Silver Garden Daylily Festival, July 11, 2015

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Here are some souvenir photos from a gentle day with kind people at daylily grower, Richard Willard's beautiful property in Greenfield, Massachusetts.

To watch my slideshow on YouTube, please click here.
Please click here to visit Silver Garden Daylilies online.

"A Summer Fete" Garden Tour Day - Bartlett Arboretum 6/6/15

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Saturday, June 6, 2015 was one of those days which will stand out for me as a particularly good, kind, beautiful day. And I have visual souvenirs.

Invited to be one of a handful of "Vendors" for the Bartlett Arboretum's "Summer Fete" Garden Tour Marketplace, I expected to relax and leisurely chat with gardeners, hopefully sell my cards, matted prints, gardening book and scarves.  Visitors to my table would be on the way to pick up tour tickets and later their lunches on the way to self guided tours of private gardens in the vicinity of the arboretum in Stamford, CT. Yes, they were friendly, fellow vendors were jovial, the lunch was great (Thanks - LaRocca's Country Market!) and sales went well but that day was extraordinarily lovely in so many ways. Here is my chronological report...

Walking back to the big tent from parking my van, I just had to savor a few moments under an evergreen refuge and take this panorama shot of the view. (All of these snapshots were taken with my iPhone camera.)

Next, I noticed the many precious "moments" in the border gardens. Here are a few:

                                                                                  

During the day, I took a break to talk to the watercolorist who was painting this scene:

Later on, I took a little walk down a shady path to find a magical Taro Grove:

The Herb Garden, maintained by the UCONN Master Gardener program, coordinated by the always wonderful, Regina Campfield was a treat to behold. The allure of the Aromatics prompted me to beg for to sample from that garden quadrant from head herbarist, Linda Albanese. She let me have my pick and offered to provide plant identification. Here are a few location shots:

These are low resolution versions of my scanner photographs, arranged cuttings from the Aromatic Quadrant of the Bartlett Arboretum Herb Garden:

One of the visitors to my vendor display was Dana Weinberg, a local gardener whose nearby property was on the garden tour. Of course I accepted her invitation to stop over at the close of the day, see and pick from her plants. The generosity of gardeners never ceases to amaze. I only had time for a brief visit when I arrived. I asked Dana, "Is there a particular plant, aspect or area of your property about which you are particularly proud?" She told me that she loves noticing all of the plantings along the side of her driveway upon arrival. This is the scan I made with cuttings from Dana's welcome home drive.

The backstory:

Usually, I travel with tools and containers for the spontaneous garden raid, but I had just cleared out my van to load it with examples of my work to sell at market. When inspiration hit, I was ill equipped to act on impulse. Thanks to the Bartlett ("Herbies") Master Gardeners for loaning me cutting shears. Just outside the arboretum, I ran into High Ridge Nursery and like a crazy woman, begged to buy or borrow cutters for my visit to the Weinberg property. Jennifer lent me her very own trusty Felco #4's for the deed. When I returned them, half an hour later as promised, with a package of notecards in thanks, she gave me a hug and exclaimed, Gardeners are GREAT! Of course I answered, YES THEY ARE. 

What an amazing day.

"Rocky Hills," May 23

A high point of working on Natural Companions with Ken Druse was visiting Henriette Suhr at her "Rocky Hills" estate in Mt. Cisco, New York. Then in her 90's, Mrs. Suhr invited us to tea and told us about how she and her husband came to design and develop the aesthetic of their home's property. When I present to garden clubs, I still speak of their intentions to create a landscape which would combine the aesthetic of Impressionism with the feeling of Heaven on Earth. 

Professionally, Henriette Suhr was a "groundbreaker" and inspirational in many ways but what Henriette Suhr hoped to leave for us was the landscape and gardens surrounding her home. Mrs. Suhr recently passed away. It is heartbreaking that her mission to make her "Rocky Hills" a public park couldn't be realized. Annually, The Garden Conservancy has regularly featured "Rocky Hills" on their "Open Days" Program at the end of May. This year, probably for the last time, that day fell on my 60th birthday. When my husband asked if there was someplace special where I preferred to spend my birthday, I chose "Rocky Hills." Here is a short video I made from some of my snapshots from garden "moments" from our visit on May 23.

Early Spring Treasure

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April 9, I was invited to revisit American Daffodil Society Judge, Jennifer Brown's gardens to sample from her property pre daffodil season, allured by her beloved Galanthus (Snow Drops.) We drank tea and chatted about how important it is to take time to reflect on the goings on of the natural world despite the demands of our busy lives. Jennifer allowed and encouraged my dreamy wanderings, as I snapped shots and foraged early spring treasures for subsequent scanning. As I ruminate on that afternoon, one word sums it all up... KINDNESS, of both person and place. THANK YOU, Jennifer.

Jennifer Brown

Gloveful of Galanthus

Galanthus and Aconite

Determined Foliage

Double Galanthus

Galanthus, Snowbells, Aconite, Moss, Evergreen 

Hammamelis 'Jelena'

Aconite, Hamamelis, Moss, Evergreen

Helleborus

Galanthus, Helleborus, Aconite, Moss, Evergreen

Aconite In Situ, Greenwich, CT

Helleborus, Pinus, Lichen, Moss

Cyclamen, Leaves

Galanthus, Cyclamen, Aconite, Moss, Ferns, Dried Hydrangea, Leaves

Early Spring Treasure, In Situ

Early Spring Treasures

Dried Hydrangea, Cyclamen Leaves In Situ

Dried Treasures / Delicate Balance

Symplocarpus foetidus

Fern Group with Pine Cone

Many Thanks To All!

Many Thanks...

I recently made this image to demonstrate basic techniques in floral scanning as part of my presentation to the Garden Club of New Canaan, CT.

There are not enough words to express my gratitude for the warm reception and hospitality extended to me by all of the garden clubs that have welcomed me as their guest.

My work is only possible through the generosity of so many gardeners and gardening organizations. The following list refers to the places and people I have mentioned with tremendous gratitude lately during my slide show/demonstrations.

(Clicking a highlighted word will take you to the relevant website in a new window.)

Ken Druse - Author, Speaker, Photographer - with whom I collaborated on the gardening book, "Natural Companions"
Trout Lily Farm - Flower and Edibles "Micro Farm" in North Guilford, CT, specializing in Michael Russo's floral design for weddings, using locally sourced, sustainably grown flowers.
Debra Prinzing - Champion of American Grown Flowers and "Slow Flowers"
Sandi Blaze of Pixie Perennials, Wilton, CT - Several times during the growing season she opens her gardens for visitors (or by appointment) to stroll, purchase her plants and artful gifts offered by her creative friends in her pop up barn "Boutique."

Rocky Hills - Henriette Suhr, Mt. Kisco, NY - A gorgeous property, open for visiting one day in May every year, hosted by the Garden Conservancy.
Wave Hill - Great Public Garden and Visitor Center, Bronx, NY

Tower Hill Botanic Garden, Boylston, MA  - I can proudly say that I was their first "Artist in Residence." 

Blithewold Mansion, Gardens & Arboretum, Bristol, RI - Wonderful Staff, Beautiful Place.

The Heritage Rose Garden at Elizabeth Park, Hartford, CT - Old, fragrant roses, best viewed at the end of May, early June

Chanticleer - A Pleasure Garden, Wayne, NJ - a truly enchanting place

A few other assorted mentionables:

I have been using an older Epson Perfection V500 Photo Scanner for demonstrations. Apparently no longer available, the current, similar model (the V600) which includes Photoshop Elements software is available refurbished at the Epson Store Clearance Center for $145. (free shipping) 

In answer to the question, "Where else can we find your scarves?" They are available for purchase at the "Store" section of my website, along with my prints and book. Notecards may be ordered via email for $20. plus tax and shipping.  Please mention up to 2 different images from the "Folio" section of my website per package of 6 cards. 

"Let Heaven and Nature Sing!"

"Moments" in the Garden - Trout Lily Farm, North Guilford, CT

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Intending on visiting to sample from the gardens for scanning, I decided that everything was better left just as it was this time. Instead, I captured these "moments" with my iPhone.

http://www.myneighborsgarden.com

"Panoramic Pittsburgh Slideshow"

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Garden Writer's Association Conference 2014 Cell Phone Souvenirs
Being a "First Timer" at the GWA annual conference, I frequently felt overwhelmed by the short time planned for taking in the incredible sights of and around Pittsburgh. Using the Panorama feature of my IPhone 5S seemed to fit the situation. Usually a flatbed scanner captures the close up details of nature in my photography. This technique allowed me to become scanner - like as I swept across the view with cell phone in hand, to record the entire view. FUN!!!

My Work Day At Longwood Gardens

The Conservatory 

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May 7, I had the privilege of setting up, picking (with permission!) plant specimens and scanning from a few rooms of Longwood Garden's four acre conservatory. Communications Manager, Patricia Evans and her lovely assistant, Abigail Palutis made the arrangements to make my visit possible. Learn more about Longwood Gardens here.

"The Green Room" (My Studio!)

My Set Up

This installation feels like a secret garden.

Secret Tropical Garden

This room was warm and wet.

Rainforest Room

Lit from both sides

Silver! 

Silver Plants

Silver!

Primary Colors Border Garden

Gardenia 'jasnimoides kimura shikazaki'