Showing posts with label Flowers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Flowers. Show all posts

colorful weekend

While walking through Georgetown yesterday, I really noticed all of the colors of the city in the summer sun. I hope you enjoy your weekend!


They have purple trees

Another fantastic doorway from West Hollywood near the Beverly Hills one I talked about earlier. This gave access to an entrance courtyard which just seems to me the height of Southern Californian living.

The other highlight of the area are the Jacaranda trees which fill the streets with a lovely scent and the most beautiful purple flowers you have ever seen! The cherry blossoms of the west coast perhaps?

Le Bois des Moutiers

Le Bois des Moutiers is an arts & crafts house in Varengeville-Sur-Mer, France by the well known english architect Edwin Lutyens. The house sits in a remarkable garden designed by Gertrude Jekyll. Because of the dry rocky soil, the garden lacks the lushness of its' British counterparts and has a distinct look to it.
Visit the website

Monet at Giverny

Monet created over 250 paintings of the Water lilies or Nympheas at his gardens in Giverny (in Northern France). These paintings always remind me of calm summers, just in time for my yearly pilgrimage to the beach next week!

The gardens of the house he first rented then owned have been open to the public since 1980. I would love to visit while in Paris but I think time is not on our side -next time!

Container Gardening

For a side door at Filoli which is rarely used, I loved this idea of lining the staircase with overflowing terracotta containers. Maybe this is an idea for our own houses to bring some life to abandoned entries? I hope everyone is enjoying their weekend in this gorgeous weather and have a great 4th of July!

Looking up

While I work on a few in-depth posts from recent travels, I wanted to leave you with some window boxes I noticed the other day here in DC. Who says an apartment without a garden space needs to be banal; this is amazing! I only wish my thumb were half as green. Also notice the great brick details along the cornice.

Filoli Gardens

Are you tired of Filoli yet? I don't think I could ever be, but maybe I've devoted a little too much time to this magnificent estate. I'll wrap up the gardens in this post and we'll start fresh next week! Beyond the formal gardens lie an oasis of more informal plantings; Acres of amazing little outdoor rooms, each one more amazing than the last. If the structure for the grounds was laid by the Bourns, the Roths added the finishing touches (Mrs. Roth was an avid gardener) .The Summer house is incorporated into the side of the walled garden which contains the most sheltered area. Remember nothing is safe out here from all of the hungry animals!
The wedding place within the walled garden was where the only wedding at Filoli was held. It was built for Berenice Roth and I think it's such a shame they don't open it up to others. Don't you want to get married here?
The following pictures barely begin to explain how breathtaking the rose garden is. After stepping through the last arch of the walled garden, every person on the tour gasped.
A profusion of color and textures...
Where are you even supposed to look or smell! Roses, lavender and other herbs overwhelm the senses.
I really think this is what heaven looks like. Not shown in the pictures are the gorgeous mountain views beyond.I love these wild jumbled rose bushes the best.Does anyone know what these striped roses are; Sandra? They had a heavenly scent.
The gardens get progressively informal the further you are from the house. These wild flowers were the last part of the gardens before entering the nature preserve. Notice all of the fencing. I hope you enjoyed these glimpses of Filoli through my eyes (and camera)!
Thanks to ChipSF for the drawings of the gardens from the time of the Roths.

Birthday Flowers

Birthday flowers make being at work much more bearable :-) Thank you!!
Here you can see where my little houses I built last week live!
Flowers from the Martha Stewart collection in a ceramic 'bamboo' square vase.

Get decorated

Happy Decoration day / Memorial Day! Don't forget to remember your passed loved ones and those who have so bravely fought for our freedoms. I decided last minute to stay in town and because of the hot weather have been nesting. Lilies from the Dupont farmers market.

Love .... Peony Poppies





First rose of summer

I was walking home the other day and noticed that the roses are coming out in full force. I guess summer is upon us! I hope everyone has a great weekend and takes some time to smell the roses!

A little supper

This past Thursday I had some friends over for a little supper. Nothing fancy, just a little pasta and salad after work. I set the table the night before.I know you're not supposed to put flowers with a lot of fragrance on the dinner table, but I couldn't resist these pretty peonies!Easy as 1, 2,3 -I think it turned out ok. Beats pizza at the coffee table!

Simply Pretty







Have a pretty Saturday!

Tablescapes + Flowers







What a perfectly lovely combination .... flowers and gorgeous things!

Love .... (More) Hyacinths