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Wednesday, December 17, 2014

LONGWOOD GARDENS - CHRISTMAS 2014 - part 1

Longwood Gardens has long been a favorite of mine, since way before I moved from South Africa to the USA, and before I even had the pleasure of a visit. I have a friend who had worked at Longwood Gardens and he did a talk and slideshow to our garden club - I was sold. His stories of the gardens, the people who work there, the hard work and fun adventures fascinated me, not to mention the photos of one of the most beautiful gardens I had ever seen. It was the first thing I wanted to do, and 16 years ago, within a very short time of arriving on US soil, my visit became a reality and my love of Longwood Gardens grew, during every exquisite season of the year. Thankfully my drive is only 2 hours each way, so any chance possible, I'm there - it's a great day trip. Longwood Gardens is 1,077 acres of magnificent gardens that keep changing, evolving, and growing - this year I was wanting to see the new Meadow Garden that opened just this past June and the 86 acres did not disappoint, even in it's winter golden finery. That is one happy place for birds to live. Speaking of birds, that was the theme of this year's incredible Christmas Display that I got to see this week - an ode to our feathered friends. Part one, and just the beginning…………….

Welcoming you to the entrance of Longwood, on either side of the doors, a tree of nests!! Each nest is made of woven vines & sticks, lined with moss and filled with shiny red Christmas "eggs".

One of the incredible treehouse structures in the gardens.

Yours truly at the entrance gates to the new 86 acre Meadow gardens - a feast for the eyes and food for soul. Another whole post on this garden to follow.

A magnificent outdoor tree decorated just for the birds - bird houses covered in seed, hanging garlands of grasses, millet, different seeds, strings of edible dried fruit, raisins and nuts, bowls of bird seed. The tree was alive with birds hopping around and feasting on the festive buffet.

A useful way to use up those dreaded sweet gum balls that litter my lawn

Thursday, December 11, 2014

IT'S BEGINNING TO FEEL A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS IN OXFORD, MD

This has got to be my absolute favorite Christmas House I have seen so far. Oxford is the most beautiful small town on the Eastern Shore of Maryland and we have been there so many times, to walk the streets, pick up a delicious Crab Cake Sandwich at the little market on the main street, or relax on the tiniest strip of beach along the Strand, on the Tred Avon River. It is small with one main street dotted with some of the prettiest houses - quiet, peaceful and just lovely on a sunny day, or when the wind is howling and the usual pond of water turns choppy and deep purple. I stopped by yesterday "to work", and couldn't resist taking photos of this soft pink house bedecked in festive finery. Don't you love the grand old evergreen Southern Magnolia growing in the front yard on the right, (perfect for Christmas decorating) and then on the left is a huge pink flowering Magnolia that drops it's leaves in winter and bursts into a pink fantasy of flowers in the spring.

Had you tried to describe it to me, I would never have imagined a pale pink house, with a red door and black shutters was so stunning, but it works.

Little white fairy lights twinkle on the conifers at the front door, this house must be lovely at night too. The wreath on the red front door is made from fresh boxwood and holly.

I love the fall leaves still all over the front lawn.

The front doorway has simple ropes of pine hanging either side, and the door is topped with a swag of fresh boxwood, magnolia leaves, a pineapple centerpiece and rosy red apples - all fresh and beautiful - a colonial form of an edible arrangement?? I've seen so many of these door swags down in Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia. Exquisite.

Welcome!! Simple and sweet.

Such a lovely walkway to the front door.

Outside on the sidewalk, a lovely fresh arrangement of boxwood, magnolia, holly with all its red berries, and bits of conifer. I love the pine ropes, fresh and scented.

Monday, December 8, 2014

WEDDING FLOWERS FOR CLARINE

I had the absolute pleasure of indulging in wedding flowers for a beautiful bride, not just on the outside, but the sweetest soul on the inside too. What a pleasure. Purple and green and white, with a touch of red, bouquets, table arrangements - an abundance of fragrance and petals. My dining room and living room were ablaze with color and beauty.