Showing posts with label tips & Ideas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tips & Ideas. Show all posts

4 Favorite Garden Seed Sources

Spring is in the air and gardens everywhere still hold the magical promise of the perfect season ahead. I have carefully selected the seeds and made the plan for my own little parcel of paradise. There will be the prerequisite assortment of our favorite vegetables, flowers, herbs and fruits for the picking throughout the coming months.
This year is the tenth anniversary of the garden. I am not sure where the time has gone, but I can say with certainty that I have learned a thing or two along the way. One of the most important lessons I picked up is that the beauty and abundance of the garden is a direct correlation to the quality of the seeds and plants planted. In others words: start with the best and you end up with the best.
There have been times that on impulse or from laziness I just picked up a pack of seeds off the rack along the way. There is one company that seems to have racks just about everywhere I turn that drives me to distraction and the depths of remorse long after I can fix the problem. Case in point, last summer I needed some extra zinnia seeds. Instead of ordering them online from one of my favorite companies, I opted to save the postage and pick them up at the super market. The package promised a glorious mix of shades of pink. The "glorious mix" turned out to be fire engine red. Red is not pink nor was it a glorious shade.
So, to save others from a similar fate, I am sharing my 4 favorite sources for seeds that I have have ordered from time and time again without worry. Happy gardening!

The garden in late spring already has a variety of lettuces and roses ready to be picked.
For flower seeds I rely on the great assortment at Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds. The depth of variety is fantastic and the print catalog is a work of art each year. I got my first and happily only packet of scented tabacco there. I say only because it has become a welcome invasive plant in the garden because it reseeds everywhere. In addition everything they sell is heirloom, no GMO's here. Order early, I have been surprised by out of stock notices more than once.

A must - the white flowers of scented tobacco fill the garden with a heavenly fragrance each summer. 
Pomme de terres are a favorite food group in our house. I always turn to John Scheepers Kitchen Garden Seeds for their Bintje Dutch Potato tubers, it is by far our favorite potato. Of all the many things I have tried from this company I haven't a single complaint. They have never disappointed me. 

These potaoes par boiled and tossed with butter and summer savory make a great side dish. 

The cool thing about Territorial seeds is that it is a seed company geared to four season gardening. Clearly with a garden in the northeast that is a challenge. However, the varieties they sell have a long range of season which helps maximize what I can grow in my small garden.

The garden mid summer: a wealth of abundance with the air of a jungle. 
Gourmet Seeds is a company that also offers a great range of varieties but it also sells the Bavicchi seeds from Italy which I really like. The salad greens and range of peas and beans is really great. They, like the other three seed companies that I like are heirloom driven and and do not use GMO or treated seeds.
Tomatoes ripen in the sun alongside leeks, lettuce and white marigolds in the background.
My idea of garden happiness.


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To Market, To Market

Another amazing New York Tabletop Market starts this week at 41 Madison. With all the great new tabletop collections to see I hope you will make time to come to the Traditional Home magazine panel discussion Thursday April 14th. I am thrilled to be on the panel with noted designers Katie Leede and Robert Passal. Traditional Home Senior Style Editor Krissa Rossbund will lead a lively discussion on the the importance of tabletop in design projects.



Also while you are New York be sure to stop by William - Wayne and check out the newest addition to my dinnerware collection: cereal bowls. These elegant bowls are the perfect size for breakfast cereal or an evening bowl of pasta primavera.

The bowls are available in four colors in both the Thomas and Charlotte patterns. 
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The Magic of Chatonniere

Chateau de Chatonniere
A few years ago I had the pleasure of visiting many of the famous gardens of the Loire Valley in France. I think this is to a gardener what going to the Super Bowl is to a football fan: the ultimate experience. Of all the gardens and all the chateaux we visited during this trip, it is one of the lesser known ones that continues to inspire me today. 

The Garden of Abundance is a stunning potager that is laid out after the shape of a rose leaf.
Each boxwood bordered section is filled with different vegetables that change through the season. 

This marvel of gardening imagination lies off the beaten path in the Vallee de L'indre. The property has been in the family since 1955, it was in the '80s that under the guidance of its owner Beatrice de Andia that these thirteen different gardens took shape. The former director of the l'Action artistique de la Ville de Paris chose a literary theme for each of the different spaces.

Above a detail of the simple bed borders. 

Eighty squares alternate with herbs and grass in the Science Garden. This checkerboard effect is achieved with 2"x4"'s planted in the ground. This is a technique we borrowed and have used in our own garden. It was easy to install and is very low maintenance.  



The Garden of Romance made from willow.
One of the most intriguing  gardens on the property is the Garden of Romance. It is composed of thirty rooms crafted from woven willow. Multi colored roses climb over it and to create a very poetic garden walk. The rooms are complete with windows in them which offer select views of the garden.

Details of the woven willow walls. 
There is nothing done in a small way in this garden. An entire hillside has been planted with multi colored cosmos. Each year the garden plants 130 pounds of cosmos, bachelor buttons and poppies. It is the work of 6 gardeners to maintain the property. 

Paradise, a hillside blanketed in cosmos. 

The 19th century greenhouse stands in the background (left photo) 
The garden of the senses was breath taking with it array of delphiniums, bachelor buttons, cosmos and roses mix with numerous other plants and flowers. It is next to the chateau's dovecote and has a beautiful fountain in the center. 


Standard roses stand at attention in the exuberant garden of the senses.
The property is ringed by forests which create a perfect background for the gardens. Strolling through this series of gardens with each one more spectacular than the last was unforgettable. Turn a corner and there you are, unexpectedly in a breathtaking forest carpeted in white and pink cyclamen.  

Two acres of cyclamen blanket the forest floor. 
Since we were there in the fall the dahlias were out in force. Now, if you want to see dahilas the place to go is La Bourdaisiere, owned by the Prince Jardinier, but that will have to wait for another day.

White dahlias standing happily at attention.



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Lunch with the Inimitable Marian McEvoy

Springtime arrangements of found greens mixed with
roses flanked the place settings.
On the banks of the Hudson River there is an enchanting house that is home to one of the design worlds greatest legends, Marian McEvoy. The formidable McEvoy, was a fashion editor at WWD and W in Paris at Fairchild Publications before becoming editor in chief of Elle Decor in the ’90’s. She left Elle Decor and took the helm of House Beautiful magazine in 2000. Today the former editor in chief and noted style maven has long since traded the editor's hat for a garden hat and embraced country life with her typical zeal. Her legendary style is well documented as is her passion for sea shells, pine cones, glue guns (she wrote a craft book about them) and she is also an accomplished and gracious hostess. 
I have always been fascinated by her quick wit and brilliant conversation. I first met Marian when I was an editor at HFN magazine while she was at House Beautiful. It was during her tenure at House Beautiful that she launched my line of hand printed fabrics by being the first to publish it. I am delighted that over a delicious roast chicken lunch she cooked herself at her magical house, Marian shared her insights into stylish entertaining.  


The one and only Marian McEvoy.
What is your entertaining philosophy?
I really don’t do much fancy cooking she explained. Simpler fare is the way to go. Our lunch was roast chicken, potatoes and  brussel sprouts for a main course followed by an arugula salad and cheese with a simple dessert of pineapple with local organic cardamon ice cream followed by coffee. When I was a fashion editor living in Paris I would go to Italy and have these big dinners with the Missonis and Gianfranco Ferre. "They would always serve pineapple as dessert. It helps break down the fat,” she said.   
She always sets the table the night before and turns the glasses upside down, it's one less thing to think about the day of the dinner. She also is adamant that there is never any type of packaging on the table, use bowls for condiments. 

The dining room overlooking the Hudson. She frequently changes
the wall panel colors. It is easy and she can do it herself.
What influences your menu choices when you entertain?
“I cook alone,” she said matter of factly. You need to make the dishes that you can do well. Marian recommends making everything before the guests arrive and keep the meal warm on platters and in bowls so there is no fuss when you serve. I will spend a lot of time making soup and I love chili. I put out about ten condiments for guests to choose from-they love it. You get to see adults behave like children!
“Don’t be afraid to serve meatloaf to a fancy crowd! Guests love it and it can be made in advance,” she said with the assurance of someone in the know. I sometimes make a simple Apple Brown Betty for dessert - just butter, lots of apples and walnuts, never cinnamon. Cinnamon definitely is not on Marian’s favorite spice list, “Cinnamon is overrated," she said with disdain, "people use it where it doesn’t belong.” 
A basket of Easter eggs, some of which were made by the
hostess in a simple silver basket.
Who or what has most inspired your entertaining style?
It was her mother’s sense of drama that played an important role is shaping her entertaining style. “One Easter she had a trough of baby chicks down the center of the table,” she recalled. There was a real sense of occasion for every meal in the McEvoy house. Her life in Paris was a critical influence. Everything was beautiful and studied. Plates weren’t loaded down with huge portions. She clearly prefers sit down meals. 
“Never buffet!!!” she exclaimed as if it were a fate worse than death. “I don’t want a plate on my knees.”
Additional seating with colorful chair pads line the wall of the dining room.
Has anyone been a strong influence in teaching you the l'art de recevoir? 
“There were so many moments in Paris that influenced my style. My friends Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Berge did everything impeccably, down to the last detail. Even a glass of champagne was perfection. I had many aha moments with them,” she explained with a vague note of wistfulness in her voice. Asked about the couple’s collection of houses she especially loved the Moroccan house.
“White walls and chintz, very daring at the time.” she proclaimed referring to her friend Yves Saint Laurent's house.

On the lower level of the house a river facing room with a stone fireplace is a winter retreat.
Marian's Tips:
Home grown flowers last longer than store bought ones. There are some beautiful weeds, don't be afraid to use them in arrangements. The dining table is sacred. Make an effort to dress and wear shoes at the table. 
Being the crafter that Marian is, her dedicated craft room reflects her assured style and passion for nature. 

Do you have a favorite china or tabletop item that you collect?
She explained she has thirteen sets of dinnerware. Everything from simple to over the top: Charles Mason, lots of Frenchie Limoges, German sets, some Gumps, and blue and white Spode.
“I like to dress the table for the season, so I use different sets at different times of the year. In winter it’s Spode India Tree and lighter colors for summer,” she said. 

Coffee is served on a tray with typical attention to detail. 

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How My Garden Grows


The garden in mid summer.
Often after a presentation or in a conversation about my garden I have noticed several recurring questions that people have. Last week, I spoke to a crowd of two hundred plus ladies of the Johns Island Garden Club and Johns Island Garden Group in the Floridian paradise known as Johns Island. During the question and answer period the same questions came up again and I decided to do a blogpost addressing them for others who might be interested. Most of the answers are in my book about the garden, An Invitation to the Garden but one or two may not be directly answered there. 
In no order, here are the answers to the questions of how do I....?

A late summer morning in the garden.
How did I design the garden? 
Truth be told I have always loved gardening since childhood.
When it came to designing my Kinderhook, NY garden, I was deeply inspired by one of the wonderful garden books by Louisa Jones. Her book the Kitchen Gardens of France is chock a block with great photographs and information on creating the perfect potager. It is the foundation book of my extensive garden book library. A must have. 

Willow panel clad raised beds. 
Where did you get the willow panels to cover beds?
They came from a company called Master Garden Products. They have an amazing assortment of different types of beautiful fencing. We also bought the rolled heather fencing that covers the Bagatelle roof from there. The customer service is good, but the website is really challenging to use today as it was when I first used it ten years ago.
One other note about the beds. I recommend using an organic dark stain to paint the cedar beds first before applying the panels so the natural doesn't shadow through.

An assortment of my favorite watering cans. They are filled with water after each
use so the water is ambient temperature when I use it.
What fertilizer do you use?
It's the same every year. I use organic Algoflash. 
It does wonders for the roses and they have different formulas for different types plants. 

The delicious Madame Caroline de Testout basking in the morning sun. She is supported
by the grapevine that runs up the side of the Bagatelle. 

Where do I buy my rose bushes?
I have tried several different companies that specialize in heirloom roses over the seasons. I keep coming back to Antique Rose Emporium in Texas. They have a great selection of hard to find antique roses and they just work in my garden.

Raspberries ripening in the summer.
Where do I buy my raspberry plants?
I planted everbearing Heritage plants along one side of the fence in the garden. They are fantastic and produce abundantly twice a season. I have had great luck with buying them from Indiana Berry. I also planted a few Anne variety yellow raspberries. They were a big surprise, in the next garden I will plant many more of those. They are sweeter and definitely more delicate than a red raspberry. 





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A Garden of Roses


Clockwise: Pierre de Ronsard, Baronne Prevost, Riene de la Violettes and Cardinal de Richelieu.
Its hard for me to imagine a garden without roses, although I understand some do exist. My small garden is home to many varieties of this fabled flower. The fragrance and range of colors is far beyond whatever one could find in a store or from a florist. I am particularly fond of heirloom roses which I find to be hardy in my garden and have provided an abundance of blooms for endless arrangements through the season. 

There is simply the rose; it is perfect in every moment of its existence.     -- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Along the fence a row of Pierre de Ronsard roses lines one side of the garden.
My passion for this flower developed when I was growing up and would help my grandmother with her roses. There was something very special about the first rose of the summer. I decided that when I had my own garden I would grow as many roses as I could. And I did, about twenty seven different roses vied for space in the little garden and it was magical. 
Climber Zephirine Drouhin is ideal for a northern exposure.
I have discovered there is a rose for every need in the garden. From covering walls to filling in a space there is a rose made for every situation, each available in a rainbow of colors. I opted for a palette of pinks into dark purples which I happen to love and blends well with the color palette of the cutting flowers I grow like cosmos and bachelors buttons. 
All roses look good together and they always look good with blue and white. 
One thing I do to make sure that the roses look their best is fertilize them with Epsom salts. 
The bushes respond well and the roses are luscious for the effort. About 1/2 cup sprinkled around each rose bush in the spring does the trick for the season.

A centerpiece made from three stacked compotes and a melange of roses from the Rose Breakfast chapter in
An Invitation to the Garden.

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Master Class: Plaza Flowers

A bounty of beauty greets customers in Plaza Flowers New York City Shop.
There are times when you only have to look at something and it is immediately clear it's a masterpiece. So it was when I was shooting the charming Kate Rheinstein Brodsky's stunning flowers for her entertaining story a few weeks ago. The combination of flowers and colors in the arrangements was clearly the work of a master artist. I had to know more. I asked Kate if she had done the flowers herself and she made it clear that they were the work of Connie Plaissay of New York's esteemed Plaza Flowers.  

Garden of Eden on the upper Eastside. 
 Plaza Flowers is a third generation family business that started at the 63rd Street trolley station in 1924. Today is has become the go to florist for New Yorkers in the know. The artist responsible for this success is the founders grandson, Connie. While he worked in the shop as a kid, the allure of cars was more appealing as he grew up. He became a mechanic in his teens and early twenties and then a race car driver.
Not the clearest path to success in the flower business. It was in his late twenties that the driver took the wheel of the family business and retooled the esthetic from very traditional florist arrangements (babies breath and roses genre) to living works of art. I recently had the privilege of spending some time while he made an arrangement and gleaning some of his tips for beautiful flowers.
Connie Plaissay
Naturally Plaissay has strong views on everything about flowers.
The first thing he clarified is that sharp contrast of colors that don't belong together, like red and white for Christmas will never come out of his shop. 
Rather, like a painter he chooses harmonies of color, the arrangement he made to illustrate his ideas was a beautiful combination of light and dark hues of purples.

Prepping Lilacs. Cut off the leaf joints, shave off the bark of the stem and split the stem in a cross
before putting the flower in water. 
When pressed about what makes his flowers so stunning his response was pretty straight forward, "You have to love what you do. You can tell the difference." 
Start placing flowers around the rim of the container.

Start with the rim when arranging flowers, its the foundation. After that his works get filled in from outside in. This time mauve roses were the second to go in the vase, followed by ravishing deep aubergine Ranunculus which seemed to establish the range of color.

Its all in the layering of flowers from outside in.  
When prepping the roses the first thing he did was to remove the outer leaves and then trim the stem at a 45 degree angle. The cut was the same for all the flowers.

Last one in. Tulips were the final flower added.
Tulips are one of the few flowers that keep growing after they have been cut and placed in water.
To prevent them from popping up in the arrangement place a small slit under the flower with the point of a knife.
Connie Plaissay admiring his masterpiece. 
I have always been curious to know if those little packets of floral preservatives were worth anything. According to Plaissy, they are good for keeping the water bacteria free. To keep arrangements looking their best for the longest time possible he recommends flushing the water every couple of days.
The finished symphony of color and beauty.
Watching Plaissay in action and the arrangement come to life, I really felt like I had watched something magical happen. After this experience I have rethought my entire concept of flowers and even what I am planning on planting in my garden this summer.


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Royal Tots New Year!

When the guests need to be in bed before 9 pm it makes a traditional News Year Eve celebration a little hard to pull off. New York based PR maven Elizabeth Blitzer had a clever idea to host a royal New Years Eve tea for her niece Charlotte and invited some of her friends to join in! Naturally she invited the super cute twins, Fanny and Lucy, the daughters of Traditional Home Design Editor, Tori Mellott to join Charlotte in the fun. As everyone knows, you need a handsome prince when there are princesses around, so the delightful Augustus appeared on scene the escorted by his mother another New York PR whiz, Natalie Markoff.
Elizabeth's tea even featured a gluten free selection of treats for Augustus which made this little get together a very modern way for these royals to ring in 2016!

A collection of vintage cake plates held the the treats including star shaped peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. 

Tell me about the occasion and meal you made.
This was a New Years Eve princess/prince tea party.  Lets just say that the menu was mostly pink!

The super cute table complete with a special crown lighting treatment. 

What influences your menu choices when you entertain?
Theme parties are the best! A party with a theme gives you a direction, and more importantly…boundaries. I have a tendency to totally go overboard so more is always more. In this case, I wanted the party to feel like a real tea—tiered cake stand with party sandwiches and small sweets and something that vaguely resembled tea (cotton candy in tea cups).  Since the children were so young, I also wanted to make sure that there was a mix of something healthy so that when I sent them back to their parents, they didn’t leave on a complete sugar high.


I spy- Lucy checking out the table.

Who or what has most inspired your entertaining style?
Definitely my parents and my grandparents. They had parties constantly and everything they did was an event—flowers, too much food, serving platters, centerpieces. I remember my mom always set out her table weeks in advance with sticky notes on each platter to organize her food selection.  

Aunt Elizabeth with Charlotte enjoying a cuppa.

Has anyone been a strong influence in teaching you the l'art de recevoir?
Entertaining is a way of life in Louisiana. My grandparents lived a block away from us growing up. We were there constantly. There was never a time that she didn’t have a full bar and snacks out for us. Its part of the enjoyment of having guests and of collecting things. You want to have people over. You want to use your china and silver and garage sale finds. And…it turns any visit into a party.

Augustus and Charlotte (with a little help from Auntie).

Do you have a favorite china or tabletop item that you collect?
I don’t collect anything specifically, but I like anything that is for entertaining purposes. I can’t resist a platter or a set of china or a silver serving utensil.

The cotton candy, pink of course, was a hit with the adorable Fanny and Lucy.
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