Apr. 29th 2013
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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](https://virginiaplantation.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/azaleas-macd-hybrid-dorothy-gish-3-1.jpg)
Azaleas – Dorothy Gish
![Azaleas - Double Pink](https://virginiaplantation.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/azaleas-macd-hybrid-double-pink-3-1.jpg)
Azaleas – Double Pink
![Azaleas - Gloria](https://virginiaplantation.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/azaleas-macd-hybrid-gloria3-1.jpg)
Azaleas – Gloria
![Azaleas - Hampton Beauty](https://virginiaplantation.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/azaleas-macd-hybrid-hampton-beauty-3-1.jpg)
Azaleas – Hampton Beauty
![Azaleas - Hot Shot x Hershey Red Tetra](https://virginiaplantation.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/azaleas-macd-hybrid-hot-shot-x-hershey-red-tetra-3-1.jpg)
Azaleas – Hot Shot x Hershey Red Tetra
![Azaleas - New Generation](https://virginiaplantation.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/azaleas-macd-hybrid-new-generation-3-1.jpg)
Azaleas – New Generation
![Azaleas - Rosy Frills](https://virginiaplantation.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/azaleas-macd-hybrid-rosy-frills-3-1.jpg)
Azaleas – Rosy Frills
![Azaleas - Salmon Surprise](https://virginiaplantation.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/azaleas-macd-hybrid-salmon-surprise-3-1.jpg)
Azaleas – Salmon Surprise
![Azaleas - Satelite](https://virginiaplantation.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/azaleas-macd-hybrid-satelite3-1.jpg)
Azaleas – Satelite
![Azaleas - Gibraltar](https://virginiaplantation.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/azaleas-macd-hybrid-gibraltar3-1.jpg)
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](https://virginiaplantation.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/camella-anemonaeflora3-1.jpg)
Camella – Anemonaeflora
![Camella - Brillant](https://virginiaplantation.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/camella-brillant3-1.jpg)
Camella – Brillant
![Camella - Christmas Beauty](https://virginiaplantation.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/camella-christmas-beauty3-1.jpg)
Camella – Christmas Beauty
![Camella - CM Hovey Colonel Firey](https://virginiaplantation.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/camella-cm-hovey-colonel-firey3-1.jpg)
Camella – CM Hovey Colonel Firey
![Camella - Ellen Daniel](https://virginiaplantation.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/camella-ellen-daniel3-1.jpg)
Camella – Ellen Daniel
![Camella - Faith](https://virginiaplantation.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/camella-faith3-1.jpg)
Camella – Faith
![Camella - Grace Albritton](https://virginiaplantation.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/camella-grace-albritton3-1.jpg)
Camella – Grace Albritton
![Camella - Julie](https://virginiaplantation.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/camella-julie3-1.jpg)
Camella – Julie
![Camella - Lady Laura](https://virginiaplantation.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/camella-lady-laura3-1.jpg)
Camella – Lady Laura
![Camella - Masterpiece](https://virginiaplantation.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/camella-masterpiece3-1.jpg)
Camella – Masterpiece
![Camella - Nuccio's Gem](https://virginiaplantation.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/camella-nuccios-gem3-1.jpg)
Camella – Nuccio’s Gem
![Camella - Sawadas Dream](https://virginiaplantation.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/camella-sawadas-dream3-1.jpg)
Camella – Sawadas Dream
![Camella - Susan Stone](https://virginiaplantation.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/camella-susan-stone3-1.jpg)
Camella – Susan Stone
Hope you enjoy our research!
If you have any ideas you would like to share…
Please do!
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To see all of our photos from the Norfolk Botanical Gardens
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Jul. 1st 2012
Today, I decided to jump in the car and head out for a drive. This time, it lead me to a whole nother state! North Carolina. We live in Chesapeake, Virginia, about 15 minutes from the North Carolina border. When I was looking at antiques yesterday, someone brought up Elizabeth City, North Carolina. So I thought I would head down there and to Edenton to check out what I could find as far as antiques. Sadly, most of antique stores were closed. I did find one in Hertford, North Carolina. (Thank Goodness for GPS or I would have never found it) I pulled into this small town and found Hertfordshire Antiques. It is located in a historic area of this town in an old store front. I was so excited! I found my first Mint Julep Cup! Those suckers are hard to find!!
![Hertfordshire Antiques Hertford NC](https://virginiaplantation.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/hertfordshire-antiques-hertford-nc.jpg?w=1024)
Hertfordshire Antiques Hertford NC
![DSC_0006](https://virginiaplantation.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/dsc_0006.jpg?w=883)
Afterwards I headed down to Edenton, North Carolina. While I didn’t find any antique stores, I did find some wonderful old houses.
![Pembroke Hall 1850](https://virginiaplantation.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/pembroke-hall-1850.jpg?w=1024)
Pembroke Hall 1850
![Wessington House 1850](https://virginiaplantation.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/wessington-house-1850.jpg?w=1024)
Wessington House 1850
![Dixon-Powell House 1895](https://virginiaplantation.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/dixon-powell-house-1895.jpg?w=1024)
Dixon-Powell House 1895
![Edmund Conger House 1910](https://virginiaplantation.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/edmund-conger-house-1910.jpg?w=1024)
Edmund Conger House 1910
![Elliot-Sitteron House 1895](https://virginiaplantation.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/elliot-sitteron-house-1895.jpg?w=1024)
Elliot-Sitteson House 1895
![The Granny Bond House 1873](https://virginiaplantation.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/the-granny-bond-house-1873.jpg?w=1024)
The Granny Bond House 1873
![Beverly Hall 1810](https://virginiaplantation.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/beverly-hall-1810.jpg?w=1024)
Beverly Hall 1810
![Beverly Hall 1810 Side Door](https://virginiaplantation.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/beverly-hall-1810-side-door.jpg?w=685)
Beverly Hall 1810 Side Door
Then I headed back to Virginia, stopping for a quick view of Elizabeth City, North Carolina. Here is one of the best houses there!
![Roninson Mansion 1914 Elizabeth City, NC](https://virginiaplantation.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/roninson-mansion-1914-elizabeth-city-nc.jpg?w=1024)
Roninson Mansion 1914 Elizabeth City, NC