The Thanksgiving Garden

I think we sometimes forget how many of our foods come from the garden.

Our thanksgiving dinner was filled with some of my favorites...pumpkin, sweet potatoes, spinach, corn and cabbage...all made to perfection.

I am thankful for family and friends...but also for all the lovely fruits and vegetables that we're able to grow and enjoy each year.

Photo courtesy of The Jonathon Galleries

A Rainy Day

I've been sick the last couple of days.

The first day was sunny and warm, the second day rainy and cold. I felt guilty about being sick the first day. On the second day...the rain gave me permission to stay in my PJs, drink hot cocoa, and wrap myself in ultra warm blankets. The guilt was lifted.

For some reason bad weather allows us to accept a quiet day, rest our bodies, even celebrate misery (in a good way). Now if I just had some pretty pink wellies to uplift every rainy day.

Photo courtesy of Amy Osaba

Book Review: Home Ground - Language for an American Landscape

A few weeks ago Trinity University Press shared their new book, Home Ground, with me and asked for a review. I have always been intrigued with garden vocabulary, so jumped at the chance to read this publication.

In the simplest sense Home Ground is a collection of landscape terms. I was quite surprised to find that it is not just a reference book, though successfully fills that role. It is a beautiful collection of writings from a multitude of authors on how they define the landscape.

Accuracy is impeccable, but the real punch is how each author injects culture, history and sometimes memory into the evolution of these terms. Of course, many lovely illustrations accompany the terms that need additional clarification.

Home Ground is a beautiful celebration of the landscape from the hearts of many devoted people. This is a book one should have on their shelf to fulfill answers, yet in the end you will also find inspiration. It is an absolute pleasure to read about the landscape...in such a personal way. By knowing the language of American landscape, our sense of place is heightened.

The book is available at booksellers everywhere and at Amazon.com. Enjoy!

A Green Halloween

I was thinking about how "green" Halloween is in the holiday world.

Pumpkins are bright, fun, and a renewable decorating resource. Plus you can carve them into whatever you want....the perfect green craft. Of course, there are hundreds of different kinds to fuel the creative juices. When they start to cave in on themselves, you just add them to the compost pile and start the whole cycle again.

I can't wait until the next Halloween.

Photo courtesy of Jules Bianchi Photography

Photo courtesy of shannonblue photography

Photo courtesy of 3191 Miles Apart

Photo courtesy of Eye Shutter to Think

My Collection Box

Something I have always wanted to build is a coffee table shadow box where I can showcase beautiful items we find outdoors. It would be painted white, with a glass top. Imagine the floor of this box being a beautiful classic yellow and white wallpaper pattern, with a display of lovely acorns, pine cones, seed pods, and nests lovingly placed on top. Until this dream comes true I've collected images below to fill my digital collection box.

Photo courtesy of SLG Designs


Photo courtesy of Lola's Room Photography


Photo courtesy of HoneyTree Photography

Photo courtesy of Judy Stalus Photographs

Photo courtesy of f2images

Divine Divan

One of my good friends, Tres Fromme, is a talented landscape architect and artist living in Texas. Amazingly, he whips up these detailed sketches in minutes.

I asked him to share some garden wisdom through his enchanting ink drawings. Today he has highlighted a "divan".

Tres describes himself as a designer specializing in plant-rich spaces...and I can tell you that is oh so true! Contact him here.

Garden Candy

I recently found out that raspberries are in the top ten for most nutrient rich foods. An even better reason to eat them every day.

Have I said that I love raspberries? This is the candy of a garden.

Photo courtesy of Deliciously Organized

Photo courtesy of Canelle et Vanille


Photo courtesy of Frolic

Photo courtesy of Straight from the Farm

Learn how to throw a special raspberry garden party at The Lunch Box Project.