Caroline's Garden Party

Yeah, I've Got the Christmas Spirit

2011-12-21T00:00:00.000-05:00

Tomorrow's To Do List: Early morning meeting with client to review drainage plans Attend Christmas Show at daughter's school Bake cookies for daughter's holiday party Check client's garden installation progress, site new location for river birch tree Pick up quick gift for "secret Santa" exchange at daughter's holiday party Finish addressing, writing little personal notes, stuffing, licking,

Roadkill

2011-07-25T09:08:00.000-04:00

Being a good Texas girl, roadkill never frightens me. I've dutifully taught my kids the Roadkill Car Game (I one it, I two it, I three it, I four it, . . . I "eight" it.) At a party recently, my friend - the host - asked, "what tree is this?" In the wee hours of the morning and after more than one glass of wine, that's not an easy question. I thought I knew, but in the dark, I couldn't see the

Selecting Containers for the Garden

2011-04-28T12:23:00.000-04:00

A new client is searching for the perfect containers for her front porch and back patio. The color of the container, as well as height and construction, must be consistent with the architecture of the house and reflect the taste and style of the client. Resin pots - small 8" square, medium 24" tall, large 30" tall Cast concrete pots, stained brown - 24" tall and 30" tall Glazed terra

A Penny for Your . . . Tulips?

2011-04-12T15:02:00.007-04:00

While I adore the artistic nature of creating an outdoor garden with all its color and texture, I am not so adept at crafting flower arrangements. My stand-by is to buy lots and lots of the same flower and plop them in a big vase. Lazy? Perhaps. Inexperienced? Definitely so. Like anything else, the more you research, learn and practice, the better you become. I attended a flowering

A Chocolate Garden?

2011-03-09T14:26:00.000-05:00

It's Ash Wednesday and I have, as I have since 1982, given up chocolate for Lent. Easter is late on the calendar this year, and I was just thinking about how I might be able to fulfill my cravings without actually eating chocolate. What would be in a chocolate lover's garden? Chocolate colored plants? Dahlia 'Karma Choc' A nursery in Washington state, Chocolate Flower Farm, specializes

Winter Reading

2011-02-21T14:29:00.001-05:00

It is February and though a recent spring tease brought the crocus to life, the landscape is still drab, gray and barren. During the "off-season," I tend to re-read books and magazines for inspiration and ideas for spring and summer projects. Most recently, I spent some time with Pamela Harper's Time-Tested Plants, a book my favorite plants professor swore was the best for learning how to

The Girl Scout Cookie Dilemma

2011-01-20T22:58:00.003-05:00

A few years ago, our family converted from "regular" food to "all natural" food, meaning we eliminated any and all artificial dyes, artificial preservatives and artificial flavorings. It was as difficult a transition as we had anticipated and I like to believe that we are all now, and will be, healthier for the change. Simple research into the production of artificially made ingredients will

The Love/Hate Relationship Continues

2010-09-20T15:10:00.000-04:00

Tomorrow is my garden club's "Harvest Fair." I was supposed to grow vegetables from seed, nurture them all summer, and have beautiful specimen heirloom tomatoes or butternut squash to show off and win prizes. I am not a good vegetable gardener. Though mentally I am so "over" those hideous flowering quince, between work, vacations, school, kids and life, I still have not removed them from my

They Say That Breaking Up Is Hard To Do

2010-07-22T12:42:00.000-04:00

Chaenomeles speciosa 'Texas Scarlet' in flower I have had a long love/hate relationship with a hedge of Flowering Quince, Chaenomeles speciosa 'Texas Scarlet' shrubs. Nearly 15 years ago, our inherited foundation plantings of azaleas sited in full, southern sun had finally cut bait. Eager, but not well-educated, I went fishing for new plants that could take the blazing sun, yet offer some

Summer Blueberry Crisp

2010-07-16T13:41:00.001-04:00

Our dear friends were visiting last weekend and we were hosting ten for dinner. With rainstorms threatening all afternoon, the planned grilling and dinner outdoors was not a viable option. Back to the drawing board, I crafted a summer country supper of homemade turkey meatloaf, creamy garlic mashed potatoes, roasted carrots with dill and fresh corn on the cob. Very cold Budweiser and a light

Worms in a Can

2010-07-14T12:27:00.002-04:00

"It may be doubted whether there are many other animals which have played so important a part in the history of the world, as have these lowly organised creatures." Charles Darwin, The Formation of Vegetable Mould, Through the Action of Worms, With Observations on Their Habits, 1881. A proverbial can of worms was opened for me recently, and usually, such an occurence is not a welcome thing,

You Say "Ahndeeve" and I Say "Indive"

2010-05-30T20:10:00.001-04:00

I've never been a fan of the pretentious endive, with its bitter taste and difficult pronunciation. No matter how I try, I never seem to say the word correctly. Picking it out of fancy salads, no way would I ever prepare endive and serve it to my friends. Until last week. With the tart endive, tangy cheese and sweet caramelized pears, this salad is scrumptious and gorgeous (but must be plated

The Perfect Ginger Cookie

2010-02-10T23:37:00.001-05:00

Though not a lifelong quest, I do love a good ginger cookie that isn't too sweet, or too heavily gingered, or overly gooey or excessively crunchy. A friend shared a dairy-free version the other evening after dinner. Even knowing what these morsels didn't contain, I still devored more than one as if they were the last cookies on the planet. Yet, still not quite perfect. Today, I tried a

A Chowder Kind of Day

2010-02-06T15:44:00.001-05:00

What is there to do with more than 2 feet of snow on the ground? Cook! And nothing is better than a warm bowl of corn and chicken chowder on a cold snowy day. I wholeheartedly trust any of Ina Garten's recipes - and this one is one of the best. I will note that fresh summer corn gives it a much sweeter taste, but in the dead of winter, frozen corn is just fine. As adapted from The Barefoot

The Farmer's Garden

2010-01-31T21:38:00.000-05:00

"Neither snow, nor rain, nor heat" keeps our own neighborhood farmers' market from bringing fresh produce, organic meats and baked goods, and locally grown cut flowers. But given that it's not the easiest task to grow produce in the mid-Atlantic in January, I wonder how I might find out if any local farmers have what I am seeking? Check out this version of a virtual farmers market. The

Give me a break!

2010-01-19T11:14:00.001-05:00

I'm sure I could squeeze out 30 hours of leisure time each week, no problem. Of course, my family would not eat, the kids would not have received help studying for final exams, and the dog would not be walked. No wonder this supposed time management expert is no longer married. I'm recycling - no, I'm trashing this article today!

Making It Easy to Be GRRReen

2010-01-02T16:08:00.008-05:00

In the immortal words of Kermit the Frog, "it's not that easy being green." In 2010, green means much more than color. To simplify things for myself, I personally like to define green as reduce, reuse, recycle - today's definition of the "Rs."Just yesterday, a new law took effect in Washington, DC, that mandates all retail establishments that sell food items charge 5 cents per each plastic bag

The Year of the Treepods

2009-12-30T22:57:00.005-05:00

Alas, the end of the year. Most people I know are ready to wrap it up and put old 2009 to bed. Go ahead, un-Christmas the house, take out the trash, start with a fresh calendar and outlook on next year. I'm not sure I'm ready to toss it out the window. Ten years from now, I won't recall that 2009 was an exceptionally fantastic year, but if I put on my glass half-full hat, I can quickly think of

Where's the Beef?

2009-12-18T19:26:00.004-05:00

Forecast tonight in our nation's Capitol is 14 to 20 inches of snow. After braving a near bloody battle in the grocery store parking lot, the kitchen is stocked and ready to break in the brand new Crock Pot. (I gave it to my husband for his birthday last weekend. Romantic, huh?) SO, the question is, what do I make first for a cold and snowy day? Something that will fill the house with warmth

Liquid Dinner

2009-11-30T21:04:00.004-05:00

Most of the time, I like to drink icy cold beer in a longneck bottle. My preference is for domestic brands with a light, watery flavor - generally not-very-well-respected by regular beer drinkers. Gotta keep an eye on the waistline . . . never mind that I just tossed out the scale. No, a new one is not on Santa's list.The holidays can wreak havoc on the mid-section, hips, thighs and jowls. As I

A Bountiful Harvest

2009-11-20T10:19:00.005-05:00

The mess of vegetables and greens turned into this lovely Thanksgiving arrangement to be auctioned off tonight at a fundraiser for the gardens at Holy Trinity Church in Georgetown.Why vegetables? Surely, the harvest of edibles from the garden just inspires a display. But, the real reason is that the other arrangements will be designed, crafted and created by truly professional floral designers.

What in the World . . .

2009-11-17T20:45:00.009-05:00

. . . could this mess turn into? Check back Friday for the answer - and bonus points for anyone who can identify the yellow thing in the photograph.

"No"vember Update

2009-11-14T23:03:00.002-05:00

Only two weeks into the month and I've just now remembered it's my month to decline invitations to do anything I don't want to do, or don't have time to do, or think I do have time to do but really don't have time to do. Squandered away these precious two weeks (for reference, please read "Volunteer Junkie" posted 9/23/09). So far, the tally is way too long - planted pots at our library today (

Patience Is Indeed a Virtue

2009-11-13T08:14:00.006-05:00

As I tromped back to the house after putting the trash out early this morning, I was greeted with a lovely November surprise, a fall blooming camellia literally bursting with blossoms. I planted this Camellia sasanqua 'Autumn Moon' in my garden three years ago. It has struggled to make itself at home, even though it is sited perfectly - protected from the harsh southern exposures, partial shade

Volunteer Junkie

2009-09-23T00:11:00.011-04:00

No where in the yellow pages is there a listing for Volunteers Anonymous. I am in dire need of a 12-step program to learn how to say "no" when people ask me to do things for free. Really, I only need 11 more steps. For the past few years, I've been able to muster up the courage to decline such opportunties only in the month of "No"vember. I just need to know what to do the rest of the year.

Canalisation Francaise

2009-09-22T23:45:00.012-04:00

In other words, French drain.A torrential rain sent water into the window well of our basement, creating a leak and a big mess. Carpet, ruined. Refrigerator, unplugged; beer, wine and flower bulbs relocated to the kitchen fridge. Old dust bunnies in corners, drowned.After the initial mess was cleaned (it would take a week to professionally dry the carpet), I realized I had a mere 3 hours until

101 Gardens To See Before I Die

2009-08-10T22:13:00.017-04:00

I'm still working on the complete list, but definitely one on my "must see" gardens was Thuya Garden & Lodge in Northeast Harbor, Maine. It only took a small fortune to secretly bribe each of my children to let me take the most delightful afternoon of our vacation to steal away for a self-indulgent day trip. Designed by notable, and self-taught, landscape designer Charles Savage, Thuya Garden

Stealing Tomatoes

2009-07-23T17:41:00.014-04:00

Technically, I didn't steal my neighbor's tomatoes. My 12-year-old son was charged with keeping them watered while they are away. I don't know many boys that age who either (a) know how to water a garden properly or (b) have the attention span to water a garden properly. Of course, I went along under the guise of supervising, when what I really wanted was to check out their vegetable garden.You

Note-able

2009-07-07T15:11:00.010-04:00

There must be a part of my brain that is circa 1957.We had just returned from a delightful weekend at the beach with friends. I sat down at my desk, pulled out some precious notecards a friend gave me for my birthday, and started a few quick personal notes to express our heartfelt thanks for a most delightful weekend. And then, "da-ding," I heard the alert that I had new emails. What I saw both

Are Our Gardens Like Our Friends?

2009-06-29T23:47:00.013-04:00

I'm off for a few days to spend time with my cradle buddies - two women whom I don't really recall ever meeting. I don't remember the first time we played. I don't remember when they spent the night at my house for the first time. We have just known each other forever -- since we were in the cradle. With these two pals, I am my true self, comfortable, confident, funny -- at home. These two grew

A Sweet Potato Salad of a Month

2009-06-04T22:46:00.005-04:00

May has been like one of those summer salads that includes everything but the kitchen sink and turns out amazingly delicious. Our "May" recipe starts with soccer, softball, gymnastics, tennis and dive team. Toss in final exams, a few new work projects, birthdays, mother's day, graduations and add a confirmation, first communion, stir in 15 or more rainy days and needless to say, it's just a big

Flower Vomit

2009-05-18T09:15:00.001-04:00

The azaleas have been in bloom in Washington the past few weeks. While I adore azaleas spread throughout a woodland garden, there are some yards that have gone a little overkill with these ubiquitous foundation plantings (like mine). I inherited a somewhat mature garden, with, no joke, over 50 different varieties or cultivars of azaleas, which in bloom, looks much like "flower vomit."As a

Compost Hokey Pokey

2009-05-09T20:56:00.001-04:00

Recently I gave a lecture about composting . . . to 28 three- and four-year-olds. In high school speech class, I learned that the most important part of preparing any kind of talk is understanding your audience. Even though I've had my own preschoolers, I don't understand them at all. Honestly, I don't think I've been more frightened. Knowing that I would have their attention for about 8

Even Pepe LePew Wouldn't Touch This

2009-05-04T13:56:00.005-04:00

Once in summer school school, I took a botany class. It was an easy "A" and I needed the grade points. I do not remember the professor or pretty much anything else I learned except that a weed is a plant that grows where you do not want it to grow.Even with its fancy Latin name, Symplocarpus foetidus, Skunk Cabbage is a weed, and not worthy of any one's garden unless they live on a few hundred

Breaking the Tenth Commandment

2009-04-29T20:25:00.016-04:00

Today, my good friend Anne sent me a picture of something her daughter discovered growing in the garden and asked me to help identify it (Trillium erectum).A few days ago, she wondered if one daffodil could turn into 25 daffodils naturalizing in the garden over 30 years. We debated via email the differences between a bulb and a bloom, what bulbs squirrels will and will not eat, and

Picking Favorites

2009-04-22T11:44:00.008-04:00

In casual conversation, a friend asked me last week what my favorite plant is. Is it even possible to have a favorite? Isn't that like asking which child do you like best?But as a landscape designer, I must have quick 30-second answers ("elevator talk") to many random questions and ensure that my potential clients think I know lots about plants and gardening and diseases and pests and anything

Let Them Eat Cake!

2009-04-21T17:17:00.010-04:00

In my kingdom, Ina Garten isn't just a Barefoot Contessa, she's the Queen of Manolo Blahniks and Jimmy Choos! For the second time in a mere ten days, I've baked her Double-Chocolate Layer Cake, with chocolate butter cream icing, no doubt. I do love to bake, but this cake has turned out flawless, both times. And it's not nearly as difficult as trying to walk in stilettos (which I try not to

Little Orphans

2009-04-11T21:21:00.004-04:00

Animals are fine by me, and we have one that lives in our house. The kids and my husband indeed are of the animal kingdom, but there are days that they are much more like reptiles (slithering), or birds (constantly eating), or earthworms (wriggling around with nothing but poop and dirt in their wakes). But one so-called "pet" is enough. No strays. No hand-me-down pets. No caving when my son

Birthday Juice

2009-04-03T15:50:00.001-04:00

My neighborhood girlfriends get together periodically to celebrate a birthday over lunch. We used to go out, pretending we were still of the young working set, taking an extended hour away from the office, to get a much needed fix of "girlfriend juice." I remember one lovely spring afternoon, we were enjoying a glass of wine in a trendy little Georgetown cafe when one of my gal pals had the

Falling Apples

2009-04-03T08:22:00.000-04:00

I love stormy days. I grew up on the coast of Texas and loved the smell and sound of thunderstorms. So, instead of working, I'm looking at my topiary project that I've nearly killed. Perhaps topiary is a good thing for me because I have an excuse to give it a new shape or form. It's my "experiment."Topiary? My realm is outside, not inside. In fact, I am a serial houseplant murderer. In

Call 911 -- It's A Pot Emergency

2009-03-18T11:35:00.000-04:00