Van Vleck House and Gardens...Azaleas in bloom!

The sunny, warm days and cool nights this spring have prolonged one of my all time favorite seasons.  Last week I decided to venture out of my own garden to visit the Van Vleck House and Gardens in Montclair, New Jersey.

I was a bit too late to catch the estate's historic wisteria in bloom this year, but arrived just in time to find the rhododendrons and azaleas at their peak.  The house and grounds, originally established in 1916 are beautiful, with meandering paths that lead you from one garden room to the next.  The areas are home to an expansive collection of trees, shrubs and other plantings.  A closer look at the plant location map shows the arrangement of specimens. 

I wandered around the property finding a vibrant array of colors, scents, and flowers in full bloom.  It was amazing to see so many variations collected in a single garden space.

Below are some of my favorites.

This garden in spring is a rare treat, located just down the street from the Presby Memorial Iris Garden.  The two make a complete day trip for admirers of historic collected plants and trees.  Each year I manage to find a unique variety to add to my own collection and this year... the subject of my search is the orange azalea!  Can't wait to find one!