New Year’s offers an opportunity for reflection that I generally resist. I think the biggest mistake about aging we can make is expecting that life will always remain the same. It doesn’t. As a gardener, I’ve learned principles about change that also apply to new life at any age. Related Images:
Read More
From Montreal. This year I’m thankful for a brief visit to Canada. Could it become more than a visit? Only time will tell. At least we have our passports now. And I’m grateful not to have to cook turkey this year – or any giant side dishes designed to overstuff. This isn’t the first year we’ve taken a “bye” for Thanksgiving and I strongly recommend it every five years or so. Related Images:
Read More
An American Beautyberry (sometimes called a French Mulberry) brings great color to a late fall garden. Its shiny purple fruit is a marked contrast to curling dry hosta leaves. Beautyberry fruit is loved by birds and deer alike. Wait a minute, did I say deer???? Hmm. The warm weather is pretty much finished here in New England and no kind of flower is left standing. Planting is finally over for the season and I had the courage to stop buying bulbs this week. The ground is just too hard to cultivate! Besides, it’s time to find beauty inside for the
Read More
The forecast for this morning was “a wintry mix by 10:00” so it made sense to jump out of bed and put the bulbs in before breakfast. Later, as I ran down to empty the wheelbarrow of leaves and branches, I heard it. The sound of silence. Related Images:
Read More
You have to begin with a nod to their roots. Tulips are natives of Eastern Turkey and the foothills of the Himalaya. They don’t belong here. Whether they behave as annuals or perennials is largely beyond our control. If you go in with that attitude it might be less stressful. (I’m working on our Paola Prints pillow listing for Amazon- The photo above shows you the progress). After much consternation (mine) I’m approaching the finish line and hope to go live very soon. Wish us luck! Related Images:
Read More
We were away last week and during that time, summer ended in Connecticut. It was almost a relief. You know how that works? We came home to lots of branches down from a rainstorm and wilted plants that couldn’t sustain the incoming cold. As much as I adore the spring-summer flowers, I also love seeing the changes that fall in New England brings. New England is in season now. Related Images:
Read More
The Hoh Rainforest, located in the Hoh River Valley in Olympia National Park, Washington State, is a treasure any gardener would drool over. In some sense, my year-old formal garden is a radically different environment. It will be years before our plants offer real cover for migrating wildlife. Thus far, we host a modest collection of bumblebees, butterflies and the occasional hummingbird. It’s a work in progress. Related Images:
Read More
I recently discovered a landscape architect named Steve Martino, based in Arizona. He creates artwork through landscape design. Given the arid nature of the surroundings, it makes sense that his color palette is frequently shades of green and bright orange. Interesting enough, even though we live in New England, the colors are a close match to our wonderful autumn colors. Related Images:
Read More
Palma is a Paola Prints pillow that looks splendid all year round in living rooms of all styles. Hosta leaves are like that. Green is like that. Even those of us addicted to the color red have to admit there’s a reason green has been so popular in home decor all these years. Related Images:
Read More
For some people, warm colors might mean shades of red. (Like me). As the weather turns cooler, do you too migrate inside and begin pondering about interior spaces that need attention? I get stuck sometimes not finishing certain rooms. Places that just need something…different. I clean, wander and consider what I might change for, say holiday events. Autumn is a good time to get ideas by looking at what other people are doing. Related Images:
Read More
