We left Lake George yesterday, after an all too brief (and mostly rainy) visit. On our last day, the clouds finally lifted and the sun broke through…and it was glorious. We went back to The Sagamore for breakfast and to take in the view (now that we could actually see it!) And then there was one last stop. Little did we know what breathtaking vistas, majestic scenery and utter magnificence awaited us at Highlands Castle. Carved out of a mountain top, overlooking the lake, with views to make your heart skip a beat, stood a magnificent castle, conceived, designed and built by one man over the past 40 years. Words and photographs fail to capture how truly spectacular the castle and the views were to witness. We were beyond moved. We were changed, Humbled by the vast and wild wilderness before us. Honored that this man had welcomed us into his home, his castle and shared such splendor with us. And grateful, that there are still places on this Earth so beautiful that they move us to tears and that we were able to feel that beauty in one of my favorite places on Earth. 💕 “We need the tonic of the wilderness.” ~ Henry David Thoreau #lakegeorgeny #boltonlanding #adirondacks #adirondackmountains #lakelife #getaway #lakegeorgenewyork @highlandscastle
I don’t think I’ve shared the moon gate before…it was a long awaited, new acquisition earlier this Spring. I’ve planted climbing roses on each end and this leads you through the allee’ which is lined with six crabapples (looking particularly terrible right now!) underplanted with Russian Sage and hardy geranium ‘Rozanne’. These two play beautifully together and flower at the same time though the Russian Sage does reach its peak a bit later. This whole scene cuts through the center of the yard in all the right ways and I couldn’t be happier with it. #moongate #allée #landscapdesign #russiansage #geraniumrozanne #mygardentoday #summerflowers #july #perennials
“Live each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit. And resign yourself to the influence of the Earth. ~ Henry David Thoreau I love this quote and think of it often, especially when I most need to be reminded, like now, in the sweltering heat of July. After having gone full tilt since March, when high summer hits, finding the motivation to go out into the garden, every day covered in sweat, sunscreen and bug spray becomes increasingly challenging. When I want to lock myself inside and stand in front of the air conditioner dreaming of cooler days, I think of this quote and try not to wish the time away. September will be here soon enough and these first two weeks of July have already flown by in a flurry of bug bites and heat exhaustion. So a collage of photos from the last two weeks was in order, to remind myself and anyone else that needs to hear it, to slow down, sit in a spot of shade and savor summer. #summertime #july #mygardentoday #slowliving #birdsandblooms #summerflowers
The #davidaustinroses planted in the path going down the yard are just starting to bloom😍. They are my absolute favorite variety; ‘Lady of Shalott’ and the scent is indescribable ❤️ Of the 10 roses planted in this path (all Lady of Shalott), 9 survived (we lost one to a 🐿️) but some are doing better than others. This roses are inter planted with catmint and the lavender of the catmint and peach of the roses is the dreamiest color combo!!! I love it when a plan comes together 💕 #roses #ladyofshalott #ladyofshalottrose #catmint #purpleandpeach #june #gardenroses #mygardentoday #aflowerfilledlife
This week in pictures: 1) Alliums blooming off the West deck. 2) The last of the lilacs on my vanity. 3, 4 & 5) A stroke of work done in the sweltering heat of Monday to create a garden bed around my Mom’s barn and deck. A project 2 years overdue! 👏. 6) Daytime feeder visitor 🦝 7) The ONLY flower on my ‘Stellar Pink’ dogwood tree this year 😢. 8 & 9) Hawthorne ‘Winter King’ in full rolling bloom! 10) My sweet boy loving the open window/sun bathing weather 😍. 11 & 12) Aquelegia ‘Krystal’…so spectacular. 13 & 14) Sweet Rocket. 15 & 16) Clematis gone wild! Just the way I like it! Clematis ‘Etoile Violette’ forming massive fluffy clouds around the climbing roses. When this blooms it will be breathtaking! 17 & 18) Male Ruby-throated Hummer having some sunset sips and preening on a branch 🥰. #may #mayinupstateny #alliums #lilac #dogwood #hawthorne #springblooms #springblossoms #columbine #sweetrocket #climbingroses #clematis #hummingbird #mygardentoday #spring
The MOST beautiful bridal shower for the MOST beautiful bride 💕👰🏻♀️💕 Yesterday I had the absolute honor of doing the tables and flowers for the daughter of a very dear friend and incredible human that was taken from us all far too soon. 🥹Over 50 feet of tables spanning the length of the beautiful greenhouse space, adorned with mismatched vintage china, crystal and silver and the most colorful, vibrant flowers running the whole length! It was a dream! And I had so much fun bringing this brides vision to life! Thank you @brenna_sarae for asking me to be a part of your special day🥰 The spectacular venue is @stonebendfarm and the owner, Terry was so accommodating and helpful and put together a delectable grazing table of locally-sourced fare - it was so yummy! The flowers are from my garden as well as @jennycreekflowers and @plentyofposies and they were breathtaking! Fifty feet of flowers in a riot of color! It was quite a sight! 😍 All the china, glassware, flatware, linens, vases and floral-ly festooned peacock chair from my own collection. And lastly, some of these photos are from photographer Aleigh Adams. #vintagetable #vintagetableware #mismatchedchina #alltheprettyflorals #alltheprettythings #tablesetting #tablescapes #tablescapestyling #tablescapestylist #floraldesign #floraldesigner #freshflowers #bridalshower #localflowers #localbusiness #aflowerfilledlife #gardengrown #spring #springflowers
Feel free to weep at the glory of my genius! 😆 And my dear husband’s @negativity_scene for making all my visions for this room a reality 😘 We officially “moved into” the sitting room 3 weeks ago but I’ve been so busy since that I didn’t have a chance to share it. And it needs to be seen because it is GORGEOUS! 😍 This renovation was 3 years in progress - we tore the walls down to the studs (which in our 174 year old house are massive thick railroaded boards!), put up new sheet rock, new ceiling, new doors, primed, painted and wallpapered and completely transformed every inch of this space. It was a true labor of love and well worth the wait… she says, while sitting at her vintage vanity in the sun-filled room with bird song wafting through the open windows💕💕💕#oldhomeremodel #oldhousereno #renovation #oldhouselove #farmhousereno #vintage #wallpaper #alltheprettythings #foreverhome
Yesterday’s warm sunshine brought out all the blooms while I was away! So, I’ll be back! @northboundmindbody Tomorrow, Friday 3/15 from 2-6pm. We are staying open late so all you folks just getting out of work will have time to snag these beauties for your weekend.! The double white blooms on Spring green stems are so fresh & Springy! (And perfect for celebrating the Irish ☘️ in you this weekend!) I will also have some bunches of tulip ‘Mango Charm’; a dainty peachy-pink and lemon yellow confection that is just the sweetest! 💗🌷💗 Hope you can stop by! #tulips #tuliptakeover #wintertulips #shoplocal #stpattysday #weekendflowers #bringspringinside #shopsmall #localflowers #naturallygrown #minoany #fayettevilleny
The tulips are gorgeous! Colorful and fragrant and available tomorrow @northboundmindbody 11a-5p. Stop in and treat yourself and/or a friend! Happy Spring! #tulips #tuliptakeover #wintertulips #localflowers #smallbusiness #shoplocal #locallygrownflowers
Winter Tulip Timeline: First batch of blooms is READY! Popping Up this Wednesday, 3/13/24 @northboundmindbody in Minoa, NY. I’m so excited to get these blooms out into the world and so grateful that my dear friend @jaimejo32 is giving me the space to do so at her wonderful shop! If you’re in the area on Wednesday, please stop by between 11am & 5pm to get some fresh, farm grown tulips for yourself or a a friend. There will be mixed bunches of double & single tulips for $20. Get a second bunch (for yourself or a friend) for half price! Get into the Spring of things and spread the LOVE! Limited supply! #wintertulips #flowersinwinter #farmgrown #buylocal #syracusenewyork #minoany #smallbusiness #tulips #womensupportingwomen #popupshop
“It was one of those MARCH days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold; when it is summer in the light and winter in the shade.” ~ Charles Dickens Around here, March is living up to its reputation, where one can experience all 4 seasons in an afternoon. Friday was almost 60 degrees and sunny! I cleaned out all the nest boxes in preparation for arriving Spring birds. Today, snow, sleet and freezing rain. The chipmunks are out in full force, weather be damned. Branches are budding and bulbs are coming up through the soil. Despite it happening every year, the excitement doesn’t dwindle. And though more snow will surely fall, we made it. Spring is just 10 short days away (according to the calendar) and I for one, can’t wait. Are you seeing signs of life? #almostspring #springbulbs #hazels #corneliancherry #witchhazel #snowdrops #crocus #chipmunks #hibernationisover #budsandbranches #signsofspring #upstateny #march #alltheweathers
