A Big Change

You may have noticed my posts have become a little more spread out over the past few weeks.  That's because I'm whipping up something different, fun and exciting!

Without going into too much detail right now I'll just let you know that Topiary & Tiramisu will be transformed into a new garden blog with a slightly different focus and name.  It won't be revealed until early February 2013, so until then I'll be taking a little break from blogging here, though will continue on my other blog, The Lunch Box Project.

As my transformation date approaches I'll make sure to pop up a post about it.  Until then enjoy the holidays!!

Let Limits Expand Your Creativity

Don't let limits hinder your creativity.  Ideas grow within focused guidelines. Really, it's true.

Bird & House

I found a fabulous collection of bird houses at Reiman Gardens in Ames, Iowa a couple of months ago and plan to share a few here and there.

A Miracle...Eating Broccoli

I still can't believe it.  My 13-year-old son, the one that is Mr. Picky Vegetable Eater, suddenly likes broccoli.  I'm not sure what happened.  Last year he wouldn't touch the tiny tree greenies from our garden and now he can't get enough of it.  My daughter and him even snack on broccoli at night now.  My husband brings it in, they throw it in a steaming pot and wa-la, it's gone! What is going on?! I am so thrilled I'm about to burst.

Speaking of eating veggies from the garden...I was honored to be a guest writer at Stay At Home Foodie last week.  Another thrill!  Thanks Deena!  You can read that post here.

The Garden Bench

It would be nice to have a garden bench in our yard.  Nothing too fancy, just simple wood. My one rule about benches though...please place them where you'll actually use them. Don't locate them in an obscure flower bed, at the end of a long driveway or on top of a hill that can't be accessed.  Use them to actually sit on, relax for a moment, take a peak around your beautiful garden, then you can get back to weeding. If you want a bench to be multi-functional, also use it as a focal point. 

Image courtesy of Oh Pretty Shiny

Image courtesy of J2 Studios Photography

Image courtesy of Dragonfly Photography

A Misty Memory

We have had a lot of foggy mornings lately.  This misty air takes me back to a beautiful garden trip I took to the east coast several years ago.  These amazing gardens, remarkably close to the Atlantic ocean, had this blurry, mystical appeal to them.  I felt part of another world, one that I wanted to permanently stay within.  Sometimes I think this blog is my way of recreating those memories...and hoping to fashion another world of enchanting landscapes.

Image courtesy of Lisa Russo Fine Art

Daffodil Shine

A special flower that has popped up a month early this year.  Can spring really be here (or is this just a trick)?

Image courtesy of The Jonathan Galleries

Wildlife in the Garden

I had to share another quirky garden illustration from my friend Tres Fromme, Principal, 3.Fromme Design. He always has an interesting perspective.  :) Thanks again Tres!

Clay Flower Pots

I often find myself drawn to the most common garden elements...like simple flower pots.  I snapped these images in England a few years ago.  Soil and all, there is always something so beautiful about a functional object.

The Neighborhood Sheds

Can functional structures like sheds be beautiful too?

As we decorated ours with corn stalks a couple of weeks ago I realized how lucky we were to have such a lovely, vibrant shed in our garden.  I then realized our neighborhood was filled with similar structures...some old, some new, but all stunning. They all store tools (and some even chickens), plus garden ephemera.  Each one has an intriguing beauty.

Rather than build a typical shed in your yard, create a functional masterpiece that becomes an integral component of your garden.

Our fun orange garden shed designed and constructed by my husband.

Our neighbor's garden shed and chicken coop to the east of our house. 

A shaker-like shed and beautiful worn brick a couple of houses to the north.

The oldest and most detailed shed in our neighborhood located just to the northeast. 

A big thanks to all of our neighbors for letting me tromp through your yards, move around your garden tools and allowing me to flip your light switches on and off to take these photos.

The Last Two Cucumbers

It is so sad.  I am down to the last two cucumbers from our garden.  My summer of fancy olive oil and vinegar mixed with freshly sliced cucumbers will slowly come to a disappointing halt.  Oh hum. 

Image courtesy of Song Sparrow Studios

Snapping Green Beans

I want to tell you I love everything about the garden, but alas, it's not true.  I dread green bean snapping time (as do my kids).  I like green beans, but I wish my husband wouldn't plant so many.  Two or three plants would suffice, not twenty.  Ugh.

Image courtesy of Honeytree Photography

The snapping is actually my favorite part.  What I dread is picking the beans in blazing heat, then having to blanch them.  If I put it off long enough my husband will pick them, my kids snap and I only have to blanch.

Checkerboard Gardens

A great way to design a garden is picking a shape or style for inspiration.  I found these fun gardens inspired by the checkerboard.

Image via The New York Times

Image via This is Glamorous

Image source unknown

Image via Studio g

Image via Studio g