Christianson's Nursery & Greenhouse: A Must Stop in the Skagit Valley

It is always a good day when I can visit Christianson's Greenhouse and Nursery. It's a little wonderland of plants and possibilities in the Skagit Valley.

So on this particular day last year, my friend Amy and I had driven up to the area  with no set agenda. Our goal was to see tulips and have a chance to talk; the best kind of Spring afternoon. We drove to Christianson's to get in the mood for spring. Everything looked beautiful. And this is where Amy found some wonderful chocolate tile "paint" sets. I'll write about them soon.

At Christianson's, they have a lovely gift shop full of unique housewares, beautiful books and special antiques. Guess what I found? I actually made squeaking sounds when I noticed it on the shelf...

                                          
A covered casserole in my beloved formal china pattern Lavinia by Spode (covered with black raspberries)! Cab you believe it? I did not have this piece and I was over the moon. What a thrill. To my knowledge, my pattern was never sold in the United States, so we had to order pieces from Canada for our wedding registry. I've only seen the full collection on display in Bermuda; that's how rare these dishes have been for me, so finding this piece in my pattern was shocking and wonderful.

This casserole is oven-safe and I will bake my heart out with side dishes galore. 

My china pattern AND tulips, this was a delightful day.

#skagitvalley #gardencenter #lavinia #antiquefind

Colonial Garden Book

Only a true girlfriend can spot your china pattern in a photograph. When I was in Colonial Williamsburg with my dear friend, Kerry, we were shopping in the Williamsburg Marketplace store when I heard, "Anne!  Where's Anne?!" ring out across the store.

Kerry was browsing the gift book section when she saw my dishes (Lavinia by Royal Worcester) on the cover of "From A Colonial Garden."  She knew I would flip (I did) and rushed a copy over to show me.  You see, my china pattern was never available in stores here.  I had grown up loving the pattern on a demitasse cup in my mom's china cabinet.  When I went to choose a pattern of my own, nothing lived up to those gorgeous black raspberries.  Since they were Royal Worcester and available in England, we had to move mountains to find a source for them here in the United States (I think we got them in Canada).  So I NEVER see my pattern out and about and as a result, they are NEVER in magazine photographs etc.  It was such fun to see this gorgeous book.  Do I sound like a fine china geek?

I had to have it and the good news is that it really is a great book!  It has beautiful photographs, interesting recipes and instructions for making some traditional Colonial decorations, like fruit and flower cones, Christmas ornaments and topiary.  It actually lives up to the Williamsburg in my mind, more than the town itself.  That is the importance of good photography and content.  I remind myself of that every day as I work on my next book.

So thank you, Kerry, for finding this treasure for me.  Good eye!