Botanically, they are in the genus “aspagarus” like the edible Asparagus, Asparagus officinale. (At least they were, the last time I looked. You can see the resemblance when the new shoots emerge, they look like tiny asparagus shoots.)

I have some neat photos of Meyeri at the children’s garden in a public garden somewhere, I think Melbourne, Australia. Will try to get the webmaster to post them some time this week.

Larry Hurley

Ashamed to say that I have never been to the Rawlings Conservatory. Will put it on my list of “to visits.”

Another good place to see up in that general direction is Ladew Topiary Gardens. In addition to the topiary, there are some formal gardens and nice perennial plantings. Been awhile since I have been there, but I have always enjoyed it.

As long as we are going further afield:
For native plant enthusiasts, check out the Adkins Arboretum on the eastern shore. Nice plantings of natives around a pond near the information center, a good place for a walk in the woods and birding. Lots of classes to put you better in touch with the environment.

Two more in DC:
Dumbarton Oaks with a nice Japanese Garden and walks through the grounds. An article in the Post talked about a recently completed renovation.
Hillwood: in addition to the fascinating docent-lead tour of the house of Marjorie Merriweather Post (reserve in advance; all things Russian including several Faberge eggs), there is a cutting garden and nice grounds. Been awhile since I was there, as well.

I travel alot and visit alot of gardens. I find that when I’m in town, I often want to spend time in mine and not do as many day trips as I should. So I focused the article on the ones I hit more often (US Botanic Garden is a good one when out of town friends and relatives visit, for example.)

Also, one of the best ways to see public and private gardens is through a garden club tour. There are some terrific very active groups, including the Maryland Horticulture Society that is in the Baltimore area, and the Annapolis Horticulture Society. Top class speakers, and a good way to talk to really knowledgeable gardeners. I think they both have websites.
I’m not a member, that whole driving at night thing is a problem for me, but I strongly recommend checking out a local garden club.

Keep those suggestions of your favorite gardens coming in!

Larry Hurley

The aspargus fern used to be a very popular plant in the sixties and seventies and usually appeared in Boston cast iron soup pots with three little feet in public laundromats throughout the Midwest.

I do not know for sure, but I am convinced that it was named after the true asparagus that we eat. The edible asparagus forms beautiful airy fronds that flower and are quite tall.

The asparagus fern that you are invoking is the one that I always saw as a kid in public laundries. You can find them mainly in cheaper stores like Kmart or Walmat or any old fill-in-in-the-blank-Mart. If you like the asparagus fern, you certainly will like the ornamental but inedible coriander which has a slightly more rounded shape, is a little thicker, but still forms long arms, only silvery instead of the bright lime green that you probably noticed. Both look great together.

But I bet your are referring to Meyers’s Asparagus, which is really tentacular as you say, and looks like the head of Hydra. To be sure, visit images.google.com and you will see the light airy aspargus which is more dill-like, some leathery ones, and then the tentacular ones.

You might combine it with a trip to Mount Vernon, as River Farm is on the same road, but closer to DC. Mount Vernon also has very nice gardens, in the colonial style (shocked?). Lots of boxwood, bulbs, big trees, and fruit trees.

Both have beautiful views of the Potomac River.

Larry Hurley

Mike Savich,
former resident up there,
now down in Fredericksburg