As the weather begins to turn, thoughts inevitably turn indoors- Are you too, thinking once again about updating your interior spaces? If you’re really ambitious you might be considering doing it for the holidays. (I’m not really!) If you must make a change quickly, perhaps you could pick one thing, change up the color of a wall, or buy a single new piece. (Our new gas stove is incoming…can’t wait)! Related Images:
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‘Tis the season for migrating tender houseplants from their Summer perches back into the house. One of my favorite houseplants is a member of the Echeveria family. Like most succulents, it treasures a sunny spot outside in the garden. Outside, I pick a reasonably similar sunny spot and try to water it a little more than its neighbors who root under ground. The cacti love it outside too! Related Images:
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The rain of the last few days has been prolific. If you are lucky enough to find a late bloom, keep it close, they’re becoming limited in supply. Only the hardy ones survive end of season craziness. Dahlias are some of those hardy survivors. Related Images:
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Fall is the time for learning new things. It has an anticipatory air about it. Some people go to school, others learn in different ways. I choose all ways! Including making time to improve outdoor furniture in preparation for the inevitable New England winter. And sometimes, you just have to get far away from yard work- it’s still too blazing hot! Related Images:
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It’s just that time of year. Going in a million directions in the race to summer’s end. Activities are varied and never-ending. The weather has toned it down a bit and delayed garden maintenance looms large. There will be no more boxwood pruning but the rose bush, hostas and Hakuro Nishiki Japanese Willow were all fair game this week. The more tedious pruning will get done in early spring. It was good to get started. Onto bulb shopping. And those end- of- season family drive-bys. Do you find that family starts appearing in August and keeps on coming? Related Images:
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Why wait around when you too, can lose yourself in every color of the rainbow? Each one of these ladies has already indulged in at least one colorful scarf. Certain others have eluded my camera. Related Images:
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When a cactus gives up its first flower, you dress up the occasion. Paola Prints new Creamsicle scarf seemed just the ticket. The cactus survivor is an Eastern prickly pear Indian fig. The red center suggests a variety called “Devil’s Tongue”-native to some parts of eastern North America. Like Connecticut. Related Images:
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The garden exudes a sort of quiet fullness this time of year. In color, light and foliage quality. At the same time, there’s always a bittersweet nostalgia when faced with the end of summer. Nature is about to finish what it started last Spring. Then back to school. Autumn clean up. Why not take a road trip, visit a park you haven’t seen before? Related Images:
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It’s been a very busy week for Paola Prints. Happily, the rain has kept the plants watered and yours truly out of the garden even as the pruning and transplanting is coming up fast. Some years ago, when I conceived the idea to change from hand drawn or sewn artwork to the computer, I knew I had to acquire some essential tools. A good photographer friend listened to what I had to say and was pretty dogmatic about what I needed. Related Images:
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I aspire to this quote attributed to Belgian landscape designer Jacques Wirtz. People know I ADORE plants and color, yet the stark white landscape in winter offers contemplation of another order. We can always use more space and quiet. Well conceived landscape design can offer that. Related Images:
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