View From My Porch: The flowers have been planted and are in full bloom. A cricket serenade can be heard from the front porch rockers and the hammock in the back. Arnold Palmer's flow freely (lemonade and ice tea mixed) all the day long. Soaking in the sunshine is food for the soul.
Photos: Hanging basket attached to front porch; Mountain views, Miss Holly (my dawg), Jake (my grandson).
A wonderful stretch of downland and chalk coastal bluffs is preserved by the National Trust between Seaford and Eastbourne, on the Sussex coast. It's surrounded by seaside sprawl (and heavy traffic) in the surrounding large towns (Newhaven, Hastings, Bexhill by the Sea, and Brighton).
It reminded me of Pt. Reyes National Seashore, north of San Francisco, California, a place that I knew well years ago, with grazing land combined with spectacular coast scenery.
Clearly, it was a favorite place for walkers, because of the views and open space. On a Saturday morning at 10am, people were streaming in, with knapsacks and walking sticks at hand.
It certainly underscores to me the need for preserving natural places, whether natural gardens or spectacular scenery.
The first time I saw this room designed by David Hicks I really didn't like it. But the more I looked at it, the more I liked what I saw. And now I really honestly love everything about it. So timelessly chic. -David Hicks Archives
I'm fascinated about how people create gardens that please them. We have different tastes in colors, color combinations, whether our gardens attract wildlife, focus on natives, or some other passion. I'm firmly in the 'creating gardens that mimic nature' side of things, but that doesn't mean I don't appreciate the exotic and unusual in other people's gardens, even if I think, I'd never plant that!
I'm also interested in how gardens change. I listened to a lecture program coming over to England, I think from the RHS, that I had downloaded (to my iPod), with Sir Roy Strong and Fergus Garrett talking about whether you can preserve a garden that has a personal imprint of the gardener. Roy Strong clearly was of the opinion that change (often radical) was good, reflecting on how he'd changed his house and garden after losing his wife, who had created the garden with him. But I had the sense that he and his wife had been of differing tastes, when it came to both their house and garden, and he was taking the opportunity now to create the (house) and garden that he was most pleased with.
Fergus Garrett, on the other hand, entrusted by Christopher Lloyd (he's been the Head Gardener for some years) to preserve Great Dixter for the future, would like the garden to continue to reflect the experimentation and approach that Lloyd espoused. And, since he worked so closely with Christopher Lloyd, and there are detailed succession planting plans, I'd imagine that the garden will continue to be fascinating.
After all, a National Trust Garden such as Sissinghurst has evolved in terms of the plants that are used, and is still a very vibrant garden.
Louis XV Desk Signed by "H Dasson" 78" wide x 37 1/2" deep x 30 1/4" tall French 19th century Boulle Louis XV Bureau plat with ormolu mounts and gold tooled leather top. Signed by "H Dasson"
One of a Pair of Louis XVI Painted Consoles 47 1/2" wide x 20 1/2" deep x 35 1/2" tall Pair 19th century carved and painted Louis XVI consoles with marble tops
Style Court posted these images from an adorable nursery belonging to event planner Tara Guerard. The modern nursery was designed by the talented South Carolina-based designer Angie Hranowsky. More blue, yellow and aqua action going on here and I love it!! -Style Court
The songs of birds and diversity of bees are constants in the gardens in Southern England I've been visiting. It's notable, particularly since even though England is a lovely place, it's not unusually species-rich in terms of natives. So gardens, regardless of whatever plants are there, are often quite rich places for harboring an array of wildlife, simply because of the diversity.
A biologist at the University of Sheffield (a fellow whose name escapes me at the moment) wrote a really interesting little book about wildlife in English gardens called something like An Ear to the Ground - basically, his studies had found that diversity of habitats and plants was a key to wildlife diversity in English garden, regardless of origin of plants, and had all sorts of examples of native wildlife using non-native plants.
Certainly, I can believe that in terms of bees -- there are a LOT of different bees visiting flowers in these gardens.
The mild climate here means they can grow all sorts of things, and mix up plants in beds in a way that definitely wouldn't work in the Southeastern U.S.
But what is such fun about gardening here is how fervently it's practiced as a 'hobby'. The nursery/gardens I've visited have been outstanding -- a striking array of plants and unusual species -- also offered for sale, but all arranged and labeled by scientific names, and not common names. It took me awhile to notice this -- at the big public gardens, usually both appear, and I'm accustomed to scientific names.
The nursery/gardens that I've visited in the last couple of days -- Iden Croft, Merriment's Garden, and Beth Chatto's Garden -- have had imaginative gardens along with their nursery plants for sale. And all have been packed with visitors and buyers, in spite of what I would consider inclement weather.
And, they start early. This little boy was fascinated by the bright pink Armeria maritima.
But all this diversity takes a LOT of work....
Now here is a bath that is more my kind of scene. Imagine all the hair products I could store in those fantastic cabinets! -From Swedish Photographer Clive Tompsett
This lovely little bathroom may not be my taste, but I have nothing less than affection for a gorgeous soaking tub like this...especially when it's painted aqua! -Canadian House & Home
I've always enjoyed herbs in my garden, largely because their flowers are visited by insects, but also because they're fun to use in containers, mix in borders, and use in cooking (sometimes...)
Iden Croft Herb Nursery in Kent was listed in the Good Gardens Guide as being exceptional, both for the range of their plants for sale, but also for their gardens.
Arriving with rain threatening, and a cool breeze blowing, it looked like any other nursery. But when I started looking at the plants, I realized that this was really something more.
Unusual plants of all sorts, but the herbs were amazing. It's a good thing I can't buy plants here!
Too many of these plants would be going home with me.
Happily, the rain held off and I was able to take a few pictures.
Ok so sue me...here is yet another green and blue room. But this one uses yellow too! I would have loved this room as a teenager. Actually, I would still love this room...especially that duvet cover. So cool. -House Beautiful
Sturdy and Stylish, Great Shelves That'll Last
Metal display shelves combine style and grace with strength and durability. It used to be that metal shelves were only built to be boring, gray storage units. We've come a long way, though, and today you can find great eye-catching metal shelving units that would look great in your living room or den. Metal shelves have another advantage, though over wood or glass shelves, many models can be put outside as well. Metal display shelves are being used more and more in gardens and on outside decks for decoration and display.
Whether you are interested in all-metal display shelves, or a metal unit that incorporates glass, metal shelves are built to last, and also enhance your home.
I think (after discussing this with my gardening companion - long distance) that there must be more common bumblebee species here than at home. 
I'll have to do more research, but my gardening companion (who studied pollination biology) suggests that the cooler climate here in England would favor more bumblebees, who can fly at lower temperatures, relative to butterflies and other insects. I have seen a few wasp-like flower visitors, but primarily a remarkable array (to me) of bumblebees, in addition to honeybees.
Regardless, I've been having a field day observing and taking pictures of them!
So today we have the great Balcony Garden Drainage Material Experiment. No claims to being scientific, but here's how it goes. Two identical 10cm pots, one with old crocks and large clay granules in the base, the other without. Both are then filled with the same potting compost, and the same amount of water is added - enough to more than waterlog the soil.
The liquid that drains off immediately and after half an hour is measured and, lo and behold is exactly the same.
However, as the whole point is to see how this affects the plants growing in the pots, there's a second stage. Two marigold plants, as nearly as possible identical, are added - one in each pot. I've called them Bill and Ben. Bill is in the pot with crocks and Ben in the pot with no crocks. Over the next few weeks they'll be kept in the same position, receive an equal (though generous) amount of water, and be treated in every way identically. And we'll see what happens.
Who'll grow strongest? Will it be Bill or will it be Ben?
I love how the white shelves, mirror and fireplace really stand out in this room. And the color of the green velvet chair and orange lampshade against the teal walls. All so pretty. -At Home with Color via Terramia
I've enjoyed watching some impressive bees visiting flowers-- large golden-striped bumblebees, smaller bees with different markings, and honeybees.
I've only seen a single butterfly, and that from a distance-- it looked like a cabbage white.
Designer: Eric Pfieffer
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