SOUTH EASTERN FLOWER SHOW

The South Eastern Flower Show is next week!

Because I will be mostly out of the office, I am going to take a week off from blogging. I hope that everyone will come out to see all the beautiful exhibits. Here is a sneak peek of what ours is going to look like...

The annual Flower Power Benefit will be held on Friday night to benefit the Southern Horticultural Society. Click on the link below for tickets and more information!

Daily Contribution

Pamoja Penda music and Arts Festival is an event in which 100% of the proceeds will go to a new medical center in Northern Uganda.

Act locally, give globally is the message of the Pamoja Penda Music and Arts Festival at Park Tavern in Atlanta, GA on March 28th. The goal is to connect communities in Atlanta to Africa by bringing by friends and family together in an eco-friendly celebration of arts, music and culture. Tickets are only $10 if you buy them before Feb. 1st, then they go up to $20.00 in Feb. and $30 in March. The day will be filled with activities including seven bands, a barefoot soccer tournament organized by Grassroots Soccer, documentary films, a sustainable arts and crafts market and more.

We hope that you can join us and encourage all of your family and friends to as well!

Even if you do not live in Atlanta or know that you cannot come to the event, buying a $10 ticket would be a great donation to an amazing organization... remember 100% of the proceeds goes towards building the new medical center. For more info on the Pamoja Penda or UAPO please go to their websites. To buy tickets, click on this link and enter the promo code chenritze (please dont forget the promo code it helps us to track the ticket sells.)

Forcing Bulbs

The Southeastern Flower Show is next week, and our office is getting excited. We have been getting ready for our exhibit since September when we began the process of forcing bulbs.

To begin the process you first cover the bottom of a clay pot with about 1" of gravel then add the potting soil. Place the bulb just below the rim of the pot with at least 2" of soil below the bulb. Then follow the chart below. *To chill place in a cold basement or in a refrigerator keeping the temperature around 40 degrees.

After following the process above (with a few alterations... i.e. adding heat to those that are moving slow and putting some bulbs back in the freezer that are blooming to soon...) we are anticipating beautiful color for our exhibit.

This formula could be applied anytime of year. And makes for a great gift.

I may try to force bulbs for Christmas presents next year.

More on the Southeastern Flower Show to come...

Checkmate.

Do you see any similarities in the two courtyard photos below?

Picture via Style Court

Patio designed by Thomas Church

They are both so perfectly classic with the brick, vegetation, and of course the checker board floor.

Designed by DLA

This classic look can be applied to add another element of interest to your design.

It can be accomplished with hardscape or vegetation or a combination of the two.

via Bunny Guinness

Thymus serpyllum 'Minmus' and Indian stone slabs make the checker board pattern shown above. This makes such a whimsical playful look that can be enjoyed year round.

Can You Top Topiaries?

Topiaries are well known garden ornaments that date back as far as the Renaissance period. Today they are still very stylish garden ornaments that can be used for several occasions inside and out.

They look so classic by your front door.

Or in your kitchen..

Herb topiaries can be great decor and functional for cooking.

(Lavender above and rosemary below.)

They can be a perfect solution to wedding decor.

In front of a church

Or as the center piece for the tables.

They also make great gifts...

Less expensive than cut flowers and they last longer!

House warming,

Birthday,

New baby,

Or just because.

Email me if you are interested any of the topiaries pictured above. I can get them for you at prices that cannot be beat!

Have you seen

It's Complicated?

It is a good movie but what makes it even better is the garden, house, and bakery of Meryl Streep's character.

The garden is so perfect that it makes you want to pack your bags and move to Santa Barbara where it was filmed.

It makes you wonder, can a garden really be that perfect and fruitful or is this just the work of a talented set designer?

The shed is even perfect.

And the covered outdoor loggia along the perimeter of the house.

Her house is amazing on the inside too. I love the open floor plan where the kitchen flows into the living room. The picture above and below show the view from both angles.

You cannot forget The Bakery ... ahhh! I also read that the scenes for the bakery's kitchen and refrigeration area was filmed at Sarabeth's Bakery in the Chelsea Market.

I think I will just walk right into the movie and move in!

Daily Dreaming and Outdoor Curtains...

Thanks to Garden and Gun's Talk of the South newsletter, I am daydreaming that I am at Islamorada in the Florida Keys at the Cheeca Lodge & Spa.

Cheeca, which burned in 2008, is now rebuilt and better than ever. To top it off, Cheeca is offering discounts up to 30% for guest before January 31.

I love the outdoor cabanas along the pool in the picture above from Cheeca. This is a simple look that you can bring to your own home just by adding a few outdoor curtains.

Courtesy of Architectural Digest

The curtains add the perfect touch to soften any exterior.

Courtesy of Country Living

They bring a slice of paradise into your own home.

They can enhance balance and order.

Add rhythm and repetition.

Courtesy of Antonia Hutt

I love the fun aspect of the striped curtains.

Courtesy of One King's Lane

Outdoor curtains look great anytime of the year! They are a great way to add excitement to a cold wintery garden!

Courtesy of Cottage Living