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Historic Garden Week In Virginia

February 11, 2013 by

 

 

I’ve been reading about Thomas Jefferson’s gardens at Monticello lately, and I’ll be writing about them for President’s Day for The Home Depot Garden Club. Now I’m itching to visit Monticello’s winding flower walks and 3-football-fields long kitchen garden. Jefferson was a passionate gardener and botanist who grew seeds and plants from around the world, and if you remember your high school history, explorers Lewis and Clark also sent him “exotic” plants from their travels during their Corps of Discovery Expedition in the early 1800s.

If you’re planning a spring trip, check out Historic Garden Week in Virginia. From April 20 – 27, 250 of Virginia’s most beautiful gardens will be open to the public for tours. Ticket prices vary, depending on which activities and tours you select, so see the website for more info. The only problem will be choosing which ones you want to see!

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A Cuppa Joe And Renee’s Sweet Peas

February 6, 2013 by

How can you not love a cup of coffee that smiles back at you?

I ordered a cuppa while on a press trip to Rosemary Beach, Florida, and look at how they served it! It’s the little things, like a grin on top of the golden-brown foam (called creama, if you’re drinking espresso) in your breakfast brew that starts the day off right.

You can start this year’s garden off right, too, if you know a few tips. I’m going to try sweet peas again this spring, although I seldom have much luck with them, as our weather heats up so fast. (Okay–I’ll admit that I usually sow the seeds too late. This year, I’m resolving to do better, so they’ll have a fighting chance before our temperatures climb here in the Deep South.)

This year, I’m planting ‘Color Palette Cupid’ sweet peas, which are available from Renee’s Garden and seed sellers who carry her brand. These are said to be great for containers, as the little vines only grow 8-10″ long. The pastel flowers have a soft, sweet scent, and bloom in shades of pink, lavender, purple, and rose. I’ll keep you posted on how my sweet peas perform this year. Meanwhile, I’m headed back for another cup of joe. I’m not at the beach anymore, but I can make my own smiley face with a little chocolate syrup (as if I need an excuse for chocolate).

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