The hot weather and abundant foliage drive home the fact that summer is just around the corner. And color, is really and truly on the move. Related Images:
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Peonies- Full On Color
The peonies are coming in, in their lurid, unabashed color. Even the ivory ones look wildly extravagant. I designed this peony pillow some months ago and was warned off producing it because it was too much color. What IS that? Wake up world and embrace the horror. Life is colorful no matter where or how you live. You take the good with the bad. And so often color brings abundant beauty. And wonderful summer scents. Related Images:
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Garden Therapy
I met a gardener last week. She’s living with her husband who has Alzheimer’s. It sounds like she’s only able to have limited conversation with him. Once a successful architect, he’s simply forgotten a lot about their life together. We talked about our gardens and it occurred to me that gardening brings her a lot of comfort. I understand. Gardening, for all its activity, is an opportunity for reflection. And somehow, it has the power to erase stress. Garden therapy. I’m a fan. Related Images:
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How Green is Your June Garden
Nature is growing greener by the day- even as the azaleas fade away. There’s a certain truth about tending a garden. You can plant what you like, where you want. Care or neglect them. In the end, Mother Nature is the one in charge. She brings light, shade, water and warmth. I know I get more than I give these plants. Just the same, tending to their needs is not for the lazy. Related Images:
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Trouble, Trouble
A garden can bring truth to bear on everyday life, as hard as we might fight it. Right now, my garden is full of itself. Blooming and growing green like crazy. With all the activity out there, I’m still inclined to want more and more. What’s going to bloom next, what next do I need to plant, why are the azaleas not more full? Related Images:
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Garden Obsessed
My name is Mary and I spent the entire day in the garden. If you’re not a stranger to obsession, you’ll understand where I’m coming from. You start with the best of intentions and before you know it, the day is OVER and you just noticed. This time it started as I tackled the insidious azalea fungus. It’s been a few years since I’ve confronted that problem. Happily, the disease appears contained to the one azalea that lives farthest from its relatives. Related Images:
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And So We Go On
We spent a few days in Greenwich, as guests of a friend and set up our tent at the Bruce Museum Craft Festival. It poured rain the first of two days – and was cold too, worst I’ve seen at an event like that. We’ve been spoiled as we’ve only shown the pillows indoors. Related Images:
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On the Road Again
It’s Spring and that means festivals and fairs for artists of all stripes. Larry and I have been prepping for days now and just learned that it’s probably going to rain again in the NE. We have the tent, displays and additional covers ready BUT, will the people come??? We’ll be at booth #52 in the 33rd Annual Bruce Museum Craft Festival, this Saturday and Sunday. There’s a great collection of artists – all of whom had to be juried in which is often the case for the established fairs. Come on down! We’ll have our pillows for sale- all
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The Hanging Gardens of Babylon
The Hanging Gardens of Babylon were one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. They were an incredible series of ascending tiered gardens with brick walls 22 feet thick and plantings of all kinds, even full- grown trees. By one account, the gardens were near the ancient city of Babylon, in what is modern day Iraq. As that story goes, King Nebuchadnezzar II, a Neo-Babylonian ruler in 605 BC, built the gardens for his homesick wife, Queen Amytis who missed the green hills of her homeland. Related Images:
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The Exotic Parrot Tulip
A mysterious variety requiring a little more attention. And nothing ate the parrot tulips- even as other varieties got chomped. Have your tulips been eaten this year? Mine have! Even a hosta spear was gutted. Since this is the enclosed garden’s second year, perhaps the creatures have just discovered a new produce source. Related Images:
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