I never think I have much of a flower garden, but in August . . . The Black Dragon lilies are blooming in front of the house along with a crimson bee balm. The Stargazer lilies were a gift. Only one is blooming so far, but there are two or three more. I am always so relieved when I don't kill plants I get as a gift. My Casa Blanca lilies are not planted to best advantage, but…
“How’s your garden this year?” This is the question on everyone’s lips this summer, and in my case the answer is “Not good.” I began with the usual good intentions, and even more energy and enthusiasm as I decided to start my own vegetable seedlings and enlarge the garden. My plan was to grow more of my own vegetables than ever, and thus save lots of money on grocery bills. However, we all…
Today is our 32nd official wedding anniversary. On our 25th, our children set themselves, their children and our friends to create squares for a celebratory quilt. The quilt hangs in our Great Room where we can tell the stories of our history together. The Nilla Wafers box patch recalls a story about our friend George who decried the 2 cookies for dessert rule - and gave each child their very own box of cookies, which they ate two…
First I have to say the very most important event of the past week was the wedding of my cousin Jay and his beloved Juliet in a beautiful garden in Manchester by the Sea. It was a glorious day and celebration was in the air. Our hotel was hosting three wedding receptions and packed to the rafters with SEVEN groups of wedding guests. Juliet is a Nanny in the classic mode. The wedding guest list was filled with her…
Yesterday famed author and illustrator Ed Young made a presentation at the Childrens Literature Festival for the young set at Buckland Shelburne Elementary School. He did everything the children asked, making a lion - and a chicken - according to their directions while he stood behind the easel and making a horse paper cut. He also had the children hold a long long scroll with a poem he had written some 20 years ago to demonstrate Chinese characters. In China,…
Creating good plant combinations and beautiful color pairings is not my forte. Obviously I don't even note such things in my garden because today, I suddenly realized that I had this great combo, a clump of crimson bee balm next to a clump of Black Dragon lilies. They are perfect together and I wasn't even trying.
Lorraine Brennan is not a woman daunted by a challenge. When she and her husband bought a house by the side of the road in Northfield 20 years ago, it was surrounded by what seemed to be acres of blacktop parking lot. Now it is surrounded by what seems to be acres of garden – trees, shrubs, and perennials. Especially daylilies. The house by the side of the road, Route 10, was perfect for Brennan’s antiques business.…
If only I could keep them down on the farm things would be in great shape! Everyone came home for a big weekend; the main project was prepping and painting the north wall of the house. Gerry was on deck bright and early Friday, but it poured - so Gerry mudded several needy walls in the house. On Saturday the paint crew was on duty. Ryan can wield a mean paint brush. Ryan, Henry, Chris and Diane were…
Malabar Farm Book Review (of Malabar Farm by Louis Bromfield 1948) by E. B. White “Malabar Farm is the farm for me, A place of unbridled activity. A farm is always in some kind of tizzy, But Bromfield’s place is really busy: Strangers arriving by every train, Bromfield terracing against the rain, Catamounts crying, mowers mowing, Guest rooms full to overflowering, Boxers in every room of the house, Cows being milked to Brahms and Strauss, Kids arriving…