Jasmine Hill Gardens
Sunday, May 18, 2014 at 5:00AM
Deborah Elliott in Classical sculpture, Eyed Click Beetle, Inspirational gardens, Jasmine Hill Gardens

Some friends and I recently spent a morning strolling through Jasmine Hill Gardens near Montgomery, Alabama. The setting was beautiful and serene, and the weather was perfect. Jasmine Hills is known as "Alabama's Little Corner of Greece" and features over 20 acres of botanical beauty and classical sculpture. It was conceived in 1928 by Benjamin and Mary Fitzpatrick, who made their home in an 1830-era cottage within the Gardens. The Fitzpatricks enjoyed Greek culture and made over twenty trips to Greece to study and purchase art objects for the Gardens.

Jasmine Hill Gardens has nooks and crannies and long paths to explore, abundant foliage, magnificent trees and patina that only age can bring. Here is a sampling of the lovely scenes we encountered:This cottage was home to the Fitzpatricks. They spent many years developing the gardens.

The bug in the top photo is an Eyed Click Beetle. The huge spots on its head, resembling eyes, are supposed to help warn off predators.

I hope you enjoyed the tour. Have a great week! 

Article originally appeared on Deb's Garden Blog (http://debsgarden.squarespace.com/).
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