Daily Travels

Labor Day is only a week away.  If you are still looking for a last minute get away look in Nantucket.  The White Elephant has a special offer during Labor Day.   Everyone loves Nantucket style... the shingled houses, hydrangeas, blues and whites... what's not to love?

The White Elephant

You could stay at this charming landmark (also one of the most luxurious spots on the island) and enjoy all the other eye candy that Nantucket has to offer.

The Brant Point light station, the second oldest light station in America, is with in walking (or biking) distance.

courtesy of Traditional Home

Enjoy gawking at all of the fabulous homes!  This beautiful home is Boston interior designer, Nancy's Serafini's and has been seen  in publications such as Traditional Home.

 

Barlett Farms is also a great spot to see.  With a market, garden center, and acres of fields, it is a great spot to ride your bike to for lunch.  It is also near Nantucket Vineyards which is a great stop for wine tasting.  

Social Irrigation

The Vine is a wonderful garden shop in St. Simons Island, GA.  In their garden they will help you design the landscape of your dreams, liven up your existing landscape with some incredible containers, or create the perfect theme for you next dinner party or event.

the shop

topiary containers with deer foot moss, richard schultz chair, photo by h2o creative group

 bouquets and boutonnières

Rehearsal Dinner, Sea Island, GA picture by h2o creative group

The store has a monthly event called "Social Irrigation."  Customers receive a 15% discount off everything in the store while they enjoy food and drinks provided by The Vine.  Sounds like a win, win to me!  And what a great name... Social Irrigation!

Thanks to tropical storm Danny, it looks like we wont need to irrigate our out door plants in Atlanta this weekend, but we will definitely need to make time for "Social Irrigation."

I just love this quirky picture by Wendy Bevan!  Hope everyone has a great weekend!!

Old Westbury

Some of our readers may recognize this house from "The Grandfather" episode of Gossip Girl last season.  What you may not realize is that Old Westbury, completed in 1906 by english designer George A. Crawley, is on the national register of historic places and is known as one of the world's most beautiful gardens.

I had the privilege of visiting this garden on Long Island last year.  The pictures below do not even begin to capture the beauty and awe of the scene.  Approximately 160 acres of various gardens...  the walled garden...

The amazing trellis...

The pool...

The trellis goes on and on...

Gorgeous!!
One of my favorite aspects of the garden was the children's garden.  This thatched roof play house was for the only girl, Peggie.  How lovely are the tulips and the topiaries by the door?
The boys had their own play houses as well their's were a more rough and tough long cabin style. 

What an amazing place to grow up!
If you ever get a chance to take a tour, I highly recommend it!  For more information go to: http://www.oldwestburygardens.org/.

Good Bye Smith and Hawken

Smith & Hawken, in the garden since 1979, is hanging up their gardening gloves.  While we are so sad to see you go, we can find some comfort in the 30%-40% off sale on everything in the store.  40% all furniture!!  New shipments are still arriving as they clear the warehouses, and the Atlanta store is projected to stay open until November or December, while supplies last.  

They still have this planter in the store, which is one of my favorite.  (18" large and 15" medium)  These would look great with a couple of boxwoods in them!   

Daily Eats

Want to eat fresh, locally grown vegetables everyday, but don't have the time to grow your own?  Join a CSA and get a supply of fresh veggies every week!  CSA, community supported agriculture, is a movement in which your can buy locally grown food directly from the hands of the farmer who harvested it.  You pay a weekly share (usually under $20 a week) and get a weekly supply of a variety of vegetables for you and your family.

These pictures were taken from Orchard Pond Organics, my sister's organic farm in Tallahassee, FL, which was just started in 2008 and already has over a hundred members of their CSA.  For more information and to find a CSA in your area go to www.localharvest.org.

Parterre Gardens

Giardino Giusti in Verona, Italy

Giardino Giusti in Verona, Italy

Client of DLA in Augusta, GA.

Parterre Gardens are formal gardens where the beds and the pathways form a pattern.  These gardens, often found in french chateaus or italian villas, can also be perfect for your home if brought into scale.  Try planting herbs inside the beds for a small kitchen garden or annuals and perennials for a colorful cutting garden.

Daily Dip

My sister bought a galvanized steel trough that she uses for a baby pool.  At first I was a bit skeptical but after seeing it, I love the look! 

 Lately, I have been seeing them everywhere and with many different uses, i.e. the picture  below courtesy of pinkwallpaper.  They conveniently come in different sizes to suit your needs and even come with a drain in the bottom!

You wont have to go far for this find... only to your local hardware store.  The sleek look of these troughs easily can fit into your landscape.  What an inexpensive, shabby chic way to way beat the August heat!  

Daily Eats

Now that school has started back for most children, we all have education on the mind.  Edible schoolyards are a great way for kids to learn science, math, nutrition, patience.... the possibilities are endless.  

    
MLK Middle School in Berkley, CA has an incredible school yard garden as shown in the pictures above.  This program was sponsored by noted chef and restauranteur, Alice Waters.  

These photos are from the Kate Sullivan Elementary in Tallahassee, FL.  This edible school yard was designed by The Damayan Garden Project.  

Jump on board and try to get your local schools involved.  For more information email me.

Summers End

After just returning from our last summer vacation, I am a little sentimental that summer has come to an end.  I always dread the end of summer because it is my favorite season, and I love all the excitement that comes with it.  The pictures below are from the amazing photographer, Slim Aarons, who understands how to capture that excitement of summer in a snapshot.  

picture titled: Nice Pool

I love the ballustrade is the far ground.  And LOVE that the dogs where included in the picture.

picture titled:Acapulco Villa

The good life!

picture titled: Scone Madame?

  What a perfect setting for a summer pool party!  

Picture titled: Poolside Gossip

The good thing is there will still be warm weather in Atlanta for the next few months and still many opportunities for poolside gossip.

All photos via www.photographersgallery.com

Daily Shade

images via http://www.parasoleil.com

Piggy backing on BPQ TX's post from last week, Parasoleil has a great product to add another element to your shade structure.  These copper panels are cut in intricate designs that sunlight moves through to create playful patterns along the ground.  They are available in custom sizes and different patinas to suit your space.  Used in the right setting, this product could successfully enhance your space.

Daily Shade

As a Landscape Architect in Texas, a constant request from clients is SHADE! Another option to planting trees is constructing an arbor. An arbor is a great focal point in the garden and can be very simple, intricate, or even an extension of architecture from the house or building. One of my favorites here in Austin is at Whole Foods outside on the plaza. The most beautiful characteristic of arbors is the way sunlight moves through them and seeing the different shade patterns that are created on the ground.

Welcome Home

The Pineapple, Dunmore Scotland

Photo by Hoag Levins, a home in Haddenfield, NJ

Photo from blog, Sage Mommy

Speaking of welcoming homes, this image cannot go unmentioned.  The Pineapple has been known as a welcoming symbol since the age of Christopher Columbus.  This summer house, built in 1791, has a gigantic (45') pineapple that was built to suit the fanciful taste of the Earl of Dunmore.  Although the architect is uncertain, credit has been given to Sir William Chambers for what perhaps may be the most spectacular example of this architectural theme.   

Although this is quite interesting, I believe I would stick to simpler pallet to achieve this motif.  Perhaps these carved wooden gate post would be a more obtainable idea.  Better yet, maybe just a pineapple door knocker like the one on this fabulous yellow door.  

Welcoming Approach

All photos are of work designed by Dargan Landscape Architects

I love these images of approach.  They all create a welcoming since of anticipation as you walk towards the the front entrance.  It seems to just draw you in.

Play Day

When buying a swing or play structure for your garden, remember that you are going to want to place it in an area where you can easily watch the children playing.  You should think of it as sculpture in the garden.  Don't buy something that you don't enjoy looking at or would want to hide in a corner, but get a simple structure (or have one made) that fits in with the overall style of your home and garden.  The above picture is of the swing set my mother had made for her grandchildren to play in her garden.  I also love the baby adirondack chair for the kids!