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| My daughter Deb and I in front of museum among sculptures |
On the weekend of our 57th wedding anniversary, along with attending the wedding shower of my granddaughter, my daughter and I toured a small part of the Cummer Museum of Fine Arts and Gardens which is the largest fine arts museum in northern Florida, created in 1959 by Ninah M.H. Cummer. I think originally the garden area was part of a private home back in the early part of Florida's heyday. We only had time to tour the outdoor sculpture display and the gardens in back. What a treat that was.
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| One of the sculptures in front |
Most of our time was spent in the beautiful gardens in back by the St. John's River but we did see a little of the sculpture garden in the front. It just didn't lend itself to decent photos.
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| In the front Sculpture Garden |
The back has three different formal gardens. The Lower Olmsted Garden, Italian Garden and the English Garden
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| Lower Olmsted Garden |
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| Italian garden reflecting pool |
The Italian Garden has two reflecting pools side by side
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| Very old vine growing on pergola |
All of the following photos of the pergola are in the English garden and as you can see it has growth that is over 100 years old.
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| English Garden with pergola in background |
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| More wonderful foliage |
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| More old growth on pergola |
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| Beautiful brick work design behne the pergola |
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| English Garden |
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| Stunning growth of old vine |
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| Peeking out from all that green |
And if all of that was not beautiful enough there is an ancient Live Oak growing on the grounds that is one of the oldest in Florida. I always feel so privileged and humble when standing under one of these living testimonies to endurance.
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| Cummer Oak |
Darlene! I got the shivers looking at the beautiful garden and your words help me understand what I am seeing. I think posting photos of a place that inspires your imagination, enlivens your soul, and keeps you in that creative juicy place is legitimate content for an "art" blog. EXPANDING your being and allowing mine to expand too! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteI am glad you enjoyed the photos of the gardens. I was there a very long time ago and in the last few years they have gotten some funding so expanded and really spruced the gardens up...I love going there..I could sit for hours in the garden and just relax, read, meditate or enjoy the view of the water...We need more beautiful places like that in our lives.
DeleteLove this post and especially love the picture of the live oak tree!! We are huge tree fans in our household and I resonate with your words..."I always feel so privileged and humble when standing under one of these living testimonies to endurance." Thank you for sharing your journey with us!
ReplyDeleteThank you for reading it Christine..The gardens there are breathtaking....
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