HAPPY SUMMER! It's hot, hot, hot in DC, and I'm staying in, in, in. Now is the time to enjoy the gardens from inside. And, now is the time to catch up on my myrtle topiary plants: trimming, repotting, and fertilizing. There's a reason why I am so devoted to [...]
Happy May Day! Families during medieval England would celebrate the beginning of spring by collecting greenery and flowers from woodlands and bringing them back into their homes. This custom was known as "Going A-Maying" or "Bringing Back the May." In France, the tradition of giving lily-of-the-valley flowers goes back to [...]
Tom and I have had a bit of excitement at the house. Our home and collections were photographed for Martha Stewart Living. Yes, indeed! Hence my absence from the blog - we were busy cleaning, scrubbing, waxing, and polishing everything. Just for Martha :) I want to thank photographer Helen [...]
Spring, we've been eagerly awaiting your return! Speaking of return, Tom and I are back from a buying trip abroad. There are antique mirrors, garden items, French paintings, Continental and Swedish furniture, decorative goods and a few surprises coming in April / May. So please start making room :) I [...]
There is something soulful about a historic home. Who can resist gorgeous moldings, period mantels and other gracious architectural details like pillars, high ceilings, etc? And the patina, that only comes with time. I think many of us have walked past an older house, admired its personality, and even envisioned [...]
Please let it stop raining! Please let it stop raining! Why was I fretting about the weather on a recent Saturday? Well, allow me to explain.Tom and I had been invited to a garden party at the home of Stiles Colwill and Jonathan Gargiulo, renowned designers, shop owners, and fabulous [...]
For over 100 years, Mainers and "people from away" (as the locals say) have all joined in the fun and festivities at the Blue Hill Fair held each Labor Day weekend. Tom and I went for the first time, and what did we find at this "Downeast" country fair? An [...]
Stylish entertaining is an art. For Michelle Pangallo, my good friend and client, setting a gracious table, creating beautiful floral arrangements and whipping up mouthwatering courses all come naturally. Together with her husband CD, they are the ultimate hosts! I recently attended a splendid luncheon at Michelle and CD's Swedish [...]
From a 1918 letter by author, cartoonist and journalist Jame Grover Thurber (1894-1961): "...the whole of Paris is a vast university of Art, Literature and Music...it is worth anyone's while to dally here for years. Paris is a seminar, a post graduate course in Everything." What do you love about [...]
As self taught gardeners, Tom and I spend a great deal of time and effort designing, cultivating and nurturing our gardens. We've planted every single tree, shrub, perennial and bulb ourselves. We also do all the pruning, watering, weeding, etc., etc. Of course some plants just don't make it despite [...]
