December 25 is just around the corner, yet it doesn't feel like Christmas. Is it because it has been so mild...no icy roads to contend with and little to no snow? I wonder how this is affecting retail sales. This is the make-it-or-break-it time for many businesses. When I had my store, there was such… Continue reading Christmas Decorating…
It is Spring, Fall or Winter…
Are you wondering when it's going to snow? The winter solstice is only three weeks away! I know many of you would be happy if winter passed us by completely, but our gardens could suffer real consequences if we miss the moisture and frosty cold conditions required for the trees and perennials that… Continue reading It is Spring, Fall or Winter…
Playing house…
It all started when I saw this photo (left). I thought it was magical and used it in my December 14, 2018, blog post "A Winter Garden...at Christmas". It also became the first house (with a greenhouse) in my collection...it was a gift, and now I can't stop adding. The past… Continue reading Playing house…
The New Look…
When we bought our home, there was gold shag carpeting on this staircase, photo left (actually throughout most of the house), which I'm sure was original to the 1961-built house. You can use your imagination to visualize what it looked like 30 years later, in 1999, when we took possession. The previous owners had… Continue reading The New Look…
War and Peace…
Not to be worried, this post will not be a "Coles Notes" version of the literary classic, "War and Peace" by Leo Tolstoy... but... Most of us have been spared the horrors of war; however, there are many today living in that nightmare. The fragile balance between war and peace can easily tip in a… Continue reading War and Peace…
Housekeeping…or is it keeping house…
On a recent vlog, "The Tartan Topiary", shared the following quote from Jackie Kennedy. "If I was born to do anything, it would be housekeeping; this brings me true joy." When I heard this, I couldn't envision Jackie Kennedy with a mop in hand and a chocolate… Continue reading Housekeeping…or is it keeping house…
Let it Snow!…
Not that I want it to snow, but the weather has taken a turn, reminding us that winter is on the way. Over the weekend (before the first snow!), I finished getting the garden ready to hibernate. It takes longer every year...why do I plant so many more boxwood hedges every spring? (There are already… Continue reading Let it Snow!…
Home…
Now that the garden is waning, although the roses are still blooming, my focus tends to shift indoors. Over the summer months, my house is wholly neglected... dust bunnies collecting in corners and the chandeliers laden with dust (I don't want to look too close, is that a spider's web???)...not to mention the… Continue reading Home…
Fall 2023 Bulb Plan…
The past week was spent planting bulbs...and more bulbs...665. Thankfully, Jamie was here to do the hard part...the digging! And the weather...what can I say? It felt more like summer than fall. Since it's so mild out, I hesitated about planting the bulbs; however, I received boxes of bulbs from the suppliers a couple… Continue reading Fall 2023 Bulb Plan…
All is Gold…
Just a quick photo post today because I can't help myself! The Elm never disappoints, but today, it's really put on a show. I've tried to capture the leaves falling without much success, but it's magical nevertheless. Hope you, too, are seeing the beauty of… Continue reading All is Gold…