Isn’t Mother Nature The Best??

Pretty Excited to Nuture Leaf Mold This Year

So many folks in my neighborhood (Zone 8b) spend quite a lot of electricity and/or gasoline getting their fallen leaves in bags and onto the street curb these days. Not a lot of analog rake noises abound. And, here in my native deep South, the Live Oaks are the cause of so much local activity.

This candid culprit makes no apologies as it delivers a raucous leaf explosion this time of year. We love them so much whilst they herald the first day of Spring for us by shedding almost every dang brown leaf they have on board. With this kind of flotsam in an Oak lined drive….well, I get excited about the fallen leaves. They are so full of Nitrogen. Click here and here for all the great news!

World’s Most Coveted Walks (or Drives).

Thank you so much to a good friend, Nicky Stolker, of Amsterdam that alerted me to this visual column. What else can you say, but, “WOW, WOW.”

Hedura Ivy at it’s Finest!

The architectural firm of ZAA has done a brilliant job marrying nature on the outside with nuture on the inside. This Italian country villa is my idol. And, I am so delighted to find out that here in Zone 8b, my Hedura Ivy grows all winter, too! I will be covered in no time and be saving on my heating and cooling bills by this time next year. LUCKY ME! the Hedura was planted at the base of my brick veneer home so long ago that it has been dying to do exactly this for 60 years.

My Ongoing Affair With Piet Oudolf

Sometimes I declare out loud that my first Dutch love was Oudolf. And, of course, he SHOULD be everyone’s secret sharer as he plants his way into the hearts of all those who adore good design and their hometown, Planet Earth. The Dutch never cease to amaze me and I miss them very much but this man is one of their most important national treasures. Here is an article on his latest projects….Alstublieft!

Grasses, Reeds and Rushes: Chic

If you have a thing for cleanliness in your environment, then, a non-shedding breed of dog (they exist!) and a super-duper chic collection of grasses is a fabulous idea for your surroundings. Is this not the neatest terrace? Works like crazy in narrow spaces where a savvy plank path dominates the way. The grasses soften the hard edges you build creating such a t-square environment. Add English pea gravel and make a layer of pale, minimal texture that reflects the sun in a sumptuous way (bright white in the afternoon to pale pink at sunset and light indigo at twilght.) And, just wait for the effect of the breeze. It is awesome. Did you notice I used the adjective minimal, again? I’ll return to the perfect cottage garden later, I promise.Grasses have quite a lot of motion in nature, whether on your portico or in a field, and they are dynamic in their change of colors with the seasons. These are not your average, invasive pampas grasses, either.