An Architect's Garden: Conservatory

As promised last week, here is a look at the conservatory/greenhouses at "An Architect's Garden," which we visited a few weeks ago. There is a beautiful courtyard, with a pool, in front of the main door to the conservatory (shown above).

Inside, the conservatory is filled with antique furniture and gardening items. Don't you love those giant cloches (pictured above)?

And just look at those green glazed pots. Can you say "gorgeous?"

I'm thinking the small dressers on the table (above) must be furniture maker's samples. I love the beauty of these utilitarian pieces.

Just look at the brass faucet and stone farmer's sink in the potting room. Beautiful!

More casual beauty (above). Oh how I love this place! :)

And a huge antique chandelier hangs in the central room of the conservatory (above). Gorgeous!

I'm guessing that the small staircases (above) are architect's models. Wonderful and whimsical!

This is the gravel path outside the greenhouses. Don't you love the little stone tower and the purple catmint?

The conservatory and greenhouses from the back (above). I hope you have enjoyed the tours of An Architect's Garden as much as I have. If you missed the other installments, you can find them here, here and here.

Mosaic Monday: Purple Fields

This is the nature trail that opened last fall at our favorite park, Natirar. It's fun to see the change of seasons here, from the beautiful autumn colors, to the snow-lined paths, to the parade of blooms that come with summer. A few weeks ago, the field was lined with ribbons of purple thistle flowers. And the purple blooms were alive with the drone of bees, and dozens of butterflies.

It's been stinking hot here in New Jersey for the past week or so. Yes I know, hot weather in summer is not exactly news, but somehow I think the mild and rainy spring lulled me into a false sense of security. I just am not prepared for the 90+ degree days, and the awful humidity. ;)

How's the weather been in your neck of the woods?

Now let's have some mosaic fun! Here are the instructions:
1. Publish your Mosaic Monday post.
2. Once it is published, click on the title of the post. This will lead you to the static link for your post. The static link is the page with only that post on it. Copy the url from your browser at the top of the page.
3. Paste the url into the appropriate inlinkz box in this post.
4. Type your name in the appropriate inlinkz box in this post.
5. Click on "Enter."
6. Please link back to this Mosaic Monday post so that your readers can find other wonderful mosaics.

That's all there is to it! It's always a good idea to then check and see if your link is working. If you have any questions, feel free to email me: mrcarroll(at)optonline.net.

Going Green

Don't you just LOVE green flowers? Well, maybe you don't. After all, everyone is different. But I adore green flowers! And I scored some green zinnias last week to put in the pots on my deck. In fact, now that I think of it, I posted a picture of the same green zinnias last Saturday. lol

And if I ever find my gardening bag, with the trowels in it, I'll actually plant them. lol Although at this point I'm thinking I'll just have to break down and buy a new trowel. :(

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Won't you please join me for Mosaic Monday? Mr. Linky will be up by 8:30 pm Eastern time, USA Sunday. I can't wait to see your mosaics! :)

An Architect's Garden: Courtyard Dining

I wanted to show you a few more images from the beautiful garden we visited a few weeks ago. "An Architect's Garden" was open to the public as part of the Garden Conservancy's Open Days program.

This view (above) is taken from a wonderful outdoor dining area, looking back toward the house. The owners have a design business, and you can see all the architectural salvage that they have incorporated into the garden design. The outdoor dining table, which you can see just a bit of in the bottom left of this view, is a huge slab of stone resting on two massive stone plinths. It must have taken a lot of muscle (or some heavy equipment) to move it there, but it makes a beautiful table.

There are many wonderful old iron gates and fences -- again architectural salvage -- which add rust and patina to this very formal boxwood garden.

I love the beautiful silver leafed tree (willow?) in the photo above, which blends with the silvery grey of the house.

There are several beautiful stone walls here as well. This one helps to enclose the dining area. Another slab of stone serves as an outdoor buffet. And a bit of decorative ironwork adds a beautiful backdrop.

In case you missed my earlier posts about this garden and house, they can be found here and here. Next week, I still have the conservatory and pool to show you. :)

I'm So Proud

Today my baby graduates from high school. I'm so proud of the person she has become -- smart and capable and kind. I know she will accomplish great things in college and beyond.

And I'm hoping she will forgive me for posting her photo. Or maybe if I'm lucky, she will not even see it. :)

Just Couldn't Resist...

I've been trying my best to stay away from the thrift store for the past few months. After all, there are only so many dishes and pieces of china and silver gravy boats and... well, you get the idea...

But every June, my favorite thrift store has a big sale before they close for the summer.

You understand, don't you? I'm afraid I just couldn't resist this little lidded cachepot (above) for $3.

And this beautiful little gilded cup (above) for 50 cents. Yes, that's right -- 50 cents! Now I just have to figure out what I will do with them. :)

Mosaic Monday: Summer at Natirar

My husband and I have been taking lots of walks at our favorite park, Natirar. It has been a wonderful spring so far, and we are beginning to see the fruits of summer appearing in the hedgerows and fields. The air is sweet with the scent of honeysuckle. There are daisies in the fields, and the berries are beginning to ripen. A beautiful stand of dame's rocket blooms at the edge of the field. The nodding heads of milk weed bow down over the edge of the stream. Summer is almost here. :)

Now let's have some mosaic fun! Here are the instructions:
1. Publish your Mosaic Monday post.
2. Once it is published, click on the title of the post. This will lead you to the static link for your post. The static link is the page with only that post on it. Copy the url from your browser at the top of the page.
3. Paste the url into the appropriate inlinkz box in this post.
4. Type your name in the appropriate inlinkz box in this post.
5. Click on "Enter."
6. Please link back to this Mosaic Monday post so that your readers can find other wonderful mosaics.
That's all there is to it! It's always a good idea to then check and see if your link is working. If you have any questions, feel free to email me: mrcarroll(at)optonline.net.