Nature's Skyscrapers

Swaying in the wind,
bare and naked treetops dance,
beneath big blue sky.

A Garden in a Bottle

I have a deep fondness for perfumes; I love the way they can vault me through time, seamlessly transporting me to a special moment and allowing me to relive a sweet memory. When I wear Dior Dune, there I am back in the deserts of Morocco. A whiff of Kate Spade, with its delicate symphony of honeysuckle, jasmine and gardenia? It's like pure Spring come alive. And so it was with great interest that I read some "Top Picks" for natural-smelling fragrances, that smell like real flowers and fruits, in this month's issue of Allure Magazine. With a Birthday and Anniversary coming up this spring, I'm passing on this list to my husband!

Dior Diorissimo -- "A wonderful portrayal of lily of the valley."

Estee Lauder Pleasures -- "An excellent representation of peony."

Edition De Parfums Frederic Malle Carnal Flower -- "A very large amount of natural tuberose absolute, a vegetal freshness and soft, milky character."

Guerlain Eau De Fleurs De Cedrat -- "A fragrance that truly captures the essence of citron zest - it's as fresh as a real lemon."

L'Artisan Parfumeur L'Eau D'Ambre -- "This is a very good depiction of the intense, warm smell of real amber."

Snowmageddon

The entire Washington, D.C. metro area is completely blanketed in snow, with more on the way and an expected accumulation of up to 3 feet. I am pretty amazed at this development, because when my husband & I left the Midwest several years ago, the one thing we lamented was a future bereft of snowy white winter wonderlands. I have come to love the balmy Mid-Atlantic climate, where Spring comes early with a spectacular parade of flowering trees (Cherry Blossoms, Eastern Redbuds, Dogwoods), and where summers often extend late into the reaches of November, but I still appreciate a good winter snowfall at least occasionally. There is something magical and romantic about snow, like the way it glows under the moonlight, brightening up the dark days of winter, or the effect it has of putting a smile on children's faces. Despite the general inconvenience, I welcome a few good days of having my world painted in snowflakes.

Wednesday, February 3rd





Saturday, February 6th

Growing from Seed

Another snowfall just hit the ground today, but that hasn't discouraged me from believing that Spring is just around the corner. I'm gearing up for seed-sowing season, and once I have successfully mastered growing annuals & vegetables/greens from seed, I'll truly feel like I've "arrived" as an experienced gardener. I've set up a light garden in the basement, and hope to get going over the next few weeks. Below is a listing of the seeds I've ordered or received thus far:

Gurney's Seed Catalog
Big Beef Hybrid (VFFNT) Tomato
Buttercrunch Lettuce
Early Contender Bush Beans
Evergreen White Bunching Onion
Fairy Lilies
Lettuce Blend
Lucullus Swiss Chard Greens
Mammoth Dill Herbs
Sugar Ann Snap Pea
Sweet Banana Sweet Pepper
Sweet Bell Pepper Hybrid Mix
Vital Green Spinach

Washington Gardener's Seed Exchange
Barlow Columbine
Black Cherry Tomato
Campanula trachelium
Chervil
Columbine Mix
Cup Flower, Nierembergia 'White Robe'
Garden Babies Butterhead lettuce
Larkspur
Poppy 'Laurens Grape'
Red Pepper
Rose Mallow (Lavetera trimestris)
Sumpter Cucumber
Tondina Maremmano
Zucchini

2010 Garden and Landscape Goals

Grand Garden Scheme


Landscape Goals
* Build stepping-stone pathway around garden
* Create "Bubbling Urn" water feature for Rock Garden
* Clean/Stain/Seal wood deck

Garden Goals
* Plant Hosta 'Royal Standard' and Hakonechloa Grass around deck
* Grow Annuals & Salad Vegetables from seed
* Replace 'Ivy' with 'Lilies-of-the-Valley' ground cover