Now’s the Time to Enjoy Gardens and Parks

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:
Read More

Sewing and Photoshop- A Marriage Made in Litchfield

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:
Read More

Welcome Rain Falls,Unwelcome Pests Emerge

I’ll never tire of waking at night to the sound of rain falling. Walking outside in a morning garden and seeing the blessed dark soil tells you it was good all around. Late July into August leads quickly into maintenance, which this week included pruning, staking and pest control. Related Images:
Read More

Lessons Learned in the Garden

There’s something new in every season. I discovered the yellow calla lily in a mix of mystery shoots that appeared after putting pots outside this Spring. It reminded me of the never ending mysteries that surface raising kids. Like Bridget. As hard as you try, you can’t know everything. Life is made of change. Related Images:
Read More

It’s Cut and Sew Time

I gave up growing morning glories several years ago when they started invading their neighbors space. Now, I’ve discovered a new place for them, I sew their dewy images into beautiful scarves. It wasn’t so much the flower vines traveling all over the garden as it was their insistence on climbing every plant they touched. And. After the first year, they rarely bloomed, so their prime “reason for being” had passed. I still have MANY fab photos of the glorious midnight blue flowers. Maybe another year. Related Images:
Read More

Is it Art or Craft?

Something well crafted is something that’s well made, even handmade. Art is far more esoteric. And probably NOT functional, as a craft might be. Sounds a little confusing. What determines art or craft? Related Images:
Read More

Beneath the Canopy

I got my first introduction to the rain forest when I visited my son Dan in the state of Washington last year. Did you know it’s not uncommon to have different weather systems in a rain forest? If you ever walked through one and it started raining of a sudden, you’d quickly get the picture. The trees are huge and the high canopy creates the feeling of a cathedral in the out-of-doors. Wonderfully quiet – a mysterious sensation. Related Images:
Read More

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:
Read More

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:
Read More