March 11-14 are the dates for Springfest, a lovely flower show at the New Jersey state fairgrounds in the northern area of the state known as the Skylands. Beautiful rolling hills are dotted by long established farms, many still in operation. This will be Foxgloves second time attending and we are looking forward to another enjoyable show.
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This gardener on the go headed down to Nashville, TN for a taste of spring on Feb. 7, but the only spring to be found was at the Nashville Antiques and Garden Show. Stayed in a spacious apartment on the 21st floor of the Cumberland with expansive views west and a peek of the courtyard of the Nashville Public Library. The show was spectacular in several senses. First, I must say that I have never been amongst so many singular pieces of furniture, jewelry, painting, folk art, architectural and garden accoutrements. It was Antiques Road Show come to life! The most amazing piece there was a John Singer Sargent portrait study that had just recently been discovered in 1992, previously hidden on the backside of a student painting of the same person.
But, really, the reason for going is the gardens and the Garden of Rememberance, designed by Ryan Gainey, was beautiful and gracious in all ways: proportion, structure, texture, plant material. Plus, the public was able to enter the garden, not just view it from outside, totally encompassing cosy feeling of crossing into a fenced scantuary and abundant garden and leaving our banal world behind. And, boy, does he know how to dress – Bravo!
A special mention on the plant material here as there was a fair amount of vegetable and flower crops expertly grown, sweet pea, nasturtiums, broccoli, collards, there were even tomato plants with small green fruit on them arranged abundantly. The espalier fruit trees were a good 10 ft high and, of course, there was a lot of rosemary. I made a point of brushing up against it ever so slightly as I went about setting up. Besides this star, there were 5 other designed gardens, all that had merit, but some that spoke to me. The theme of the show was “The Shape of Things to Come” and each designer was assigned a shape. The first I shall mention is the diamond garden, by Mark D. Thomas and Ray McCauley,
Another vignette successfully incorporated a vertical striped fabric print of aqua and delphinium tones that was hung from 40′ up and lead the eye down to an open air shower stall. Even without the showerhead flowing (and apparently there was a technical snafu so the shower was not fully operational) the design translated the idea quite gracefully.Credited to Stephen Wells and Chris Crenshaw.
Amongst the garden vendors there was the usual assortment of local and national companies exhibiting. Some locals of note – the gregarious protraits and animal studies by Dennis Wile, Stone Fence Pottery, owned by the master potter Fritz Wolff(no close relation to Connecticut’s Guy Wolff), and AshBlue, a local life style shop. One of my favorite booths was that of Madison James and her Fly Away Sticks(to get rid of unwanted guests). Amid the riot of products at all the stands, her booth stood out for it’s elegant simplicity.
Not being partial to pears, I thought, “These will be wasted on me.” I never cared for the grainy texture I associate with pears and they always were too hard for my palate. Well, being the good consumer that I am, I thoroughly read through the enclosed information card which stated that these pears are “So big and juicy, you eat them with a spoon.” I have never eaten a pear with a spoon. What are they talking about?? I followed the directions for ripening the fruit, and when the ‘flesh at the base of the stem yields slightly to gentle thumb pressure,’ I cut one in half, cut out the core and proceeded to eat it with a spoon. It was the juiciest, most flavorful pear I have ever experienced – more like a ripe melon in flavor and in texture. The grittiness was concentrated near the skin. I would even grow a tree or two myself if I could find the variety -Royal Riviera Pears – They are delicious. Thanks, Andy. I have had the pleasure of attending several events at the Hill-Stead Museum in Farmington, CT. A treasure of a place that is combination of historic house museum, impressionist art collection, picturesque landscape and nature preserve. Usually I attend their May Market, typically held the Friday and Saturday before Mother’s Day, where a number of specialty nurseries bring their most unique specimens, vegetable transplants and an assortment of artisanal crafts. This was the first time I had ever participated in their Holiday Boutique. As always there was a plethora of pretty and practical things to purchase . I had always admired the stately Elm that commands the front lawn, and this December for the first time I noticed the single specimen standing out in meadow near the farm entrance. Although Dutch Elm disease and the Elm Bark Beetle wiped out many urban monocultures of these unique trees, there still exists many beautiful specimens in a variety of locations. One particularly favorite individual, quite robust, lives surrounded by asphalt in a parking yard in Hartford, CT. Adults and ‘teenagers’ are easily noticed this time of by their distinctive profiles – and where they are located. I see numerous specimens along highway verges in the wettest edges. They are quick growing and express they silohuette when rather young. If they are spared the mower’s blade you will sometimes see specimens in the medians of the interstates in their native range. Long live the Elm! Matt and Meghan got married – causing a quick trip to Florida the beginning of the month. Stayed at the “downtown” Sheraton, which was quite north of downtown by New York standards. Rented a car, ’cause that is what one does in Orlando. From the window of my room I had a lovely view of the hotel pool, and this tropical water garden courtesy of the abandoned building next door. I assume abandon, because only someone as creative as Mother Nature could construct such combinations. Gardens need sun, rain and time to develop, and here, where there is ample sun, abundant moisture, and plenty of time, debris has accumulated, seeds have dispersed (via critters and wind), and almost daily rain combines to create a natural microclimate on top a man made box. Isn’t nature amazing? This baby Robin has an alien alias. 
I noticed this new neighbor busily constructing a nest several weeks ago.
And this is what was in the nest.
Until the other day…
HELLO WORLD!
 Potatoes and the vines they come from Yesterday, I dug up my purple potatoes – actually, they are blue inside, but I love alliteration. This is the third year in a row that they have come back on their own. I purchased the original seed potatoes from Landreth Seed Company 4 years ago and I always seem to leave some in the ground when I harvest them (I just never find them all). They survived the frozen ground here in New York and have volunteered for 3 years now. Quite the harvest for having done nothing other than recognize the plants when they first break ground in the spring.
Potatoes are delicious and nutritious, in fact, the average size spud contains
The latest expose of non sustainable practices from the lumber industry come not from some far off forests in Borneo, but from the Cypress swamps of Louisiana. Lumber companies are grinding whole trees into mulch to sell to nurseries and municipalities. It is bad enough to over harvest slow growing crops for building and furniture, but to harvest this local resource specifically for garden beds is just another example of large companies packing their pockets at the expense of the local ecosystem. Cypress trees (Taxodium distichum) are slow growing natives of swampy areas and help to maintain the wetlands they inhabit and protect local areas from storm surges and flooding. The clear cut methods employed by these lumber companies will destroy fragile swamps and doom all creatures that exist there. Please avoid using Cypress mulch and if your local nursery carries it, please ask them, in a nice way, to stop. They may not even realize the situation. Even Walmart stopped stocking it. For more information visit Living On Earth at www.loe.org Search “Saving the Cypress.” Please join us at the Hidden Garden Tour this Sunday, June 14 in Westport, CT. For the $50.00 ticket fee you get to stroll six private gardens around the town. The gardens are always spectacular to tour (this is the Gold Coast, after all) but if you just feel like shopping the Garden Market is open to everyone! Harriet will be selling gloves and hats from 9 – 5. This event benefits the Westport Historical Society. |
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Thought of a trip to Cheekwood Botanical Gardens, but the cold and the wind made one feel as if it were Chicago in January. Even this hardy gardener huddled down and stayed mostly inside.
The student work had been framed and the back covered over with craft paper. When the painting was sold at an estate sale and the new owner took the piece out of the frame (was that why the piece was purchased?) and removed the backing there was another portrait with an inscription on the stretcher frame “This portrait was painted by John Singer Sargent when I took his class” Displayed by the 
where the classic square ‘en point’ worked easily on the ground plane and then was successful brought into the vertical with the “Moon Gate” and a custom fence with bullet glass lay in diamond form. 
For Christmas this year my brother, Andy, gave me a box of pears from that famous fruit duo, Harry and David. (At the least, I was hoping for a mixed box of fruit).
