September 22, 2020
Laura Dowling – Unique Floral Conversations
Laura Dowling is a Creator of fabulous florals as well as a storyteller. Her books serve as great instruction for recreating beautiful florals from vase to door. Laura Dowling is a unique woman. Not just because she was the former Chief Floral Designer for the White House, she is deeper than one job. I had the opportunity to be introduced to her book, Floral Diplomacy At The White House in 2017. Explaining how challenging it
September 13, 2020
Wine, Women, and Discovering The Legacy Wine Trail
Wine, Women, and the Legacy Wine Trail are all worth a day trip into Southern Maryland. Wine is a part of life for many people. For some, it is the perfect drink for winding down at night. It is also a great drink to share with friends. For many years I looked forward to September. You see, September was the month of Wine Festivals. The Maryland Wine Festival and the Virginia Wine Festival have been
September 12, 2020
Maryland – Banneker, Mead, and Pollinators
Maryland is home to a mostly self educated Free man. Benjamin Banneker was not just a Surveyor, but an entrepreneur. Truly a man before his time. Maryland offers agricultural gifts that many are not familiar with. I had the pleasure of exploring Maryland as a tourist, as I unintentionally paused. Donning my mask I signed up for two programs at the Benjamin Banneker Historical Park. There’s a lot of information on Benjamin Banneker, not commonly
September 5, 2020
Let It Be – A Gardener’s Mantra For Embracing Joy
Let it be has been my mantra at The Cottage this year. It has led to new discoveries in every nook and cranny. There are so many secrets found in our gardens. What nature requires of us is simple. Pause, observe and appreciate nature’s gifts. This has been the perfect year to just let it be. Our garden does not need to be tinkered with daily for perfection. Nature knows what she is doing, so
August 29, 2020
Chiswick – Memories of An English Garden On My Mind
Chiswick House and Gardens in London was a treat to visit during my August reset. Last year, England was part of my August reset. Thoughts of leaving Paris on a high-speed train underwater to a place I daydreamed about was exciting. The two hours from Paris on the Eurostar was uneventful. London was closer than I anticipated. One of my garden club members Eileen met me in London for this brief, but full trip. My