As summer vacation starts, many of us will be traveling and visiting museums. When I worked at the Smithsonian, the galleries would stage big blockbuster exhibitions during the busy summer months. What are your summer holiday plans? Does it involve museum-going? I'm looking forward to visiting the Winslow Homers at [...]
As mentioned in my previous post, we were recently on a buying trip in Europe. The weather was glorious during our 10 days abroad. Though chilly, we had blue skies and periods of sunshine. On Portobello Road in London, this cherry tree (above photo) was putting on quite a show. [...]
Friends - Can we chat Downton Abbey? Poor Lady Edith! :( And poor Mr. Bates. Give these two a break. Pick on Thomas, go on! I was, however, pleased the family didn't have to move out of the big house. Not that Downton Place is shabby. I'd live there - [...]
Many thanks for your kind comments, emails and concerns re: Hurricane Sandy. We were very fortunate! Just debris and minor breakage in the garden, and some water damage at our shop. It's been a busy week sorting out the garden and shop, so I'd like to share a garden visit [...]
One of the things Tom and I love doing is taking road trips. And what a road trip we just took! We drove all the way from DC to Maine and back, and fortunately, traffic was a breeze both ways. Following the southern coast of Maine, we visited York, Ogunquit, [...]
For a country with such a cold climate, Sweden offers surprisingly glorious gardens and unique landscapes. Cool summer temperatures and long hours of sunlight together with fertile soil help offset the short growing season. I discovered Sweden’s beautiful landscapes when we first traveled there in the mid 1990s. A short [...]
Why do I love Winterthur? Perhaps it’s the extraordinary collection of American decorative arts housed in the stately Du Pont home. Maybe it’s the bucolic setting in the picturesque Delaware Brandywine Valley. Or, the specimen trees, shrubs and rare plants on the estate’s naturalistic landscape. I would say all of [...]
With spring now here in DC, I am reminded of a delightful garden visit last year. Cothay Manor, hidden in rural Somerset, England, dates to the 15th Cen. The 12 acres of gardens are divided into seven rooms by a central yew walk (hedges). Each enclosed garden room features a different theme: [...]
