Details, Details, Details— Maybe it’s me, but have you ever noticed how small details suddenly become big details? And once you are aware, you notice it everywhere you look. I have a tendency to fixate on something and drive myself crazy with it. Now you know what I am talking about—you focus on one thing, and it becomes an obsession …
Welcome Fall with Garden Harvesting
Have I told you about the garden we had? A couple of years ago, we decided to start growing vegetables right outside our kitchen. This time of the year during the fall harvest is the perfect time to try your hand at gardening and see if you have that green thumb. For our garden, we transformed a flower bed that’s …
Love on the Table by Beth Albright
Written by Beth Albright As a Southerner, I’ve always known that food and love are one and the same. My grandmothers both knew this secret and, as we do down South, passed that bit of magic down to future generations, the same as with our stories. Memories and shared recipes all get wrapped and tied with ribbon in faded, stained …
Happy Groundhog Day!
The whole concept is amazing to me. As one of our most popular and widely anticipated folklore celebrations, Groundhog Day is such a seemingly-silly tradition. How does the groundhog seeing his shadow determine if winter remains or if the season has come to an end? I always watch with amazement at the man who holds up the groundhog for all …
The Colorful Joys of the Late Summer Garden
I must confess that I am already counting the days until fall. But my late summer garden is always beautiful. Years ago I discovered the American Beautyberry. I first learned about this interesting plant when Neal and I were seated at a lovely table in a café where a small branch of the shrub was in a small vase. The …
Exploring Europe’s Gardens with Victoria
The Norton family, of which I am a descendent, came to America from England. In fact, when we were publishing needlework magazines, one of the great historians of needlework Joanne Harvey told me that she had created a needlework kit whereby I could re-create the Hannah Norton sampler from the Historic New England collection. The original was stitched in 1795, …
Why Hydrangeas are a Special Favorite in My Summer Garden
I am in love with hydrangeas. My bushes are in full bloom right now, and I wish they stayed that way year-round. I started my hydrangea garden after listening to my dear friend Alexandra Stoddard speak of her writing room. The white-drenched room, complete with open windows and billowing curtains, overlooks her French hydrangea garden where the beautiful blue blossoms nod …
Welcoming Spring and Planting Season
The first day of spring should be a national holiday. In the South, we women are ready to put up the coats and bring forth the linen cloths in the brightest colors we can find. It marks the “new beginning” of another sleepy year that is waking up from winter. Now I confess I am a winter person so spring …
Show Off Your Favorite Summer Plants
I absolutely love planters. There is something intriguing to me about grouping plants in containers to show off their beauty. I had the opportunity to travel to Wisconsin last week and wanted to share some wonderful plant displays that I have seen this summer. The planters with the old iron and weathered wood were so creative. They look so old …
Garden Inspiration: It’s Time to Plant Bulbs!
The beauty of spring takes my breath away. I am sitting here looking at the most gorgeous dogwood tree laden with white flowers while my tulips and violas are making a show on the terrace. I planted my bulbs then planted violas on top of them. The tulips nudged their way through the tiny purple blossoms and together they create …