When we moved into our home many years ago the gardens I envisioned were in books; not in my yard. But, there was an old chicken coop: rustic shelves, small windows that didn’t close properly, crude wooden beams, and a table made out of a vintage door. Perfect! Clay pots, rakes, shovels, and trowels made…
A blanket of snow covers the gardens now, bird baths turned into ice, evergreen boughs are frosted white; winter is here. Even in winter the garden is beautiful. Annabelle and Limelight hydrangea, coneflowers, black-eyed Susans, Joe-Pye weed, sedum, asters, and grasses are all standing in my garden now providing food for the birds. I love…
When the heavenly, almond scent filled the entire kitchen, I knew my giant muffin was ready to eat. I pulled down the oven door, slid out the rack and carefully placed the mouthwatering pastry on my plate. Just as I was ready to take a bite, an email from my Jazzercise instructor appeared in my…
My favorite Christmas decorations are from the garden. Every year I cut Winterberry branches and bring them indoors. But this year… my husband said, “The birds are eating the berries, you should spray them with lacquer.” Whoever heard of spraying Winterberries with lacquer? I didn’t listen. And then… the Winterberries were all gone; eaten by…
Do you have blogs you love? The ones that make you smile every time you see a new post in your inbox? I love Lee May’s Gardening Life blog! I love Lee’s style of writing, his poetic voice; his love of mosses and stones, and the ever changing garden. In the Fall Lee was diagnosed…
I love the month of December… winter comes and brings lazy snowflakes, hot chocolate and warm fires. December also brings Christmas and one of the things I love about Christmas is decorating the inside of our home and the outside. I filled the urns by the front door with evergreen branches and holly cut from…
Katherine Tracy, owner of Avant Gardens, recently posted something on her blog that caught my attention: The Slow Flower Challenge. Katherine attended a lecture given by Debra Prinzing. Debra spoke about her book: Slow Flowers. The book explains the importance of using flowers that are available locally rather than purchasing imported flowers. Debra is challenging…
Snow is falling in many places now. It seems too soon. I know when winter does come, I will savor the memories of our beautiful Fall. Please come with me into my garden.
I have always loved old houses. They have a history and tell a story. When we bought our farmhouse a couple of nondescript apple trees grew on the property. In the backyard there was an old stone wall that was falling down. Overgrown shrubs grew in front of the house and random pieces of slate…
