Atlanta Botanical Garden

I spent the last few days visiting friends in Atlanta

 in perfect summer weather, no humidity! Kind of amazing at this time of year. We visited the Atlanta Botanical Garden which is fantastic... large, well planned and full of inspiration and beauty. 

Mosaiculture of Montreal's installations are being exhibited throughout the gardens. The charming shaggy dog greets you as you enter.

This  beautiful goddess with flowing water was purchased and will be a permanent fixture in the cascading fountain garden.

We loved the benches designed by blacksmith Andrew T. Crawford. He also made several beautiful gates throughout the gardens.

The Children's Garden has a wonderful butterfly gate, not able to find it's creator.

David Landis made the stainless steel butterfly that overlooks the Children's Garden.

An ogre with a tunnel though his ears.

Behind the set of fish is the lawn where the  Concerts in the Garden series is held.

There is a Chihuly water and glass sculpture. 

Herbs are grown vertically, great space saving idea.

Philip Haas's 

Giuseppe Arcimboldo inspired Four Seasons sculptures are spending the summer in Atlanta.

And of course orchids are always a visual treat, especially en masse.

I will make a return visit soon to share it with my husband. To plan your visit, visit the Atlanta Botanical Garden site here.

Thanks for visiting!

Cindy

spring amaryllis in the garden

We happened upon a red spring garden the other day! A color that Northerners do not associate with spring, we have been noticing red amaryllis (hippeastrum) popping up in gardens around town. This garden in the old Point historic neighborhood in Beaufort has an abundance of them. They accent the white house and dark shade of the oaks.

This home is on the market right now. Here is the link.

We saw some being sold at the farmer's market this morning. Go here for instructions on growing Amaryllis in zone 9-11 gardens.

Down the street from the amaryllis garden is one of the most visible courtyards in the neighborhood. So many are obscured and just provide a little glimpse. The Beaufort River is in the background to the left.

Lots of brick and boxwoods. Spring in the South brings lots of leaf drop as new oak leaves push through and force old leaves off. It adds a casual charm to garden and hard scapes.

What's blooming in your neighborhood? 

Thanks for visiting!

Cindy

things I like this week

1. We are leaning towards a cream body paint for our new home with putty windows and trim. This is my favorite inspiration pic. The dark sconces look great with this combination.

Benjamin Moore color charts

2. Our kitchen in the new house will be a creamy white with light countertops. Similar to this but much smaller and without the pendants and double islands. It will be a galley kitchen with one island, windows instead of upper cabinetry and an attached open pantry with windows, refrigerator, cabinetry, shelving, counter space and a bar sink.

3. Blue crabs are in season here so I have been buying their meat at the seafood shop and ordering soft shells at restaurants. One of the easiest quick meals to prepare are crab cakes over greens with vinaigrette.  This watercolor is one variation but there are so many ways to make crab cakes.

source

4. I love this grill cover. Mary Ann featured it several years ago on her blog, Classic Casual Home. I want to have a local lady I just found who is making slipcovers for us to make one for our grill.

5. A new book about the homes of Furlow Gatewood, One Man's Folly by Julia Reed, has just been published. He is a well known but kind of under-the-radar antique collector, interior decorator and house restorer with great Southern style who lives in Americus, GA. You may recognize his homes as they have been featured in Veranda and elsewhere. He has great eclectic style. You can buy the book here.

6. I love the mirror on this porch.  The whole mix is nice. We have similar wicker. I want an eclectic look on our screened porch too.

7.  Libby of An Eye for Detail blog, featured a Euphorbia plant that is growing in her garden this week. We have never grown euphorbia. I love the form of the bloom, little mustaches over pert green double petals and want to try it in the gardens of our new home.

8.  Another eclectic patio, this one is in one of Furlow Gatewood's homes. You can find many images of his homes on Pinterest, go here to enjoy some of them.  This image was published in Veranda.

9. And finally, this been one of my go-to outfits for the last two months...white jeans and chambray. Being a wardrobe minimalist, I only have one pair of white jeans, the J Crew Matchstick Jean. I wash them often and wear them with every warm weather top, sweater and jacket I have.

source unknown

What are your favorite things this week?

Thanks for visiting!

Cindy

white azaleas

The beautiful cemetery next to the parish church of St Helena in downtown Beaufort is worth a visit, especially in April when the white azaleas planted at all four gated entrances are in bloom. We came upon them the other day on a bike ride. 

Enjoy.....

I want to thank

 those who have expressed condolences

to me about losing our dog Andy. It is so nice to know that there are other dog lovers  who understand. I centered my days around long walks with him as our kids grew older and more independent and am feeling lost without him. My husband feels the same way. After several extremely sad days last week,  I decided I needed to force a change and that is why I am blogging more and making some other changes in our new life here as well. I am thankful that it is spring, we are enjoying the rebirth of nature.

Don't forget to enter the Les Toiles du Soleil bag giveaway,  just go here and comment, drawing will be Friday,  April 18.

Thanks for visiting!

Cindy