Today the four of us (John, Elaine, Brenda, Adam) visited Gibbs Gardens.  This is a privately owned 220 acre property that is open to the public 8-9 months of the year.  It is located about an hour north and east of us.

The grounds and manor were started in 1980 by Jim Gibbs, owner of the huge (in the south) Gibbs Landscape company.

Brenda was most interested in the 24 ponds on the grounds to get ideas about lily varieties and other water plants.

The property is big enough that you need a map to find your way around.

Grounds crew mucking out one of the pools.

Brenda is already making plans to return in the fall when the colors are changing.  After leaving, we stopped at an Olive Garden for lunch.. the first time the four of us have been out and eating in many months.  Josie stayed home to babysit the dogs.