Peonies

IMG_1577IMG_1727Admiring blooms within gardens or viewing their pictures in magazines has always made my heart beat a bit faster. I remember at a young age a neighbor grew the most fantastic tulips in her yard, and the beauty of them all was her black tulip’s…and oh my gosh, I thought I would leap over the moon if I could not cut a few to place in my bedroom. So, I sneaked out at sundown snipped a few cuttings and et viola, my desk area was transformed into the perfect study area. But, oh the guilt of cutting my neighbor’s flowers made me feel horrible. So, I told my mom what I did and she had me build a bouquet from her own flowerbed, promptly walk over to our neighbor to apologize.

My love of flowers has never waned, as I continue to peer into secret gardens, peek in yards or read books, I do everything necessary to learn all there is to know of these exotic delights.

IMG_0143 IMG_0146Another deep affection is for peonies and though these blossoms are around for a short three weeks it becomes imperative each year to get as many cuttings into vases as possible. With scissors in hand, I have already begun cutting these flowers to place in rooms throughout Heath. We had a severe thunderstorm last night, which pushed these herbaceous beauties to the ground, but there are a few sturdier buds growing in the cutting garden just waiting to bloom and to be placed in vases.

K

 

 

A Few Favorites

IMG_1302_2{Hellebore’s at Heath growing profusely along a heavily wooded area known as Poison Ivy Row}

With warmer weather upon us and temperatures continuing to climb each week, my primary focus has turned to gardening. There is nothing like getting into the yard to clear debris and search for new plant life within the ground. Reading materials are everywhere and its great to see what other gardeners are doing during the season. Reviewing old manuscripts from the museum complete with notations from the previous owner is a thrill. I like to compare the annotations within these books to my gardening notes and have found this to be an innovative way to design the flower beds and vegetable rows at Heath.

IMG_1148_2Geometry Book of Louis XVI
Abrégé Géométrie, Paris 1765
While perusing the Walters Art Museum a few weeks ago I found this geometry book that was made for the future king of France in the mid-eighteenth century when he was eleven years of age, and while textbooks were commonplace, this unique manuscript had meticulously drawn diagrams and hand-written notations by Louis XVI.

IMG_0855Favorite Boulangerie
I will never tire of the breads, tarts and pastries from la Madeleine at the Reston Town Center. This quaint French cafe hidden by towering skyscrapers is a place one can hideout and enjoy a fresh baked treat with an espresso or a even a glass of wine….how français!

016a5fd3a1f6464e69c869991a7a477adc858061c3010a79549d21ac306fac40269e7472b62b1ad806ec Honda CR-Z {The White Pearl}
This sporty hybrid coupe is my newest love and successor of my 25 year old CR-X {don’t say a word!}. And, for the pièce de résistance this compact cutey is one of the least polluting and rated as an “advanced technology partial zero emissions vehicle {AT-PZEV} in the United States. I get great gas mileage and enjoy a comfortable ride… absolutely love her!!!

Stay stylish,
K