As we move closer to landscaping the grounds at Belle Grove Plantation, I have found myself drawn to other gardens to research  plants we might want to use. Sunday, I visited the Norfolk Botanical Gardens. It is one of my favorite gardens here in Virginia and always leaves me inspired.

The plants I was most interested in were the Azaleas and Camellia. I am hoping to dot the long drive to the front gate with a mix of Azaleas in and around the Red Cedar trees. I think it would gave a beautiful splash of color in the spring as well as provide a nice fill in to spaces where they have lost trees.

Azaleas – Dorothy Gish

Azaleas – Double Pink

Azaleas – Gloria

Azaleas – Hampton Beauty

Azaleas – Hot Shot x Hershey Red Tetra

Azaleas – New Generation

Azaleas – Rosy Frills

Azaleas – Salmon Surprise

Azaleas – Satelite

Azaleas – Gibraltar

I am at odds with the Camellias. I fell in love with them when I visited the Elizabethan Botanical Gardens in Manteo, North Carolina. From that point I knew I wanted to have a garden of them. My hope was to place them around the Riverside Portico, but with a full afternoon sun from noon to sundown, I am afraid it may be too much for them with no shade. So I am thinking about moving them to the Carriage side of the Mansion to greet our guests as they come in. They won’t have too much shade there either, but they will only get the morning sun which will be filtered through the trees until 11am to noon. So hopefully that won’t be too much full on sun.

Camella – Anemonaeflora

Camella – Brillant

Camella – Christmas Beauty

Camella – CM Hovey Colonel Firey

Camella – Ellen Daniel

Camella – Faith

Camella – Grace Albritton

Camella – Julie

Camella – Lady Laura

Camella – Masterpiece

Camella – Nuccio’s Gem

Camella – Sawadas Dream

Camella – Susan Stone

Hope you enjoy our research!

If you have any ideas you would like to share…

Please do!

To see all of our photos from the Norfolk Botanical Gardens

Please visit our Facebook Fan Page!