12 April 2011

Garden Journal

This summer will be the 5th since I inherited the care and stewardship of my Mother's garden. It was her Mother's before her, and working in it gives me great peace and a place to feel close to them both. We have great conversations (in my mind) while weeding away an afternoon.
In the beginning I was reluctant, for mostly emotional reasons, to change anything about the garden. But time passes, and I am moving away from those first days of simply watching in wonder while plants I had no knowledge of bloomed and faded, and others took their place. I am slowly learning what to cut back, which plants the pests like to lunch on, where the afternoon sun falls. The main thing I'd like to address now is a better succession of blooms; from mid spring to mid summer it's a perfectly orchestrated mix - Iris, Lilies, Peonies, Roses, Coreopsis, Daisies. But late summer into fall is a bit of an empty slate. Some phlox for August, and a bit of sedum in September, but for the most part that time of year is not well represented.

Are there any gardeners out there who can give a novice some advice?

In the meantime, here is my first bloom: April Daffodils.  Stay tuned!

07 April 2011

Terrarium Trend

I am loving the terrarium moment that has been out there for a while now. I remember an earlier wave of terrarium trend many years ago, when instead of a dirt bed there were repetitive layers of different colored sand! Anyone?
I'm SO glad that that particular element has not made the leap this time around.
I'm personally partial to the more simply made varieties, the ones that highlight only one or two beautiful plants, and some of the take-offs on the trend - like simply covering a pretty plant with a cloche. Cover something with glass and it is magically elevated to new heights of interest! Why is that?
If you're thumbs are less than green, Hudson in Boston and Wellesley has some really beautiful examples, planted in a variety of fantastic vessels.
And for fun, click on Lynzariums in their Blog roll to see how they are created!

image: martha stewart living


image: country home

image: country home

image: country home

image: country home

image: country home

image: country home

05 April 2011

J'Adore a Painted Floor

I saw this staircase in the November 2010 edition of House & Home Magazine, in a home belonging to Designer Sarah Richardson, and I was in love. I have a bit of an obsession with graphics, fonts and typeface and these combined with my love of painted floors? Well, I was a goner!


Here are some of my favorite examples of painted floors (and stairs).
Like painted ceilings, the idea can be a tough sell to clients, but it can be both practical - a great option for older hardwood floors that have been sanded too many times and have become too thin to sand again, or if the budget does not allow for stripping and refinishing - and daring - another chance to make your home uniquely yours. Try it! You'll fall in love.....

image: country home

image: country home

image: domino

image: martha stewart living

image: martha stewart living

image: martha stewart living