more chanticleer

May 2, 2025

Today I am sharing more of my newest obsession – Chanticleer – a public garden in Wayne, Pennsylvania.

In my last post, I shared some photos from a recent visit. Today, I am sharing more photos – this time from one specific area of the seven garden areas at Chanticleer.

The seven Horticulturists at Chanticleer are each responsible for the design, planting, and maintenance of an area. The areas are continually evolving, each with its own feel, yet joined together as one complete unit.

The photos in today’s post were all taken at the area called The Ruin. The Ruin, one of the seven areas of the garden, is built on the foundation of Adolph Rosengarten Jr.’s home.

It is meant to look as if the house fell into disrepair. The Ruin has a focus on hardy perennials, both woody and herbaceous.

Of the 50 acres owned by The Chanticleer Foundation, 35 are open to the public. The remaining acreage is in agriculture, woodland, service areas, and staff housing. The main path is just under a mile in length.

I hope I have inspired you to think about planning a visit to this fabulous garden or maybe another beautiful public garden close to your home.

Thanks for stopping by!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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visiting chanticleer

April 25, 2025

I recently visited a spot I have been admiring on Instagram for years! It was my very first visit and I enjoyed it so much I have to share a few photos of this glorious place – to give you a sense of what it is like.

Chanticleer is a contemporary garden within a historic setting, located outside Philadelphia in Wayne Pennsylvania.

It opened to the public in 1993. Most of the floral and garden development presently has occurred since 1990, designed by Chanticleer staff and consultants. Chanticleer has 20 full-time staff – 2 manage facilities and 14 are gardeners and groundskeepers.

Visiting in April, not too much was in bloom, but this garden has such beautifully designed foliage, it didn’t matter! The garden is a study of textures and forms filled with ideas to take home! Even though my visit was on a dismal, rainy day, it was a wonderful visit!

The Chanticleer Foundation owns 50 acres, 35 of which are open to the public.

Today’s photos are a little overview of this fabulous garden. There are actually seven areas of Chanticleer – each design unique. Today’s photos are a little overview of the entire garden. In my next post, I will share some photos of one of these unique garden areas.

If you are a garden enthusiast, be sure to put Chanticleer on your list of places to visit! (Do what we did – combine it with a trip to Longwood Gardens!)

Thanks for stopping by!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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white pumpkins 2024

September 27, 2024

You must know my love for neutrals by now! And, in the fall, white pumpkins are my fave!

In my last post, I showed you some of the more traditional pumpkin sightings I’ve seen so far this year. Today, I am sharing some of the more neutral pumpkins I’ve seen. Enjoy!

I would like to substitute white pumpkins to mix with these daisies! More like this –

Not white, but what a lovely neutral!

Thanks for stopping by! Have a fabulous weekend!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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pumpkin peeping 2024

September 20, 2024

I do feel just a little bit guilty posting these photos while it is still officially summer! Not one to easily give into fall, I did visit a couple farms to check out what was displayed for the upcoming season. Here are some of my favorites from the traditional – orange – color pumpkins. (My favorite – white pumpkins – will be in my next post!)

I love the addition of green – with plants or squash – to a fall arrangement!

A squatted pumpkin shape is so much more interesting than a round one!

How great do these colors look together?

I always love an interesting stem!!

It is the best time of year for visiting farm shops and garden centers! So much to explore! Have you started yet?

Have a great weekend and start to the new season! Thanks for stopping by!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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brunch at the mayflower

July 12, 2024

Summer is such a fabulous season in Connecticut. There are so many great spots to explore – many that take on an aesthetic excellence during the summer months.

One of these spots is The Mayflower Inn and Spa in Washington, Connecticut. The Mayflower is a luxury country retreat set on 58 private acres of beautifully landscaped gardens and woodland in Litchfield County. The Mayflower always exudes distinguished luxury, but the spectacular grounds make a summer visit extraordinary.

Cacio y pepe beignets served at The Garden Room at The Mayflower Inn and Spa in Washington, Connecticut.

My recent visit to The Mayflower Inn was for brunch in The Garden Room – a beautiful light-filled dining space overlooking the Shakespeare Garden. Though the menu showcases the finest in seasonal and local ingredients, the views were the star of the brunch for me. Two fabulous views: 1. the view of the indoor décor and 2. the view of the outdoor grounds.

From the painted gardens scenes on the walls…

…to the fresh flowers…

the décor provides the perfect garden ambiance – right down to the perfect bathroom wallcovering!

While dining, the outdoor view of the Shakespeare Garden prompts a walk outdoors to visit and appreciate all its nuances!

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you are inspired to explore a spot near you!

Have a fabulous weekend!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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shades of green pumpkins

November 17, 2023

I did a couple posts this fall about color and styling of pumpkins. There is one more color palette I want to mention before we leave this topic!

When styling pumpkins for fall, green is an option we hadn’t really seen in the past. What fun varieties there are now! So, in this post, I am offering up some examples of how the color green can be added to pumpkin vignettes!

Not only are pumpkins offered in a variety of colors, but have you noticed there are pumpkin offerings in softer, muted looking tones?

Of course, a multi-color theme is a styling option as well and incorporating fall flowers is so fun! And though pumpkins come in a variety of colors, fall flowers, like the colors of the falling leaves, are available in even more!

No matter your preference, I hope you are having fun with color this fall – whether it be with pumpkins and/or flowers!

And yes, I know Christmas décor is coming in hot, but it is technically still fall and I like to embrace the fall décor at least until Thanksgiving!

Have a wonderful weekend and thanks for stopping by!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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pumpkin’ to talk about

October 20, 2023

Growing up, pumpkins were one shape and one color only. Today, there is a myriad of varieties of pumpkins/squash that are so far beyond the plain round, orange pumpkin from my childhood!

Of course, there are certainly plenty of styling options staying within the traditional orange color palette, if that is your preference – but so many more choices than just a round orange pumpkin!

The photos here are some fun vignettes I’ve seen this year!

Are you inspired to put out some pumpkins?

Thanks for stopping by!

Have a fabulous weekend and remember to take pleasure in simple things,

Jackie

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white pumpkins and burgandy

October 1, 2023

If you are wondering why my photos look like they were taken in the rain, it is because they were!

My fall meandering this season has been very wet! Not by choice. It just couldn’t be helped – rainy days have been the norm here in Connecticut for way too long!

If you know anything about me, you know typical holiday colors are never my favorites. And, white is one of my preferred colors. White pumpkins are always the best pumpkins and I enjoy combining them with other neutrals or, sometimes other colors.

I really enjoy burgundy as an accent color for both fall and at Christmas time.

Here I am sharing some great styling examples with white pumpkins and burgundy I recently found at Terrain in Westport. Isn’t it a great combination?

If you want to add some cozy feels when putting together your own fall vignettes, add a blanket or scarf. Don’t discard ripped blankets in your favorite colorways. They can be repurposed while styling your pumpkins! If not blankets, fabric remnants or discarded corduroy or flannel shirts are also great to reuse! If you have nothing of your own to utilize, thrift shops and consignment stores are great places to pick up items to use. I never get rid of a piece of clothing or fabric I love…down the road it may turn up as part of a tablescape or made into a pumpkin!

I hope you are inspired to put some white pumpkins and burgundy together this season. If not, I’ll have some more traditional color combination examples next time!

Thanks for stopping by!

Have a fabulous weekend and remember to take pleasure in simple things,

Jackie

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boycotting egg painting

March 4, 2023

Wow! This is my first post of 2023! Since I started this blog in 2012, never before have I had such a lapse in posts! It is very sad to think I haven’t been using my creative side in quite some time!

The good news is that I have been busy organizing myself in finances, work, and wellness and making great progress!

I’m happy to say, I do now, have a couple projects in the works!

One is a coffee table and the second is the transformation of a coat closet into a pantry. (More on these projects as they develop!)

Normally, at this time of year, I would already be working on Easter eggs…coming up with a theme and painting them appropriately. This year, in a kind of personal protest against grocery prices, I decided not to paint eggs. I don’t normally buy eggs, except at Easter time, and I decided I am not going to purchase them to paint this year.

For the purposes of this post, I am including photos of one of my favorite past Easter egg themes – topiary. (Cactus, picnic, and constellation were also some of my most favorite themes).

I enjoy having some of the topiary eggs out in a bowl – I don’t think skipping a year of painting eggs will bother me! I did put out a little bit of Easter/Spring décor – have you? Remember to bring in some cut branches (magnolia, forsythia, etc.) – it’s the perfect time to force blooming!