much too busy, but I had no idea how much time had gone by. My birthday resolution this year is to be a better, more attentive blogging friend!

I am doing some things to hopefully free up more time and energy for things that I enjoy but had to put aside sometimes in the past few months, like blogging as much as I would like, and also getting around regularly to visit all of you. I have resigned my current position at work, and am looking at two different opportunities which would allow me a bit more time and also be new, fun, and challenging, so hopefully I will be back to more "my schedule" soon!

Just after my birthday, a little over a week ago, my daddy asked to take me to my favorite place in my city, Dixon Gallery & Gardens. Here he is, in front of some azaleas right after we arrived...isn't he sweet? He wanted for it to be "my day", and he knew how I love it there (and he does love it, too). It is a gorgeous place, especially the second or third week in April. And, he chose the absolute perfect day. It was sunny, clear, and in the 70s, and the gardens were at the very peak of bloom. It was amazing, and a special day with my father I will remember always.

I first showed you these gardens here, but that was during the winter, and I hope that you'll perhaps enjoy seeing it with us this time of year even more. The history of the gardens is also included in that original post.

This bridge is a replica of a bridge at St Andrew's Golf Club, Scotland. A tradition at the tournament in Scotland is for the winning golfer to have their photo taken on that bridge. You can see the original bridge in the header (and also a photo below that) of their site, linked here. My daddy always dreamed of seeing it in person and having his photo taken there, and he thought this might be the next best thing. I just love this photo.

This is what the large South Lawn of the gardens looks like just after you enter....

More azaleas...it just doesn't get prettier, does it?

The formal areas of the gardens are based on garden design in Italy and France, and they truly are breathtaking. When we turned the corner and entered this "room", I couldn't believe the intensity of the color. I knew then that we were in for a real treat.

This is the seating area at the end of the pink azalea allee...

I couldn't decide if I enjoyed the statuary or the flowers more...

This is a detailed view of the statue Europa and the Bull, an 18th Century marble sculpture group which was purchased at an estate sale from Grimston Park, Tadcaster, York, in 1962. It is the focal point at the rear of the expansive South Lawn, and my favorite place in the garden.

This is how it looks when it first comes into view as you round the corner of shrubs...

This is "The Dixon Rose", which was developed for The Dixon by a rose expert in Oregon.

This is Venus of Memphis, and was commissioned by Mr. and Mrs. Dixon and completed in 1963. The view of the entire Venus Allee is just below.

Pretty pink azaleas...a friend told me that these looked good enough to eat, and I'd have to agree!

This sculpture represents one of the Four Seasons, which is a recurring theme in the statuary groupings throughout the gardens.

I'm not sure of the botanic name for this...we used to call them "snowballs" when we were children. They look a lot like white hydrangeas, don't they?

A view of the gardens from the rear of the South Lawn...

I love these white azaleas tinged in pink...

Here is one of the many beautiful walkways found around the perimeter of the gardens, which beckon you on during your visit.I hope that you've enjoyed going on my "birthday treat" garden visit with me. I have a few more Dixon pretties to show you next time...I think that you'll particularly love the cutting garden, which is delightful! I'm so glad that you could stop by! Until next time...xoxo