This past weekend in Raleigh was just too gorgeous not to be outside enjoying the weather and visiting the gardens at JC Raulston Arboretum. Last time I visited the arboretum, the Lath House near the Japanese Gardens was under construction. Now, completely finished, the Lath House provides a striking display of plants that thrive in a shadier environment.
Before making our way to the Lath House, we enjoyed some of my favorites along the way – butterfly bushes, gardenias, weeping willows, liliums, and the pop of color from the Geophyte Border. The Lath House is a modern style construction with slats of wood evenly spaced along the sides and top of the building allowing just enough light through for the plants. The plants are arranged in large raised beds and you meander through a stone walkway for easy access to all the plants. Inside you’ll find a variety of ferns, hostas, hydrangeas, ornamental grasses, and maples, just to name a few.
Outside the Lath House is a spectacular open grassy field; on the other side are the Japanese Gardens. Both nearby areas have great picnic spots. On this particular Sunday morning there was a nearby wedding going on as well. Don’t forget to check their calendar of events as they usually have something going on for kids and adults! Every Sunday from March-October they also have free tours that depart from the Visitor Center at 2pm.
Thumbs up: variety of plants, pop of colors, photo ops, picnic spots
Thumbs down: nothing to report