garden — pleasure in simple things

Tag: garden

beauty in simplicity

May

A big garden isn’t needed to enjoy the outdoors in your home.

Pick a single flower or a single leaf or grab a sprig from shrub clippings. Even the bad boys in the yard (enter dandelions in seed), can evoke a positive mood – creating the sense of fulfilled wishes or dreams yet to be – when displayed as a single bloom in a container!

If you don’t have a yard, just take a walk through the woods or a public park…heck, you can find a beautiful wildflower on the side of the throughway!

Then, display your little piece of the outdoors in a container. No fancy or expensive vase is needed! Just look in your recycling bin or in your cupboards for some great ideas! Any small vessel will do! Examples include: a tiny espresso cup, a teacup, a small milk pitcher, or a glass liquor ‘nip’ bottle or other small discarded bottle.

Just display this little piece of beauty in any room – in any little scrap of space where you will glance over at it and smile!

The beauty and simplicity of a single flower or leaf is an instant mood lifter and is a great way to display the awesomeness of nature in your home.

I hope I have inspired you to display little pieces of nature in your home!

Thanks for stopping by! Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

The containers in the order they appear: sea urchin vase from Christmas Tree Shop ($1.99), discarded coconut vodka ‘nip’ bottle, 5 bud vase from Marshall’s ($2.99 in clearance aisle), teacup (a gift), discarded coconut vodka ‘nip’ bottle, found glass bottle, my creamer, sea urchin vase from Christmas Tree Shop.

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warmer days at terrain

May

Here in Connecticut, temperatures have skyrocketed and thoughts of snow are finally behind us! A flurry of garden related thoughts is running through my head! I can’t wait till Mother’s Day – my official planting day – to get some annuals into the ground!

For today’s Friday field trip, I thought I would share a little garden inspiration from my favorite garden store. Here are just a few captures from my last visit to Terrain in Westport.

Enjoy! Hopefully, while enjoying a good cup of coffee and sitting on an outdoor terrace or deck in the early morning light!

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

P.S. If you live close enough to the Westport store for a visit, there are some excited new things happening to check out!

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philadelphia flower show 2018

April

My two favorite vignettes at the 2018 Philadelphia Flower Show (the nation’s largest and longest-running horticultural event) were a study in contrasts. The first, very elegant; the second extremely casual.

You can see why this library display would be a favorite of mine – it showcased plants and books!

The dramatic wall color was the perfect way to offset the gorgeous display of books and plants.

This second, more relaxed display, featured a ‘shipwreck.’ Using a boat to display the plants was a perfect way to incorporate the 2018 show theme Wonders of Water.

Is it crazy to think about a similar installation in my backyard?!

I hope you enjoyed sharing my two favorite displays from the Philadelphia Flower Show for today’s Friday field trip!

Thanks for stopping by! Have a wonderful weekend!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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white orchids

March

The current highlight at Longwood Gardens, one of the top public gardens in the nation, is orchids. I like orchids, though they are not my favorite. But, I have to say, on my last trip to Longwood, I fell in love with one of the orchid installations.

It consists of all white (my favorite flower color!) orchids suspended from the ceiling in balls.

I am sharing a few photos of this display for today’s Friday field trip. I am sorry the exposure of the photos isn’t the best, but they were taken on a stormy weekend!

If you are an orchid lover, I strongly encourage you to visit Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. The Orchid Extravaganza continues through March 25^th. If you can squeeze in a trip, you will also be treated to a viewing of a rare display of blue-poppies – currently in bloom.

Thanks for stopping by! Have a fabulous weekend!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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longwood gardens green wall

March

The Green Wall in the corner of the East Conservatory at Longwood Gardens definitely achieves its goal of resembling a lush green jungle! This display really needs to be seen in person to be fully appreciated. One view is enough to cause a fern lover go into shock! Not only is the sheer size of the display impressive, but the way the design incorporates a hallway of doors is simply beautiful!

The Green Wall, containing 47,000 plants, is the largest in North America – a very impressive 14 feet high and 300 feet long.

The wall is made up of 12” x 12” stainless steel panels containing a potting mix for use in vertical gardens. Each panel is planted in one of 29 different planting configurations. Each configuration is based on plant type, lighting requirements, and other factors. Just inside the stainless steel, a layer of coconut coir fiber lines each panel to hold moisture.

In 2010, the panels were assembled in Florida where over 50 pallets, each 8-foot-tall and containing 72 boxes per pallet, were loaded in 3 climate-controlled refrigeration tractor trailers and transported 36 hours to Longwood in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania.

I hope these photos on today’s Friday field trip give you a little sense of the amazingly beautiful Green Wall at Longwood Gardens. This display is just one of the many breathtaking displays at one of the most beautiful public gardens in the nation (and one of my happy places).

Does this inspire you to start thinking of your spring garden? We change the clocks this weekend!!

Thanks for stopping by. Have a wonderful weekend.

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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german village, columbus

October

The most picturesque place we found during my recent visit to Columbus with a friend was just south of the downtown – the quaint, historic neighborhood of German Village.

Settled back in the 19th century by German immigrants, the neighborhood is now a hip location to shop, dine, or just walk around. With many alley-like streets made of brick and pristine landscaping, German Village oozes with character.

We visited a few unique shops – like the 32-room bookstore called The Book Loft and the gift shop at the top of all the local’s list – Helen Winnemore’s.

We also stopped at a candy shop for award-winning fudge and some ‘buckeyes’ to take home. In case you didn’t already know, Ohio is the ‘buckeye state’ and Brutus Buckeye is the mascot of Ohio State University – and, believe me, Columbus certainly has buckeye fever! The candy version of a buckeye is a peanut butter flavored ball dipped in chocolate!

Another noteworthy visit while in German Village was to Jeni’s scoop shop – with shops located throughout the city, this mouth-watering ice-cream brand originated in Columbus. (I will share more about Jeni’s in its own upcoming post!)

For dining, tourists can find a classic German meal at Schmidt’s, but the hip locals favor Lindey’s. And, because Lindey’s has the best outdoor dining in the Village, that was our restaurant choice for dinner while in German Village.

Outdoor dining at Lindey’s in German Village, Columbus, Ohio

You can probably tell by my photos, that for us, the best part about visiting German Village in Columbus, Ohio was admiring the buildings and the landscaping! Walking around the neighborhood was like attending a garden tour!

I hope you have enjoyed my little piece of German Village on today’s Friday field trip!

Thanks for stopping by!

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

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inspiration to kickstart fall decor

September

Since I have gotten a little bit of an itch for fall décor this week, I am resharing my 5 easy tips for fall décor for today’s Friday field trip.

Click here for guidelines to kickstart your fall décor planning!

Have a wonderful weekend! Thanks for stopping by!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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from ferns to fall

August

Remember the DIY of the ferns in urns? Look how easily one of the wedding décor urns can be transformed for fall!

The couple who walked down the aisle decorated with the urns of ferns are now enjoying one of the same urns, from their wedding day, with a fall planting on the front porch of their first home!All it took was a quick trip to Home Depot and under $30. to change the whole look of the urn and its planting. I was determined to get everything I needed in one trip, so even though I couldn’t find the charcoal gray spray paint I wanted, I settled for a lighter gray and I chose plants that were available at Home Depot. My purchase included a can of spray paint, a tall burgundy grass (millet), 4 small white mums, and 2 small vines.

I started by spray painting the planter – a quick and easy color change! And, the simple arrangement of plants was easy enough to plant in the urn.

I placed the completed planting on the front porch and watered it thoroughly…it will look even better when it gets established!

I hope I have inspired you to change up a planting for fall!

What’s next for this urn? Maybe some black spray paint, white lights, and an evergreen for the holidays?

Thanks for stopping by!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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nybg

August

The best part about visiting a botanical garden is knowing that every visit is unique. There are so many variables that contribute to creating the environment – ensuring that no two visits are ever the same! And, with 250 acres and over 1,000 plants, there is certainly plenty to admire!

For Friday field trip today, we are visiting the New York Botanical Garden (NYBG). Spanning 250 acres and containing over 1,000 plants, there is certainly plenty to admire and each visitor to NYBG is sure to experience it in a different way.

Here are a few of my favorite glimpses from a visit on a rainy day in August!

Enjoy!

Have a fabulous weekend! Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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chihuly at new york botanical garden

August

On a recent trip to the New York Botanical Garden (NYBG), I had the opportunity to see glass art installations created by the renowned artist Dale Chihuly. Created specifically for the venue, the more than 20 installations in the garden are the first to come to New York in more than 10 years.

Sharing photos from my recent visit, I hope you are inspired by Chihuly’s work – his lifelong fascination with glasshouses growing into a series of exhibitions within botanical settings.

I really like the subtlety of the way these glass leaves play against the real ones!

If you live near New York or are planning a trip soon, schedule a visit to the Bronx to see Chihuly’s art. The NYBG is always a beautiful spot to visit and the addition of the Chihuly exhibit makes it extra special!

To see the works spectacularly illuminated, schedule an evening visit to NYBG on a Thursday, Friday, or Saturday in September or October and visit CHIHULY Nights. Can you imagine this piece illuminated?

Thanks for stopping by!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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Tag: garden

beauty in simplicity

warmer days at terrain

philadelphia flower show 2018

white orchids

longwood gardens green wall

german village, columbus

inspiration to kickstart fall decor

from ferns to fall

nybg

chihuly at new york botanical garden