Old Man Winter Where Are You?

I was looking for him this morning and got a warm (60 degrees fahrenheit at 7 a.m.), humid rain, instead. In my neck of the woods (zone 8b), we haven’t seen Winter, yet. So I thought I’d look elsewhere, like Vermont. This photograph of Birch trunks are from the book, The Soul [...]

I Love Chickens!

I can’t stop watching them walk around the garden. And, I get excited at sunset because the white ones glow with the purple and pink hues. Granted, I can only keep about 3 at a time because I live in Urban City. (I keep them as pets and name them and love [...]

Winter Rosebush and Beach

I just came across this photograph in the book, The New Garden Paradise, edited by Dominque Browning. Wow. The background hedge is Beach. The fog is gratis.

The Poem “The Camellia” by Honore de Balzac

Who could write this any better?

Reference Books For The Winter

Well, it is freezing each night on a regular basis and even though it is not quite Winter, yet, I am already calling the season just that. And, as the holidays close into the end of the year, I feel compelled to curl up at the fireplace with a couple of books and merely [...]

Mother Nature’s Curfew

As the Fall deepens towards Winter, I keep getting caught at sundown still in the garden. I begin to really love my lanterns for that hour of twilight that seems so socially graceful this time of year. This beautiful photograph is by Christian Sarramon in Ines Heugel’s book, Classic Garden Style. It [...]

Topos Invitation II

It is hard to miss the impact of a hedge at the entrance. It certainly makes a welcoming and bold statement. The first photograph is shot by photographer George Leveque and is a hedge designed by Alain de Conde. This particular hedge looks like it might want to take your coat for [...]

Book I Am Reading Over Lunch

Sorry I have been so brief this week, but, I am in the field mostly…stay tuned for some great selects from this beautiful book soon.

The Book I Am Diving Into Tonight

That’s right, I am going to do an about face on these large hedge topiaries and come back to the urban reality! (At least for tonight…)

A Book I Want To Read

I found this book on the Ashdown Roses website. I live in Zone 8b and love, love, love roses…And, you might also want to order an unusual antique rose from Ashdown. It is here in my native state of South Carolina, albeit in the upstate and near the North Carolina border, and has [...]

Wisteria as a Standard

A garden design I am working on today, in the romantic style, has an aged wisteria vine growing that I will begin to train into a standard. It is an along and unruly vine, and, she will prove a bit of a challenge. She has been planted smack in the middle of the [...]

What Garden Books I Am Reading Tonight?

Yep, my Friday eve involves these two beauties and a bowl of popcorn. If you continue to check back with this blog, you will find that I am completely addicted and dedicated to – inspirited, inspired, motivated, excited, exalted, moved and affected by topiaries and parterres. I was thinking of changing my name [...]

From Saint-Cloud to the Tuileries

Visiting Paris for me is almost the apex of inspiration (as it is for millions and millions of others). However, it is the Jardin des Tuileries that I like to get lost in…and, Andre Le Notre’s work. It is a mistake to think of your garden as merely curb appeal, plants that line [...]

East Coast Sensibility in a Book

An Affair With a House • I am almost ashamed of myself for loving this one so much. After having spent 10 years living and touring the Pacific Coast and grooving on California style, I still have that Eastern thing running in my veins. And, Bunny Williams pretty much defines that thing. [...]

Best Books

The New Garden Paradise • I keep returning to this one over and over again for good ideas. From Penelope Hobhouse cottage to Mia Leher modern, the gardens are fresh on each page. Take the time to read the book and you will be rewarded with the thought processes and goals on [...]