New Year goals and (yikes) resolutions

31 Friday Dec 2010

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I look forward to starting a new year with a list of ideas, goals and resolutions (I actually only set about 2-3 new resolutions, I don’t like to face the let-down of failure).

I draw inspiration from a number of different resources that I keep on the bookshelf in our study {sometimes I need a refresher mid-year}. There are a couple of books that consistently motivate and help remind me of what my priorities are. One of my long time favorites is the 1986 publication of “Living a Beautiful Life” by Alexandra Stoddard. This book is a go-to reminder to stop and enjoy day-to-day living.

image via Amazon; order book HERE

In her book, Alexandra offers simple steps for enriching daily life. While I’ve read the book many times over the years, when re-read I always uncover some new information like:

“Work smarter, not harder. When overwhelmed, take a break from whatever is causing pressure and attend to some necessary tasks that will please you and bring instant gratification.” This is sound advice for me since I work full time and sometimes find the stress of all I’d like to accomplish too much to handle.

One of my favorite recommendations from this book is to always take time to bring fresh flowers into your home. Ms. Stoddard even gives you tips on how to make a fresh bouquet last longer than the typical short number of days. There is something so simple and satisfying about fresh flowers in the rooms we spend the most time in. During the winter months when our gardens are mostly bare of blooms, a small bouquet from your local florist or market can give you a lift.

Even if you have to buy a flowering house plant…flowers put a smile on my face!

“This one is a favorite…Daydreaming can help the brain promote essential cross-circuiting of your creativity. Giving your brain a nap; it will work smarter.” How lucky for me…I love to daydream.

Above all, as the New Year looms, starting out with a positive attitude, throw in determination for good measure, and a short list of goals and you can make home life in 2011 the best yet.

Do you have any resolutions you’d like to share?

Christmas centerpieces

15 Wednesday Dec 2010

Posted by Karen B. in Flowers

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Christmas centerpieces

During the holidays most of us have occasion to dress the dining room table with all of the beauteous crystal, silver and china we own. Truly, this time of year any time you set the table, no matter whether its with glass, pottery and stainless or the above, you can make it feel jolly by adding flower or seasonal clippings.

image via Better Homes and Gardens

image via BHG

Better Homes and Gardens had some really great ideas this week. If you would like to see more visit HERE.

We can go from the sublime (all a matter of personal taste) to the ridiculous! I’m happy somewhere in the middle. I like things on the dining table to be a little bit dressed up during this season but I can’t go to over the top without feeling like I’m straying from my own style.

This is one of Martha Stewart's early centerpieces and I've always loved it. I've used it with white carnations as well as white roses (the vase is filled with real cranberries).

If you’d like to see more of Martha’s ideas for the holidays visit HERE.

image via Martha Stewart

The stark contrast of the white and red (above) is stunning.

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The above is so simple and greens can be free if you a) have a pine tree somewhere where cutting a few branches won’t get you arrested or b) the big box stores as well as tree lots will often give you the clippings (bottom branches) from their trees.

image via Carolyne Roehm

If you’d like to see Carolyne’s website and read more about her new book visit HERE.

Some believe less is more while others believe that where Christmas is concerned there’s never too much! I’ll leave that up to you, but do take the time (and that’s the challenge, the whole time thing) to set your table for friends and family with some festive items.

Roger’s Gardens had a great centerpiece I plan to copy for my own table. I like the natural greens and sparkle of it.

image via my friend Debbie

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Wouldn’t a fireplace in the dining room cozy things up? This table is dressed to the nines!

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How simple, green and red apple slices around a bowl of flowers. It doesn’t have to be complicated!

image Elle Decor

I love to decorate the kitchen table, sometimes unexpected but so festive.

I’d love to hear what you’re doing this Christmas with your dining tables.

A magical nursery…Rogers Gardens

15 Monday Nov 2010

Posted by Karen B. in Flowers, Gardening

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nursery, Rogers Gardens, seasonal plants

I live in Orange County, California where the sun shines 365 days a year…at least that’s what the Chamber of Commerce would have you believe. As a native SoCal resident I’m here to tell you we are pretty lucky with our weather and we do have seasons of a sort. It takes practice, but you can detect season-to-season if you’ve lived here all your life. (I was born and raised in the state and apart from a 2-year stint in Arlington, Texas hubby and are natives).

In the background, through the trees (in this picture), you can see the gazebo that Roger's is famous for. It was built and modeled after the gazebo at Disneyland.

Image via Rogers Gardens website.

One of the jewels in the crown of “the O.C.” (does anyone remember that TV drama/soap series?) is Roger’s Gardens. According to their website under History of the Nursery,

“The original Roger’s Gardens (in Costa Mesa) was opened in 1965 by Roger McKinnon. Retaining the name, Roger’s Gardens, Gavin Herbert Sr. became the new owner in January 1970 and moved the business in 1975 to its current location in Corona Del Mar, California. Sitting upon seven acres across from Fashion Island, Roger’s Gardens has grown to be known as ‘America’s Most Beautiful Home and Garden Center’”.

In addition to blood-pressure lowering vistas this nursery offers events (artists display their plein air paintings, Halloween and Christmas previews) but they offer free classes on specific interests such as growing roses or perennials.

Plein air paintings are often featured in the gift Gallery at Roger's.

So, after deciding I’d procrastinated long enough on getting practice to improve my photography skills, or lack thereof, I drove to Rogers Gardens on my lunch hour and took a lot of pictures, hoping to capture the beauty of the place—I’m sorry to report the pictures I took don’t compare to those of their website so this post features some of both…sorry. The photography student isn’t ready for prime time yet!

Roger’s does an amazing job with flower baskets.

I was going to try to take primarily Autumnal photos but it was already “Christmas” at Roger’s and there were dozens of Christmas trees decked out with ornaments for sale in the fabulous gift Gallery. Not to mention the LGB train (a larger scale train) that circles the most amazing array of evergreen trees and seasonal plants. Rogers manages to create a completely detailed fantasyland of beauty for all to see. I’ll go back later and try my hand on some “winter wonderland” shots.

You will find so many interesting and uncommon plants at Rogers. The planting materials they stock are the highest quality plants and almost always perform beautifully in the garden.

In addition to their stock of amazing bedding plants, perennials, shrubs and trees, they have a florist studio where (for a price) you may have any kind of centerpiece or house plant arranged in a decorative planter of your own or one you have purchased from the nursery. I’ve actually hired them to create a planter for a dinner I was giving in 2009 and the plants and planter still look great—the annual color I had them add has been removed but they do such a good job it is worth the dollars you will spend.

I love sunflowers and this arrangement reflects the season.

The gift Gallery always has great gift ideas whether you need something for a specific holiday or just want to spoil yourself. The prices on most items seems very fair to me—there are some spectacular antique pieces where the items are displayed with flair. The nursery has a complete line of patio furniture from Kingsley Bates teak to Lane indoor-outdoor wicker and dozens of others.

During the holidays the place is lit with tiny white lights from the trees surrounding the nursery to every large evergreen tree on the grounds inside the nursery. I’ll have to go back to take more pictures/get more practice!

By the way, I don’t work for Roger’s Gardens and they do not give me anything for these compliments…darn, wish they did! 🙂

Do you like to work in your garden—do you have a favorite place to buys plants or just to get inspired?

Fall gardening—growing peonies in Southern California

27 Wednesday Oct 2010

Posted by Karen B. in Flowers, Gardening

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Gardening, Peony

One of my favorite flowers is the peony. I love their bold yet lacy beauty and the delicate to daring, colors they bloom in. Unfortunately I am in zone 18 (according to the Sunset magazine guide). We rarely get frost in my neighborhood (peonies like a chill in the winter) and we can warm up in the summer to the mid-to high eighties, even nineties, this is not an ideal climate for peonies. Until now?

Monrovia sells some very lovely peony however they can be expensive.

I just read that there is a variety of peony called ‘Itoh’—a cross between herbaceous and tree peonies—not sure what that means exactly…but if it means I might be able to cut a peony blossom from my yard occasionally I’m up for giving a 5-gallon plant a try.

There are some David Austin roses that remind me of peony blossoms; if all else fails I will plant a couple new DA roses.

According to Sunset you can plant the ‘Itoh’ peony in spring or fall. You want to make sure the rootball is level with the soil line—taking care not to disturb the tender feeder roots. The article even says you can plant them in containers if the container is larger than the container the plant came in from the nursery.

Wouldn't it be fun to be able to stroll into the yard, clippers in hand, and come in with a bouquet like this? Hey, a girl can dream, right?

Add plenty of compost mix to your planting soil. The plants should be watered regularly and you should feed them once when the plant starts to leaf using a low nitrogen fertilizer (5-10-10) and again after the last flower of the season fades. The article also said that as the plant ages there will be a noticeable increase in blossoms…especially after 3 years in the ground.

Ahhh, yellow, so sunny and happy!

I realize that most of the U.S. probably can grow peonies with ease, it’s just that here in Zone 18 of Southern California we miss out on lilacs and peonies, two of my favorites. We can grow hydrangea without much difficulty so that’s the consolation prize for living where it’s warm nearly every day! If any of you have grown these peonies successfully, please give me any and all advice you may have on how to do it.

Morning Glory in the Garden

08 Sunday Aug 2010

Posted by Karen B. in Flowers, Gardening

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Garden, Morning Glory, vine

I live in Southern California and during the summer months we are lucky enough to enjoy morning glory (‘ipomoea’) in all of its blue, pink, white or violet finery. I have grown the flowering vine every year that we have lived in our current home—28 summers of morning glory!

My morning glories are more violet than blue---I really prefer the blue ones so I'll need to make sure I plant new "blue" seeds.

I was first introduced to the ease of growing these flowers years ago (before marriage) while visiting my dear friend, Linda. She was living with her parents at the time and her father grew morning glory in their back yard in Corona Del Mar. When I admired his vine filled with vibrant blue flowers, he explained that they were easy to grow and promptly gave me a 1 gallon container with seeds already planted.

Mine is just getting going and as you can see, I have an insect already nibbling on the leaves. I don't mind sharing but I wish they would eat the less noticeable leaves.

My husband and I bought our first home in Tustin and I was able to grow the morning glories from a pot, the vine grew around the patio post. In this Irvine house I grow them in the only sunny spot in my yard and they twine their way around the fence posts. They are listed in a popular book by retired L.A. Times Garden Editor, Robert Smaus, as a “pest plant” in his popular book, “52 Weeks in the California Garden”—but I still love them! When the little ‘starts’ pop up in the wrong spot in the yard they are very easy to pull up by the roots and eventually they stop coming around.

I've asked this angel to keep the bugs dining to a minimum!

There comes a time in the year when they start looking kind of sad and I simply pull them out, roots and all, when that happens (usually in late September).

Here is a sample of colors that I've seen---I believe they come in a variety of colors, including white.

Isn't this a beautiful shade of blue?

To plant: Buy seed from your local nursery or big box home improvement store. Soak the seed overnight. Sow the seed in a sunny location after danger of frost (spring). Sow them 2-3″ apart and cover with 1/2″ of fine soil. Once the seedlings pop their little heads out of the ground, thin to space them 1′ apart. Don’t over fertilize—this encourages growth of the vine and fewer flowers. I believe you will have fun with this easy to grow plant.

Rehersal dinners & other wedding tales

07 Saturday Aug 2010

Posted by Karen B. in Flowers, Party Planning

≈ 5 Comments

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bridesmaid dress, centerpieces, wedding

Hubby and I are attending the wedding of Jeff, the son of a couple we have known since we were first married. Jeff and his lovely fiance, are getting married over Labor Day weekend in St. Helena, California. The wine country in Northern California is amazing.

This is the winery where the wedding will be held. Are we in Italy?

Anyway, since my friend is the “mother of the groom” she and her husband will be hosting the rehearsal dinner. They have a venue and are in the process of selecting invitations and determining centerpieces for the tables.

I love the simplicity of a single hydrangea blossom in a jelly jar.

There are so many beautiful ideas only a ‘Google search’ away. Have you noticed how many amazingly creative people there are out there?!

With the wedding being held in September I believe sunflowers would be beautiful.

I attended a wedding where the bride used jelly jars with wild flowers on the tables and it was amazing.

Speaking of weddings, a friend of mine recently began posting at paper{whites}, (visit her site, you’ll love it). She posted a piece on the wonderful bridesmaid dresses on the market today…and more importantly, you don’t have to break the bank to find them…visit her site for details.

I believe this was in Traditional Home or Veranda some years ago---it's designer Nancy Braithwaite's daughter's wedding.

Small Yards – Making the cut

20 Tuesday Jul 2010

Posted by Karen B. in Flowers, Gardening, Maintenance

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Gardening, replacing plants

As you may have gathered, we live in a cottage. We love small spaces and it works for us. It certainly keeps us on top of the weeding out what we don’t use game. And because we have a small house we have a relatively small yard. I should mention that I know this isn’t the case in all regions of the U.S. but in California, where real estate is always at a premium, this is often the standard.

In small spaces some plants aren't able to hold their own year round.

So my dilemma has become…should I get rid of the few plants that haven’t been living up to their end of the bargain? I hate to be heartless and cruel but there are several plants in my yard that just don’t look very good and because of their close proximity to the house (i.e. small yard, etc.) they are highly visible.

This white bower vine was pretty last year. This spring, due to the rains we had, it looks like it doesn't have enough leaves.

I am going to replace them with a new player (as in sports team language). If a plant/team member isn’t doing what it takes to make a pretty yard/winning team then I’m forced to make a change!

This corner has struggled due to the shade. Tree trimming is necessary before next fall!

Am I being heartless? What do you do when a plant is struggling and you’ve nursed it and it still looks pitiful?

When there is limited space you want all of the plants to look good all of the time, is this too much to ask...probably!

I hope to plant a rosemary near this bed, the old one outgrew its location.

What do you do when plants begin to look like they aren’t happy where they are planted? Do you have a solution? I’d love to hear from you.

In a former life…I may have been British

09 Friday Jul 2010

Posted by Karen B. in Flowers, Gardening

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English cottages, English gardens, living in England

Most of my adult life and certainly after my first visit to England in 1985 I began to think of the U.K. as ‘home’ away from home. I absolutely fell in love with all things British and have returned 3 times since the initial vacation.

I visited this charming cottage in Chipping Campden and yes, it's as lovely as the picture.

I love the weather—okay, I know I haven’t actually lived in it for any prolonged period of time and might (as some suggest) grow tired of all the gray days. I don’t think so. I am so much more comfortable in cool weather than I am in warm so I believe I’d love the fact that most of the year you really need a sweater.

Since I have a passion for gardening I am sure I’d enjoy growing some of the amazing plants that thrive in England’s climate.

It seems that there are beautiful flowers in the front yards as well as the back.

One huge bonus would be that I could grow peonies—which I can’t do in Southern California (not enough cold weather).

There are plans available online for those interested in building their own English cottage.

Isn’t this pretty? Yep, I think I could live in England…if only I could talk all of my friends and family into moving there with me.

This is a typical village scene.

Happy Friday! Do you ever believe you love something/somewhere so much, you must have been a resident in a former life?

4th of July

04 Sunday Jul 2010

Posted by Karen B. in Decorating, Entertaining, Flowers, Gardening

≈ 2 Comments

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outdoor space, plants

Cayley, a dear friend of mine, lives in a beautiful home. The home is only 4 years old but her landscape and the amazing furnishings make you feel like this house was built somewhere in the countryside of Italy many years ago. The warmth and welcoming feel is what you might expect to find in a comfortable and cozy country home of Tuscany. She always sets a wonderful table and her setting for the 4th is no exception.

4th of July

I think my favorite outdoor space in her home is the courtyard, located off the dining room. This space has everything you could wish for in an outdoor living room. There is a fireplace with a back drop of olive trees and flowering plants…

…a multi-tiered fountain that provides relaxing sounds that calm and soothe you after a busy day…

Ahh, the soothing sound of water cascading gently.

…lush landscape that cools the space as well as offers the scents of jasmine and hydrangea.

I love hydrangea!

This is a wonderful outdoor room and one that inspires me to work in my garden!

Star jasmine, trained on wire, gives the space interest and fragrance.

Have a wonderful 4th of July weekend! Cayley, thank you for sharing your home with me!

Work in the garden

30 Sunday May 2010

Posted by Karen B. in Flowers, Gardening, Maintenance

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Garden, Gardening

It’s Memorial Day weekend and I have big plans to work in the garden. My front yard needs some work since the roses are finished with their first bloom. I need to fertilize them and cut off the dead blossoms.

Iceberg and freshly planted impatiens

I redesigned the bedding area as you walk up to my front door earlier this Spring. I had my gardener remove some plants that weren’t holding up their end of the bargain (to thrive and bloom). We planted 3 white iceberg roses and I will be planting impatiens and lobelia in and around the boxwood bordered bed.

Lobelia & Impatiens - with any luck these will double in size over the next 6-8 weeks.

I’ve said it before, impatiens are simple to grow and perform without much work and that’s what I love about them. With a busy schedule that is what I’m looking for!

I'm counting on this little guy to keep an eye on my newly planted flowers.

I hope to get to the side and back yard for some maintenance chores but I’m taking it easy—something I have a difficult time doing so if I don’t get those areas finished this weekend I’ve been told the work will be there waiting for me next weekend!