Quiet November

It is November. Take time to enjoy the quiet.  The depth and detail of this room in the Governor's Palace in Colonial Williamsburg looks like a painting in this light.

I chose this photograph to represent the quiet of being at home.  I am working at my desk in a quiet house, putting the finishing touches on my book.    

Williamsburg: A Colonial Garden

On our drive over from Richmond, I started talking about how I was really looking forward to seeing some Colonial gardens.  This large community garden, called "Colonial Garden" on Duke of Gloucester Street in the middle of Colonial Williamsburg, did not disappoint.  There is even a small market that sell garden items.  I was happy to see a row of glass cloche (above) protecting tender seedlings.  Cloche are so very popular as decorative elements in design magazines right now - it was nice to see them being used as intended!

This is a beautiful natural twig trellis for sweet peas.  I want to build one!  

All of the plants were so tall and healthy.  As a Michigan gardener, I was completely jealous at how far ahead these plants are.  And look, bee skeps!  Remember how I use bee skeps  in my garden?

Williamsburg: Window Back in Time

Use your imagination and pretend that you are Thomas Jefferson looking out of this very window, contemplating the challenges of governing Virginia in 1780.  Jefferson lived right here in the Governor's Palace in Williamsburg.

Okay, it is not the "very" window - it had to be rebuilt after a fire, but it is the same window in the exactly the same place, based on the architectural plans they found.  That's good enough for me!  I love the bright green gardens set against the ornately carved window molding.  Look at how the light from outside adds a soft glow.  Just gorgeous! 

City Series, Williamsburg: Governor's Palace

Behold the Governor's Palace in Colonial Williamsburg.  I have always wanted to visit historic Williamsburg and this year I finally had my chance.  We were invited to visit our friends, Kerry and Paul, in Richmond, Virginia.  Knowing me so well, Kerry built a day trip to Williamsburg into our weekend together.  Yea!

I've been drawn to the design/style/mood of Williamsburg for years and can't remember a time I didn't pour over the Williamsburg Marketplace catalog admiring all of the formal decorating pieces, brass trivets and fresh fruit decorations (You can download fruit cone instructions here).

My house is brick and a few years ago I even bought an over-the-door ornament that is a large half circle of wood that comes studded with nails.  When the mood strikes, I have a Colonial-inspired Christmas and cover the base with a fresh pineapple surrounded by apples and lemons hanging over my front door.  It looks beautiful, but I must admit that sometimes my guests get drops of juice in their hair as they cross the thresh hold.  How did they prevent that in Colonial times?   Even so, I love it and I decorate the arch over the front door that way every few years.

 

We decided to wait in line to see the Governor's Palace and had a wonderful experience taking a 30 minute group tour.  A costumed docent narrated the life and times of the house and really brought "an afternoon at the palace" to life.  You can read all about the palace in a wonderful spotlight here.  Afterward we wandered the garden, admiring the sculpted hedges and marvelous "living" pergola constructed over a path from a double row of trees.  I wish I could identify the tree from the leaf! Can you?

The front entry hall is loaded with weapons as show of military strength.  

A dreamy white bed in the Governor's Palace.

Mount Vernon - Wow

Virginia is on my mind.  I have booked a trip to visit friends in Richmond this Spring and doing so has me recalling a glorious day trip to Mount Vernon, George Washington's home.   

When I was there in 2009, I blogged about it here (3 posts will appear when you click).  The photos and musings were from outside Mount Vernon, because photography is not allowed indoors to protect the antiques.

I was able to take this photo of the kitchen (see it here on the estate map) because in those days kitchen were built in separate buildings to protect the main house from kitchen fires.

Have you ever been to Mount Vernon?  What made me say Wow! in my blog title is the improvements to their new website.  Now anyone can "visit" Mount Vernon and take a virtual tour!  It is fantastic.  I want you to click the links and tour 2 specific areas: the small dining room on the first floor and the cupola on the third floor.

Okay, first I wanted to show you the small dining room with the striking green paint.  Can't you see yourself eating a roast beef and potatoes in here?  "Please pass the gravy, Mr. President."

The other must-see area is on the top floor - you can see the 360 degree view from the rooftop cupola.  Why, yes, that is the Potomac!  It boggles the mind that you can "see" the view exactly as George Washington could see it.  Well, the trees are taller, but still. Beautiful. 

Click around this exceptional feature and see for yourself.  Enjoy!

Souvenir Teaspoons

Did you gasp too? I saw this hanging in the visitor center at Mount Vernon and my delight was audible.

A display of antique souvenir spoons from George Washington's day. My favorite ones (shown up close) have Washington's entire torso depicted on the handle. Neat, huh?

The Gardens of Mount Vernon

The precise boxwood sculptures at Mount Vernon took my breath away! George Washington loved all aspects of the garden and it shows in these spectacular grounds. I would love to create something like this in miniature...trimming thyme and rosemary into bushes and topiaries. 

Perhaps I could grow it in container garden (like a child's red wagon) and pull it into the sunlight/optimum growing areas of the yard throughout the season. I think it would be darling, don't you?

Mount Vernon

I made it to Mount Vernon! It was beautiful the day we toured George Washington's historic home and grounds. The paintings on the wall, the tapestries on the bed, even the dishes gave a real peek into the life of our first president. My favorite part was sitting on the grand porch overlooking the Potomac River. The breeze was wonderful and I know that "retiring to the porch" is exactly what George Washington did with his guests. Loved it.

Azaleas and Architecture

It is "Historic Garden Week" in Virginia and boy do I wish that I could be there. Sponsored by the Garden Club of Virginia (an association of 47 garden clubs around the state), this year marks their 76th anniversary season. In addition to more than three dozen garden tours, visitors can also enjoy flower arranging demonstrations, cello duets and floral quilt displays. I am completely jealous!

I visited the University of Virginia for the first time last May and the campus is beautiful. "The Rotunda" (shown above) was designed by Thomas Jefferson to represent the "authority of nature and power of reason." Participants will meet on the steps of The Rotunda this week for a guided tour of the gardens.

Azaleas and Architecture?
Hmmm...guess where I want to go next April!

Dining at Monticello

I have always loved fine china. Covered vegetables, soup tureens, cake plates and formal tea services are so pretty on display. Every year I tell myself that I will entertain more with the dishes that I love so much.

For Thomas Jefferson, every day at Monticello was a special occasion. This photo (peeking into the Tea Room) shows the table set for afternoon tea.

It was a beautiful day and I love how the arched detail of the walkway reflects trees into the room.

I have added, Dining at Monticello, to my cookbook collection, so that I can learn more about the recipes, china patterns and traditions of dining at Jefferson's magnificent estate.

Bon Appetit!

New York, Paris, Charlottesville?

Caspari has long been my favorite brand of papergoods. They combine sophisticated colors & patterns to make beautiful products. I've found myself wanting to learn to play bridge, just so that I can have a scorepad and matching deck of cards (I mean it - they are beautiful). So a few years ago, when I left my hotel in Paris to explore Rue Jacob, I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw this shop window. The Caspari line is sold in fine shops all over the world, but to find a Caspari store was magic. Later when I looked online, I found that their design office is in New York, they opened their first store in Paris and their second store is now in...Charlotteville, Virginia. I live in Michigan and I rarely get to Virginia, so imagine my surprise when I was shopping on our Monticello trip and I found the only other Caspari store by accident! I was so thrilled, that I rushed inside and I forgot to take a picture of the storefront. Believe me, the entire space is magnificent. And I bought the sweetest periwinkle & white polka dot paper table runners. Lunch anyone?

A Room With A View

Can you hear the quiet? This is the view from the Garden Pavilion (shown here) at Monticello. Only a visionary would (in the early 1800's) build a 1-room building in the middle of a garden. The pavilion has full-length windows on all four sides to maximize the view and minimize the elements. It was constructed at the halfway point of the 1,000-foot-long garden terrace and provides unobstructed views of Jefferson's 8-acres of orchards, berry plots and vineyards. He built a room with a view. I want one.

Fruits, Roots & Leaves

Thomas Jefferson organized his spectacular 1000-foot-long garden terrace into plots by plant type: Fruits (tomato), Roots (carrot) or Leaves (cabbage). The beds look very "Martha Stewart" and I feel so lucky to have been to Monticello in Spring when the plants are at their best. I purchased seed packets from the Thomas Jefferson Center for Historic Plants to try in my own garden. One seed packet reads "Thomas Jefferson sowed 3 rows of Alpine Strawberry on March 31, 1774." Neat, eh? So this Summer it will be Fraise des Bois and cream for me! You can order seeds harvested from the gardens at Monticello and start your own kitchen garden!

Monticello in Spring

I am back from a beautiful long weekend in Virginia and Maryland. It was a picture perfect day when I toured Monticello - 73 degrees, full sun with a light breeze from the Virginia hills. I promise to show you the gardens & grounds in the coming days. But you should know that the overall theme of this trip was VISION. I love Thomas Jefferson's "mechanical novelties" that show how (in the late 1700's!) he designed his home to be beautiful, efficient and above all, cool. My favorite was the two-faced Great Clock in the main entrance hall. Not only does it have an indoor & outdoor face displaying the time simultaneously, but it was designed to tell the day of the week! As the pulleys move, the weights rest next to the day of the week marked on the wall. Yes, it still works, and right now the weight is resting next to "Wednesday." How cool is that?