Happy St. Patrick’s Day to you all…I hope the snow has melted enough for the St. Patrick’s Day parade. Crazy winter this year, right?
In addition to St. Patrick’s Day, the first day of spring is nearly upon us. Friday, March 20th! {as Chris Erskine so aptly stated, “life blasts by, bring a helmet!”}
Maybe we should plan a parade for a time when the calendar says it’s spring. Mother Nature, and her weather wizard, can’t be far behind.
Since I can’t toast either occasion in real time with you, I thought I’d share some scrumptious visions of green.
Come along…
My history with green goes back some years. When Mr. B. and I first married white laminate parsons tables were very popular. Being a young 23-year old, I hadn’t quite figured out what my design perspective was. I purchased a white parsons table and promptly announced I wanted to paint our guest room walls kelly green, and use my white parsons table. Mr. B. said, “are you sure?!” With blind confidence that only a young, not yet experienced design enthusiast could muster, I declared, “I am positive!” I painted the room, with my mother’s help, and within 3 months, regretted the bold decision. 🙂 Mr. B. teases me about that room to this day! This is the look I was going for…I may have missed the mark just a bit…
Early on, in our current house, with sharper focus and greater clarity, I used hunter green throughout. I enjoyed that for over a decade, but at some point, ended my affair with green and left it behind (forever?). Still when I see a room dressed in green I pause…
Green can be symbolic of St. Patrick’s Day and invariably describes some part of the season we eagerly await, but it can also be soothing and fresh, whether it’s in the landscape or within the home.
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Garden, Home & Party 
Anita Rivera said:
Goodness gracious, green is in our veins. It is in our souls. We were meant to be in the garden. How lively and refreshed we feel when we see that first spurt of green pierce the dark ceiling of the soil, and then bloom over night it seems! What fantastic, gorgeous photos! And that gray pergola and gate to enter through…thank you for this magical prelude into my spring dear lady. THANK YOU! And for your kind and loving comments, I thank you as well. I am having so much fun reading and writing for my poetry group; I do miss my blogging days, and I had such a thrill as I composed my latest post, for it’s in blogging that I started to find my voice.
I will be back! But in the meantime, it’s work, reading and writing for me. Oh what a life. I wish you peace and serenity in your garden! Anita
Karen B. said:
Good Morning, dear sweet Anita! There is magic in Spring’s green, don’t you agree. It certainly has the ability to lift one’s spirits and energize us. Green in all of its hues and shades gives me a spring in my step and puts a smile on my face. Enjoy the day and the upcoming vernal equinox. P.S. I’m thrilled to hear of your upcoming book. You are an author I truly admire and enjoy your masterful way with words. 🙂 xo, Karen
On Tue, Mar 17, 2015 at 3:17 AM, Garden, Home & Party wrote:
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Anita Rivera said:
teeehe…I forget to comment on this frog….NO, it is NOT easy being green little man! Especially when old man winter barrels in! But green has more power than winter. You are here to stay!
Jayne said:
Green is glorious! Your post made me remember a childhood desk that I painted bright leaf green, shiny, for my New York apartment in my days as a single girl. Left it behind when I married, but green came again in the form of our little library. When we left that house, green left too, and your post made me think of this! Thank you for the memories!
Karen B. said:
Jayne, Your confession of your “bright leaf green desk” made me smile. I imagine it was lovely, and like Spring’s favorite crayon color in the box, was a happy piece to have in your apartment back in the day. 🙂 xo, Karen
On Tue, Mar 17, 2015 at 4:59 AM, Garden, Home & Party wrote:
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Victoria • Restoring our Victorian said:
I would like to thank you for replacing the image of St. Patrick’s Day that has been living in my head since Saturday, when Paul and I drove through a popular section of Philadelphia with lots of bars and restaurants and saw nothing but drunk people dressed in green looking ridiculous and headed for the next pub.
Have fun with your family!!
Karen B. said:
Hahaha! There’s nothing like a touch of beauty, and Kermit, to ring in St. Patrick’s Day and the upcoming arrival of spring! Has the snow melted? xo, Karen
On Tue, Mar 17, 2015 at 6:09 AM, Garden, Home & Party wrote:
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msshe said:
Lovely pics! I especially love those long green drapes.
Sheila E http://www.mykentuckyliving.blogspot.com
apologies for weird words from auto complete …Sent from my iPad
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Karen B. said:
Thanks, Sheila. Happy St. Patrick’s Day to you. I image it’s pretty easy to find great examples of green landscape in your neck of the woods. xo, Karen
On Tue, Mar 17, 2015 at 7:40 AM, Garden, Home & Party wrote:
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Tone on Tone Loi Thai said:
Hi Karen 🙂 Happy St Patrick’s Day! Lots of green goodness you’ve assembled. I can’t wait for all the green to return in the garden – what a long and frigid winter! Cheers to spring~
Karen B. said:
Hi Loi, So nice to hear from you. I’ve followed the news of the frigid storms that seem to have hit the east coast without pause, and thought of your beautiful garden. I hope it has survived and that spring will be showing it’s warmth and beauty very soon! 🙂 Happy St. Patrick’s Day, my friend. xo, Karen
On Tue, Mar 17, 2015 at 9:10 AM, Garden, Home & Party wrote:
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Vicki said:
Hi Karen- love the story of your kelly green guest room. I’ve had similar adventures involving stenciling! Green with white & black always gets me, and you found some beautiful examples. Enjoy your time with your family, especially little Olivia!
Karen B. said:
Thanks, Vicki. I feel so much better know there are a few of us out there that *occasionally* mis-judge paint color! 🙂 Have a wonderful start to spring. xo, Karen
On Tue, Mar 17, 2015 at 11:21 AM, Garden, Home & Party wrote:
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jennymein said:
Gorgeous photos …..and what amazing variations of green in homage to St. Patrick’s Day and the arrival of Spring! I do like that little corner nook with white desk and chair and a green wall covered in framed pictures. So soothing. Happy St. Patrick’s Day Karen!
Karen B. said:
Hi Jenny, Long time no see. I hope you are well. Has spring arrived where you are yet? We’ve had a recent sample of summer! {Ugh} xo, Karen
On Tue, Mar 17, 2015 at 2:20 PM, Garden, Home & Party wrote:
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D'Arcy H said:
I picked green as my favorite color when I was a little kid, and it’s never lost its appeal … it makes me feel refreshed and calm. I use it all over the house (bedroom, bath, and interior hall are all shades of pale green, and it’s a highlight in my kitchen, as well. Love that green dresser, and all the leafy photos. So many people NEED a shot of green after this winter!
Karen B. said:
D’Arcy, I do find green to be a very calming color. Our oldest son and his wife still use green and I love it. Let’s hope the East will enjoy a lush green spring very soon. xo, Karen
On Tue, Mar 17, 2015 at 6:31 PM, Garden, Home & Party wrote:
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Chronica Domus said:
Green was always my favorite color growing up and I loved to wear green clothes (I remember vividly my green roll neck sweater and cream and green skirt – how very 70s). I still love green and as your photos show, it is timeless.
Hope you had a good day yesterday.
Karen B. said:
Hi CD, I still love green in other’s homes and certainly in landscape. I lived and breathed hunter green for so many years, I think I did myself in. We had hunter green carpet and Portmerion dishes with their charming leaf border and botanic designs. Our home is small and the green was the base color for many years. I still think it’s a beautiful, serene color and with my red hair, I still wear it, but I’m on to a little more neutral base palate with some crimson and blue and white. I have a few black accents as well. I revisit green when we visit our family in Austin! LOL xo, Karen
On Wed, Mar 18, 2015 at 9:18 PM, Garden, Home & Party wrote:
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Linda Coble said:
Karen,
What beautiful green images you’ve accumulated. I’ve been in Spring mode for weeks now but Mother Nature still isn’t cooperating. I’m lucky to live in an area that abounds in lots of green trees but I’m ready to do some Spring plantings to add a punch of color to the landscape. Maybe in a couple of weeks! Thanks for another great post.
Karen B. said:
Oh, how I envy you. We’ve had a taste of summer and still not enough rain. I’m thinking I’ll have to spray paint the lawn to keep the green alive! 🙂 xo, Karen
On Thu, Mar 19, 2015 at 11:03 AM, Garden, Home & Party wrote:
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kristywharvey said:
This is just the cutest ever!!! I love this post. Those paper straws are the best invention. They make anything look so cute and appealing. Have a wonderful visit with your family. xo Kristy
Karen B. said:
Thanks, Kristy. Happy first day of spring! xo, Karen
On Thu, Mar 19, 2015 at 7:26 PM, Garden, Home & Party wrote:
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Kelly - Talk of the House said:
Hi Karen! A belated Happy St.Patrick’s Day to you! All these images of green are making me want to work in the yard more than I already do (and that’s a lot!) Miss Mustard Seed’s green chest is in the shade of green that I adore. Your collection of green here is beautiful. I hope you are having a wonderful time with your family.
Kelly
Karen B. said:
Thanks, Kelly. I’m so excited! xo
Sent from my iPad
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The Lady's Life said:
Nice post Karen! Makes me want a cupcake…. Seeing all of these pictures makes me realize how happy I am around green. St. Patrick’s Day could not come at a better time, since we’re craving spring! xo, N.
Karen B. said:
Hi Nina, Spring is such a happy season when it arrives. It’s come early to the west coast…winter was cut short for us. I hope spring shows up soon for you all. xo, Karen
Sent from my iPad
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cindy hattersley said:
You found some beautiful images Karen. I adore that room from Hudson Interiors. Makes me want to do a green room!!
Karen B. said:
Cindy, I don’t think I can actually pull the trigger on green as a main color ingredient in a room again, but I sure like the color and will always enjoy green as one of the mainstays in the garden, as long as there’s water! LOL…poor California, I do worry a bit about our drought. xo, Karen
On Mon, Mar 23, 2015 at 3:44 PM, Garden, Home & Party wrote:
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Gretchen said:
Ever since I can remember I have gravitated toward greens and blues. They have such a calming and soothing effect on me. Every one of my six houses has had an abundance of those two colors in all their variations from light to dark.
The description of your green room made me laugh. When we were first married and had virtually no furniture (and less money!) I found a black parson’s table in the alley behind our rented house. I painted it bright green and used it as an end table. I thought it was so trendy! You and I have learned a lot since then, haven’t we!
Karen B. said:
We’ve always shared a love for design…some of it better than others! Hahaha! Oh, how far we’ve come. 🙂 xo, Karen
Sent from my iPad
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Leslie Harris said:
Hi Karen. I can relate to this post. I’ve also gravitated toward green throughout my past. My very first couch I ever bought when I was living with girlfriends was a green floral one and I loved it for a long time. Even recently I had a lovely green chair that I finally sold, it just was time. Its funny how decorating choices change over time to reflect our moods. I sure love the green toile room but I’m not sure I could live with it very long. 🙂 Did you have fun with the family?
Karen B. said:
Leslie, I agree, I still admire green when I see it in a room, I just don’t think I could go back. I love toile but an entire room might get to me. I’m thinking, when I have the energy to actually empty my clothes closet, I’d like it in there.
It was so much fun having a 4 year old in the house again! xo, Karen
On Thu, Apr 2, 2015 at 12:15 PM, Garden, Home & Party wrote:
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