Gorgeous Gardens at Ironstone Vineyards
A summer trip through California's Gold Rush Country brought us to lovely Ironstone Vineyards in Murphys where we enjoyed a day wandering the lush landscaping and exploring the many varieties of flowers surrounding the winery. Ironstone Vineyards is nestled in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains and boasts a series of enticing wines as well as some of the most refined gardens in the region. There are many acres of vineyards and extensive gardens featuring a multitude of flowers and trees. The grounds and gardens are the site for public and private events such as weddings, concerts, picnics and the famous Concours d'Elegance classic car show in the fall.
Most well known for its profusion of daffodils in early spring when over 300,000 of the flowers bloom for the annual daffodil festival, Ironstone also features many more exquisite flowers that continue to blossom into early summer. When we visited in late May, wine barrels filled with irises, alliums and other dramatic flowers were found near the entrance to the wine-tasting room. We discovered other botanical treasures while walking through the gardens such as extended pergolas covered with wisteria. These long walkways formed an elegant showcase for the draping wisteria blossoms.
As we progressed through the shade gardens, azaleas and rhododendrons surrounded us near the winding paths. These colorful evergreens bloom in abundance during the spring and provide refreshing bursts of color in filtered light.
Large stones edge the water and flowers such as the viburnum pictured below accent dense greenery.
For more information on Ironstone Vineyards and Winery, including directions and upcoming events, please visit the official website at http://www.ironstonevineyards.com/.