December 7, 2008

More Shore

Today was bitter cold, below freezing with a brisk 25 mph wind blowing. Not exactly the best day for being outside cutting winter greens. As I crossed the Chesapeake Bay, we were hit with a brief snow flurry. But I knew the trip would be great, regardless of the weather.
This beautiful persimmon tree still has some fruit that hasn't fallen. Funnily enough, we saw persimmons at the Farmers' Market this morning for $4 each. M and I walked around the property deciding what to cut for Christmas greens and I ended up getting three huge trash bags of cuttings, including some fresh rosemary!
It's amazing how much the property has changed in the six months since I last visited. You can now see the "bones" of the garden and how truly huge the trees surrounding the house are.
A new addition to the house is this Victorian-era Coalite chandelier in the library. The urn in the center of the lamp holds the fuel and it's gravity-fed into the lights. M will be doing a guest post on the lamp and the hanging of it.
The furnace in the house had died, so we were using woodfires in the dining room, library and nesting room. It made it very cozy indeed and was the perfect thing on a bitter cold afternoon.Connor was THRILLED to be with his country cousin and when we turned into the drive he just went nuts. Here, Connor and Cuz look out onto the sunporch, which has lemon and orange trees in full fruit.
This room is the most gorgeous colour, although it was hard to capture it exactly. It's painted a Farrow and Ball colour, possibly Rectory Red. With the tabletop vignette M has laid out, it's a perfect little room, just off the hall, leading to the sunporch.
After much running about the property, chasing his cousin and wrestling with her, Connor found the perfect spot to take a little snooze before we headed back to Baltimore.
Sorry for the bad quality of this image, but it's really hard to drive and take a picture behind my head! You can see the amazing greenery I got - three huge trash bags, plus these funny Harry Lauder's Walking Stick (Corylus avellana Contota) branches, which will look great in the two pots next to my front steps!
M&A... Thanks so much for a wonderful Sunday afternoon.

14 comments:

  1. Oh! Harry Lauder, you lucky girl. That is one of the great shrubs for cutting. I'm always torn between putting one in my garden where I will see its great form in the winter; but it looks blah in the summer so that means hide it away. Thus I've still never planted one. Sound like a great day. (And it's zero and snowing here, so count your blessings).

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  2. yes, it is so luscious! great word AL - the driveway looks so different in winter, as does the house! I love the facade - with the double stairs and the conservatory. My favorite thing are the brass rods that hold the paintings. And - do find out the name of the FB painting - it looks like a deep coral in the pictures!!!!

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  3. LOVELY day! Great RED walls! ADORABLE pup!

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  4. Happy decorating - I am off to do the big cut down this morning, but mostly oak and rosehips! xv

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  5. What an ideal house to visit during the holidays Meg! I can just imagine how cozy it felt. You'll enjoy all of your cuttings!

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  6. That estate is just so beautiful, you're so lucky to get to spend time there -fireplaces and all *sigh*. I can't wait to see what you do with all your greenery!! It's going to be a very merry christmas :-) I just decorated my own space last night!

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  7. Ms. Wis... I had seen this tree over the summer and wasn't impressed. Now that the leaves are off, it's an incredible tree and really enlivens the garden.

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  8. AL & CdT... it is lucious, indeed. Such beautiful things and so well executed. I am lucky to be invited to see it all!

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  9. Architect Design... I can't wait to see what you've done. I want to do a big wreath with the magnolia and some of the juniper and then put the walking sticks in my planters. Maybe do some topiary-like thing with the box.

    Going through the gardens with M is like a horticultural lesson.

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  10. Looks like you have a great weekend/day! Did you venture into town at all? I was looking forward to finding out what's down thataway. :-)

    I was in Rehoboth this weekend and yesterday was blustery indeed. I have shops for you to visit there!

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  11. Well, how fun! And a gorgeous day to boot. Hope we get to see some of the finished projects :-)

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  12. Exquisite home.
    And I think I have a crush on Connor.

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  13. Pamela... I do, too! He's a great guy and I am so glad I rescued him from the pound.

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