HYDRANGEAS AT MY TOES

At the end of the day Tuesday, quilt & pillow were placed on wicker swing, the arbor ceiling fan turned on and I reclined with magazines. I felt the freedom of floating in water. With beauty at my toes. Hydrangea 'Penny Mac' from Penny herself. These were Penny's Presbyterian hydrangeas. Given when she downsized her garden. Wickedly, she embarrassed my friend, BIG BILL, who helped dig/transplant that winter day. Penny, aged 76, leaned into BIG BILL's arm and said, I bet you've got lots of women. Quickly redder than a radish, BIG BILL, a wise man, kept digging. But with a smile.

I'm a woman with a gorgeous dirty cloche, I like that literally & metaphorically. Gray Gardens is quite appealing. The monkeys are dressed for Penny's blossoms. I dallied on the swing twice last year, once the year before. Ridiculous. Will try to do it once a week.

The Lutyen's bench here too. Needing stain, to match the other teak. Can't simply bask must eyeball something to do.

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And the magazines? What a bore compared to what was at my toes.

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Garden & Be Well, XO Tara

DECADENCE ON THE LAWN

Masterpiece Theatre, decades ago, had Miss Marple. The English settings were incredibly decadent. Furnishings on the lawn. Tea on the lawn. A notion inextricably appealing.
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Oakleaf hydrangea are peaking now at Aldridge Gardens, above, in Hoover, AL. Their hydrangea festival was last week. After I finished lecturing box lunches were served in the garden.
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Why share this ridiculous notion? Without direct effort my life has included countless repasts in the garden for decades, at home, with friends, clients & lecture venues.
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What began as an infatuation has, indeed, become a way of life.
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Garden & Be Well, XO Tara

FIELD GATHERING & FRENCH COLOR

French landscapes often paint everything the same color to unify. Field gathered iron found at Scott Antique over several years.

Egyptian iron fence panel used as faux gate, below. A fleck of robbins egg blue clinging to the rust inspired the color. Lowe's did the color matching. I chose oil base. French bistro table, circa 1930's, below, arrived a dark green. Wanting to keep its history , I failed.

Iron table, circa 1960, has legs inspired by the 1950's. I adore furniture overlapping eras. It arrived in grey black.

The chairs, above, were a gift in the early 80's. They were black.

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Robbins egg blue is common in European landscapes. It's a different color all day. In shade, sun, part sun, rain. Its hues change. They're a delight. It took courage to copy what I saw working in Europe.

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Why was I afraid to paint? I regret the time not having my furniture robbins egg blue.

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It MAKES ME HAPPY.

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Garden & Be Well XO T

BILLY SKAGGS: EXTENSION AGENT

Billy Skaggs is the Extension Agent in Gainesville, GA. He asked me to be on his radio show this morning. And this is work? Smart, nice, caring, fun describe Billy. I had to get color into the pictures. Everything is winter. Enjoy the tempting view of summer's hydrangeas.

H. 'Penny Mac' in drought. Normally blue, aluminum uptake is hindered in drought, they are pink. Separate issue from ph. (hi ph -alkaline- is pink, low ph- acid- is blue)

Dare I show the picture, above, today? No leaves, no flowers, brown sticks.

Garden & Be Well XO Tara