Barkitecture

If you are a dog lover, than this is the coffee table book for you. Barkitecture by Fred Albert is full of a variety of dog houses. Some are quite the monstrosities, and some are so perfectly designed that they fit seamlessly into the garden. The cover of the book illustrates a great example of this.

This thatched roof dog house is one of my favorites in the book. It reminds me of the play house at Old Westbury Gardens.

How funny is the one?

The book is just full of interesting designs that are very entertaining to look at.

The above picture is not from the book, but does it remind you of something? Maybe a post earlier this week... It is from Boutique Tents! They even make a dog version.

The last two pictures are of Mosley's house (my parents dog.) The shingles and the paint color match the house perfectly. Although it is tucked in a corner it still becomes another garden element or focal point instead of an eye sore.

Office Outing

Last week we decided to take advantage of the gorgeous fall weather; so we took a break from work and heading to the Atlanta Botanical Gardens.

It is hard to believe that there are 30 acres in the middle of the city dedicated solely to art, education, horticulture, and sustainability.

There are so many gorgeous focal points around every turn.

There are several smaller themed gardens such as the Japanese Garden, the Rose garden, the Fuqua Conservatory and Fuqua Orchid Center. I am sorry that I don't have pictures of all of these to share, but I do have picture of the children's garden which was one of my most favorite!

This map shows a plan view of the children's garden.

There is a fun tunnel for the children to crawl though which also explains the metamorphosis of a caterpillar. And a butterfly garden...

There is the sunflower fountain- just for fun!

And the slide...

There is also a vegetable garden and an amphitheater for the kids that I unfortunately do not have pictures to show.

The Elevated Canopy Walk is under construction and is projected to be completed by Spring 2010. I cant wait to get back to see this exhibit!

For more information of to plan your visit click here.

pictures via www.atlantabotanicalgarden.org

Boutique Tents

While we are on the topic of circus acts and classic American style, I thought that these Boutique Tents were fitting. They can be used any where from weddings to cabanas. They are made of aluminum and can be left outside year round.

This tent creates a unique out door room and would be a perfect spot for an outdoor lunch or a children's tea party.

This tent is from the Viceroy Palm Springs, California luxury resort and spa. It serves as a great shelter for dinning al fresco, an intimate pavilion for parities or to just hang out, and it adds so much to the daily atmosphere.

The last two images, via shelter, show the timeless use of the black and white tents as pool cabanas.

Great Expectations

Ever since 1998 when the movie Great Expectations came out, I have been awed by the house where it was filmed.

Paradiso Perduto (meaning Paradise Lost) is the name of Ms. Densmore's neglected mansion in the film. As the story goes, she was to me married in the garden there, but when the marriage fell through she fell apart. The house fell apart with her, but this dilapidated set only heightens the magical quality of the film.

When I discovered that the set was really the Ca d'Zan, the winter home of John and Mable Ringling of the famous Ringling Brothers, Barnum and Bailey Circus it only spiked my curiosity even further.

The Ca d'Zan is described as a Venetian Gothic mansion designed by architect Dwight James Baum. It overlooks the Sarasota Bay, which reminded the Ringlings of Venice, their favorite city.

The above picture was taken in 1927 of John Ringling at the Ca d'Zan (meaning "the house of John" in Venetian dialect.) The house was completed in 1926 at the total cost of $1.5 million. According to Wikipedia, with inflation that converts to approximately $16 million today.

The unique architecture and specific attention to whimsical detail is indicative of the the circus background of the owners and only seems to make the place more magical.

The above picture is of Mable Ringling. She was said to have loved being out doors, and loved gardens. The grounds and gardens include the Italian rose garden, Mable's Scvret Garden, the Dwarf Garden, Millennium Tree Trail, and other delightful views of the bay.

Pictures above found here.

The Ca d'Zan mansion is now open for tours, a venue for public events, and can be rented for weddings.

I have great expectations of touring the mansion and grounds when I one day make it down to Sarasota, FL.

On the Hunt...

I am still on the hunt for that potting bench for an outdoor work space, and so is a reader from Athens who requested I do a post on potting benches and potting sheds.

This potting shed/green house from Bunny Guinness's website would be ideal, but most of us are just not ready for that type of commitment.

The above picture is just torture, because we can no longer get it. Can you guess where it is from?

Smith and Hawken we miss you dearly!

The galvanized metal top to the potters table above makes for a great work area. This find is from Vagabond Vintage.

There is always the old piece of furniture that you can turn into your potting shed. This serves as a great place to store your tools, but the only down fall is that it may not be weather resistant.

When stumped you can always turn to Martha, and as much as we may not like to admit it, she usually has a pretty good solution for just about anything. These last two pictures from her website are of make shift tables or benches.

These serve as a great way to display your pots, and they blend in well with the surrounding. This last one is simply four pots overturned with a slab of stone or wood on top.... a pretty great simple solution.

Patio Furniture

All to often we forget about the details of our outdoor elements such as patio furniture. What we don't realize is what an amazing statement it can make when it is thought through.

Outdoor furniture should fit into the landscape setting. This can be achieved by the style of the furniture...

The color...

The material it is made of...

Or all of the above.

This image (courtesy of Verdana) is a great example of how the furniture should blend in with the surrounding. The fluffy cushions add such a conforming touch that draws you right in.

Below are a few images from the Dargan Gardens custom furniture line. These timeless pieces fit right into the landscape. They are also so sturdy and well made that they will last a lifetime.

Swing into November

It is hard to believe that November is already here. The leaves are falling, and it is getting colder outside, but it is still not too cold to get outside enjoy the nice chill in the air.

I was recently asked to design a logo for our small neighborhood garden club. Our neighborhood is very family oriented and kid friendly, so I wanted the logo to illustrate that. After I few tries, this is what I came up with...

I love wooden tree swings, and think that it is such a timeless depiction of fun. My husband, his father and grandfather, spent a Saturday afternoon constructing this one for our front yard.

See the similarity between it and the logo I drew?

This one, courtesy of Country Style, is a little more dolled up version of the tree swing. So lovely!

This swing at Utana Bluffs fits so perfectly into the setting you would hardly know that it is there.

This image was the cover of a post card that Mary Palmer picked up at the Chelsea Flower Show in the UK last spring. I love how there are no leaves left on the tree, but the swing is still standing strong, ready for someone to come play.

This last picture is obviously not a tree swing, but how much fun would it be to have a chic rope swing like this in your house.