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Bunny Mellon – Lady Gardener, American Icon

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Harry Benson/Contour by Getty Images

Bunny Mellon, a Lady Gardener, American Style Legend and a mysterious jewel box to many.  Holding memories of things that would mold her into the iconic legend that she became.

What a wonderful book that details the life and times of Rachel Lowe Lambert Lloyd Mellon, better known to the world as “Bunny” Mellon. Loving flowers and nature as a child, Bunny touched many landscapes, creating magnificent gardens of note. At 51 years of age, President Kennedy asked Bunny if she would create a rose garden for him to enjoy. Initially taken aback, Bunny answered yes and allowed her creative juices to lead her in the right direction.

Bunny Mellon’s grandfather encouraged her to connect with the land. Arthur Lowe provided Bunny with a small plot of land to experiment with her passion – gardening. The two of them created a dialog that shared the joys of gardening and nature. This was a bond that Bunny cherished and one she continued through the written word when she was not by his side. Sketching the latest small bloom or a fallen leaf – it was the simple pleasures that gave Bunny joy.

Known for a few of her eccentric traits, Bunny wanted a crisp, but time-worn look on the things that she loved. This was practiced not just in the house, but also in the garden. In the Mellon Garden, Bunny wanted everything just so…and she made sure that it was. Bunny Mellon was also a sister-friend to Jacqueline Kennedy. They were like two peas in a pod and the external world did not matter when they were together.

Bunny Mellon also cared about people.  Aware of the trouble her father’s business caused in Arkansas, Bunny tuned into social issues when she wasn’t embracing gardening. If Bunny liked you, she was your friend to the end.  Many stories were shared about her loyalty upon her death. A collector of children’s books and fairy tales, Bunny’s world was colorful, bumpy, and definitely before it’s time. Twice married, Bunny became a step Mom and a wife at just the right time. Paul Mellon, Bunny’s husband was happily envious of the passion Bunny had for nature and gardening. Ever the gardener, no matter what she was up against, Bunny Mellon did it with style and grace.

There are many interesting facts that the award-winning author, Meryl Gordon, shares throughout the pages of this easy to digest book. The Mellon family entrusted Meryl Gordon to share the life and times of Bunny Mellon. Tastefully written, Bunny Mellon comes to life in the pages of this book. Humanizing aristocracy can sometimes be difficult. Meryl Gordon has eloquently shared the good, the mysterious and the questionable that made Bunny Mellon the iconic woman that she was.

Oh to be able to touch the books in her library. At 103 years old, I am certain that Bunny took many things to the grave. I am glad that we at least have more insight on who Bunny Mellon was.

I am giving away 2 copies of this book on Saturday, October 28. Like the Cottage In the Court Facebook page, follow my blog, and comment on the blog why this book would be of interest to you.

Teri, Cottage In the Court

WE HAVE OUR WINNER’S!!  Linda and Carol…check your email!!  Thank you to all who took the time to read and respond to this #GIVEAWAY! I hope you continue to follow and share, as there will be more #GIVEAWAYS as well as thoughts on all things beautiful.

Book Review – Foraged Flower Arranging

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Foraged Flower Arranging by Rebekah Clark Moody is a great book for those of us who just need to engage in nature.  When we think of floral arranging, our thoughts instantly go to what’s blooming now.  Foraged Flower Arranging inspires the reader to go beyond the traditional bloom time and seek unusual beauty.

If you embrace being outdoors, take a look around to see what can be foraged for a vase or two inside the home. Webster defines foraged as the act of foraging – to search for provisions, usually for food. When foraging for beauty, it is like feeding the soul. One can look for tree branches, vines or seed pods.

As the leaves are changing on the trees, what a perfect time to create a vase of branches. Foraging branches from the tree’s in the midst of color change and adding accents of season worn blooms can extend bringing nature indoors. Foraging evergreen boughs in different hues and scents can liven up a room. When artfully gathered in a container, the foliage just shows off. Placed outdoors flanking stairs or just standing guard, this is a winter statement that can keep evolving.

Foraging can consist of a few branches from a tree in bloom. A great resource right now are Camellias. This time of the year Camellias are Queen. With just a few branches, the art of Ikebana can make your foraging efforts look quite artistic. Here s an example of what a few Maple tree branches in the right vase can do…

Ms. Moody also includes a section on making a holiday greens wreath, that can be used indoors or out anywhere. Hung on a door or a mantle, evergreen bough arrangements are true statements of the season. Late fall into winter, evergreen trees and shrubs stand at attention. Waiting to find usefulness as part of an indoor arrangement. Foraging to create unique, bountiful arrangements from nature is a great idea.

Rebekah Clark Moody’s book, “Foraged Flower Arranging: has me looking everywhere for key elements to use. One of my favorite combinations includes Magnolia leaves, acorns, gumball pods gilded with gold glitter, oversized okra pods and a low vase. Gently toss all the ingredients and artfully distribute into the low side planter.

No matter what level of floral arranging, from beginner to professional, Foraged Flower Arranging is just a great idea. As we approach the holidays, what a great inspirational book to gift. Inspiring one to forage for earthly gleaning’s from nature and just create, is an awesome idea.

Mental Restoration Via Gardening

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Up close and personal blooms. that emmitted an intoxicating smell that drew you in…

Mental restoration is very much needed in the world today. There are many ways one can pursue this thought process. As I go about my day, people often ask me why am I so happy. Mental restoration has played a very large part of my inner peace. I find mental restoration in nature. Sometimes I find it by just thinking about the mysteries of the garden. I usually find it as I am embracing the beauty that surrounds us.

With so much going on in the world, I spend a fair amount of time tuned out to the madness but tuned into nature.  I can wander aimlessly on a path or on a street and breath in the essence of trees.  When I see a beautiful plant, I can peer into its inner core and absorb the essence of its existence. This practice allows a moment of restoration and clarity.

A tree in the Luxembourg Garden, Paris, France 2016

For example, do you ever look up into the branches of a tree or do you walk past it? Do you ever stand still and look up at the clouds?Better yet, do you ever find a patch of grass and lay down and just look up to the sky? These are great ways to clear the mind and create more space for thoughts of restoring inner peace.

A few alternatives ways to describe restoration is to refurbish, renovate or to overhaul. With all of the negative energy that we are exposed, mental restoration should be done daily  – if not weekly.

Here are a few key ways to make mental restoration easy.

  • Make it a part of your daily ritual to go outside and breathe in the air around your home. NOT YOUR OFFICE. As the saying goes, home is where the heart is. Home should be the one place where true mental restoration should take place.
  • Garden. Simply stated, you don’t need a big plot. You can use a pot – inside or out. One can create a menagerie of plants or a pot. Simple is best, as this should not be a chore, but an act of interacting with nature. Taking care of something to bring you joy.
  • Collect things in the garden or in the woods that capture your attention. Place this artifact where you can look at it and remember how you happened upon it. Does it mentally take you back to that place? Does it refresh and restore your mind when you look at it?
Lotus – Beautiful blooms rising high above the less than perfect environment..

Find that special place, that special corner of the world that you can mentally hold onto.  Close your eyes and pause there – often and repeatedly. When you repeat this exercise, mental restoration will become easier and easier. Even if you are not a gardener, learn to find one thing in nature that you can embrace. Nature is free. There is no cost to look up and notice awesome branching of a tree that catches your eye. To look into the depths of a bloom and notice it’s inner beauty costs nothing at all.

My Dad used to tell me in his own way to just be still. To allow my mind to rest and just be. Wandering through my mental garden gave me this joy. The ultimate way to restore myself mentally when the energies of the world are not loving and kind. I can sit in the garden and just be – no weeding, no watering, no deadheading.

When people on the street are tuned on to devices, I often wonder what is so important. If they just paused to look up, embrace their surroundings, what a beautiful gift of mental restoration that would be.

Off to practice a bit of mental restoration,

Teri, Cottage In The Court

Pleasures From Our Earth – Pause, Enjoy, Repeat…

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Today I took the time to enjoy a few pleasures from the earth. It has been an unusually busy Spring and I know that in the midst of my busyness, I might have missed some of the early gifts from the earth. Now it is time for me to savor whatever daily treats I witness. To witness the garden evolve is certainly a treat that makes me smile from ear to ear, as I leave the Cottage and plan my hasty return. As summer gracefully dances in our midst, some blooms open as others begin their departing waltz. There is a fresh face to the pleasures this earth shares with us, unique to the seasonal moment. Unexpected buds, as well as blooms, have made my garden stroll much like a Christmas morning.Each fresh bud offers the promise of something beautiful. All blooms are not perfect, but unique to their own beauty and perfect for the moment at hand. This shell pink rose was tossed aside and all hope of it ever blooming was al but lost. I rescued it, loved it and it has continuously bloomed one bud at a time, faithfully for the past 4 years. Raindrops settle and linger on every petal, taking in the beauty up close and personal. How I wish I was in the midst of this rose. To savor the velvety feel of the petals, to sniff the gentle fragrance and wonder how anyone could have tossed this garden gem aside. When gifted with pleasures like this, one should be ever mindful of how we treat our earth daily. As the winter of 2016  ended, there were days when it was rather warm followed up with a period of colder temps. The Hydrangea was putting out the prettiest leaves as every gardener I know was working towards making certain that no buds were lost. Late season cold blasts can be detrimental for the Hydrangea…as well as the Gardener that loves them. Much to my delight, the pleasure of the prettiest conical blooms of the hydrangea can be seen throughout the grounds of The Cottage.To welcome the end of Spring with its diversity of buds and blooms, perfect or otherwise……is to welcome a new day, a new season and a special appreciation of the pleasures of the earth. Do you pause, enjoy and repeat in the gardens that are all around us?  I was once told that practice makes for near perfect situations.  I am approaching an Advanced Garden Pleasure Seeker status, as I practice this daily!

With Pleasure,

Teri, Cottage In the Court