Recent Posts

Archive

Posts By: Dandy Lion

My name is Danforth Lion. Most people just call me Dandy. I live here in Norfolk Botanical Garden because it is such a great place for someone like me. It is the perfect environment for me to grow, there are lots of fantastic plants for me to hang out with and I get to see a lot of interesting people. Unfortunately there are some people who don’t like me much – namely the gardeners who work here. They are always trying to get rid of me, but I just move around. You never know where I will pop up. I am starting this blog so you can get to know me a little better, but mostly so I can tell you about all the neat things I see happening here at the Garden. It is amazing how much stuff goes on around here. Plus I can share all the gossip about the other plants that live here. A little about me. I am a fairly short fellow – I stand around 4 inches tall. I have lots of green leaves and I really like to get my feet dirty – I dig my toes as deep into the ground as I can. Like many Americans, my ancestors came from Europe. They came over with early colonists – in fact they came as an invited guest. I think it was because they were pretty good in the kitchen – you know, making salads and wine for example. In the 20th century, when everyone started getting excited about having pretty grass lawns people started calling us names like “weed” and kicking us out. It kind of hurts. At least some people like us still – mostly kids. I think they really like the older folks with the white fluffy hair. Anyway, we are a . . . Uh-oh! Here comes someone from the grounds staff so I gotta go. Talk to you later

Arachnophilia

Posted by & filed under Perennials.

Today I am hiding out with some friends right behind the guide hut at the bottom of the Japanese Garden.  The red spider lilies are standing on the edge of the road, screaming to be seen while I sit quietly behind them.  This is their time for some attention, so I will let them have…

Read more »

Labor of Love

Posted by & filed under Formal Gardens, Perennials.

Today is Labor Day.  It is a great day – the gardeners are off.  That means a little deserved peace and quiet for me. I can relax here on Discovery Peak in the Children’s Garden, where I came to celebrate WOW’s 3rd anniversary.  It was busy yesterday and Saturday, but today I get to enjoy…

Read more »

Outstanding in His Field

Posted by & filed under Formal Gardens.

Today I feel like a renaissance man (I’m really a renaissance plant, but that doesn’t have the same ring).  Why? Because I am sitting in the middle of Renaissance Court.   I don’t visit this garden often and it was a time for me to stop by for a look.  This garden evokes a sixteenth-century…

Read more »

Pretties in Pink

Posted by & filed under Annuals, Formal Gardens, Perennials.

With all the rain this week, I floated down the Garden path to the Matson Garden.  From here I have a good view of the Tropical Garden across the canal.  The Matson Garden is a nice garden with a good mix of plants.  It is also kind of quiet with the exception of one eaglet…

Read more »

A Drinking Problem

Posted by & filed under Formal Gardens, Perennials.

I don’t really have a drinking problem.  I just have a water problem.  With over 5 inches of rain in the last week, there has been a lot of water coming down in the Garden.  As usual, when it first started falling I got all excited and started drinking as much as I could.  But…

Read more »

The Perfect Spot

Posted by & filed under Natural Areas, Perennials.

Shiny coneflower I have spent the last couple of months hiding in the perfect spot.  When things are going so well, you don’t want to jinx it so I’ve kept my mouth shut and not written a blog.  Besides, when I am in paradise, writing is the last thing on my mind. Of course of…

Read more »

Dandy . . . The Beginning

Posted by & filed under Perennials.

(Editor’s Note: This is a reposting of Dandy’s first blog, when he introduced himself.  It germinated in September 2007, but was accidently pruned from the archives when the new Web site was launched.) Hello.  My name is Danforth Lion.  Most people just call me Dandy.  I live here in Norfolk Botanical Garden because it is…

Read more »

Glory Hounds

Posted by & filed under Natural Areas, Shrubs.

We are in the middle of April and the crowds are finally here.  LOTS of people came to the Garden this past weekend.  The parade of people continues, with only the occasional downpour chasing them away temporarily.  They all come to enjoy the spring weather, the beautiful flowers and probably those fuzzy eaglets way up…

Read more »

Stand Up For The Little Guys

Posted by & filed under Natural Areas, Perennials.

I don’t know if today’s April shower will bring May flowers, but the April flowers are certainly here.  The Garden is exploding with color everywhere.  On nice days, like this past weekend, lots of people have decided to come enjoy the floral show.   As you may know, I’ve been in the arboretum.  In the…

Read more »

Spring Trees

Posted by & filed under Shrubs, Trees.

After a glorious weekend, things turned ugly today.  No, the Garden is still very beautiful, but the horticulture staff has gotten mean.  This morning I was sitting in the Flowering Arboretum, minding my own business when the droning noise began.  Mowers whirring in the distance – a clever form of psychological warfare intended to scare…

Read more »