There are many topiaries of note at the Philadelphia Flower Show. A number of them I have seen year after year here in competition. After seeing the myrtle entries it has inspired me to try myrtle as an indoor topiary specimen. I love the fine leaves and the tightness of form that it creates. Hope you enjoy seeing some of this years’ entries! Stop back by for highlights of the display gardens… coming soon.
While staying at Ballyduff Manor in Thomastown Co. Kilkenny in Ireland last summer Farmboy and I found the most wonderful secret. A gorgeous private garden out beyond the old stable and barn.
Farmboy went out early to explore the grounds the morning that we were leaving for Dublin. After a few minutes he came in and insisted that I come… forget the lipstick. Sorry DH Holmes Jr. Board in Mississippi wherein I learned I was not completely dressed until I was wearing lipstick. Oh, if they could see me now… practically naked. Nevertheless… we went trapezing out into the dewy morning and to my delight I saw a most beautiful sight. A lovingly trimmed boxwood hedge parterre. Behind it there were sheets blowing in the morning breeze strung between the apple trees. Heavenly. Established. Quaint yet of substance. Personal and intimate. I loved it. The parterre was surrounded by a perennial bed and path on one side, an old greenhouse on another, the high wall of the barnyard on the other. The fourth side opened onto to a beautiful grassy lawn framed by corner plantings then surrounded by a fence.
During our traditional Irish breakfast in a formal coral painted dining room over looking the River Nore, we spoke with the charming owner, Brede, about the origins of the garden. It was designed by her mother-in-law who spent most of her waking hours tending it. The garden used to be 4 times the size but over time it had been downsized to aid with the upkeep. I would have loved to have seen it in is glory! Wouldn’t you?! A wedding was to take place the following weekend in the garden and I could just picture the giant reception tent on the grassy lawn next to the parterre and fruit trees. Lucky bride. For a lovely B & B stay in the country be sure to visit www.ballyduffhouse.com.
It is a crazy time of year here at Michelle Masters Studio! We are in full scale preparations for the Philadelphia International Flower Show Feb. 28th – March 7th. This years’ theme is Passport to the World featuring garden displays from India, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, Brazil and the United States. In addition to the breathtaking displays, there will be thousands of plant and floral design entries as well as free gardening presentations.
Michelle Masters Topiary Art will be featured in the Marketplace along with 170 other retailers from around the world. I will be manning the booth (#535) all week with my delightful mother. We will be featuring framed art, pillows, stationery, fine linens, marble coasters as well handcrafted soaps and live rosemary and angel vine topiaries. If you are coming to the show be sure to stop in and say hello. If you have never been… put it on your list of things to do! You will not be disappointed. For more information visit- www.theflowershow.com
My newest Posh Pet Digs design: Cutting hedge portraiture of your favorite pets! A sweet little Yorkie in a topiary barrel chair complete with footstool! I love incorporating various flowers into my designs and I have been inspired by the architectural quality of orchids for quite some time. This arrangement seemed to fit the design. Wouldn’t it be fun to look outside and see this in your garden?!
This design will soon be available on notecards, linen guest towels, linen cocktail napkins, lavender sachets, limited edition pillows and limited edition prints at michellemasters.com
Lisa, the lovely and talented garden blogger from Get in the Garden nominated me for an honest scrap award and I am, well… HONESTLY honored! You must check out her blog… lots of great gardening information and she’s super nice. The idea of the award is for me to reveal 10 truths about myself that people wouldn’t learn from reading my blog. I then choose seven other bloggers to pass the award on to. So, off I go…
1. My gardening/artistic entrepreneurial tendencies came early in life. My next door neighbor (you know who you are) and I used to sneak around the neighborhood and cut the blooms off of our neighbors flowers then put them in Easter baskets in our basement refrigerator for the night. The next day we would go door to door and try to sell them back to the neighbors. Can you imagine???!!!! My business practices have since improved, I promise!
2. When I was little living in Mississippi, I slipped on a pile of butter bean shells while chasing my sisters’ pony and broke my arm.
3. I was the self-professed Mud Pie Queen as a child which could easily explain my love of gardening and ceramics as an adult.
4. The only F that I ever made in school was in Art Class. I think my teacher had higher expectations for me than I had for my self. She also threw a huge roll of tape at me once to get my attention. Loved her.
5. Had a close encounter of the God-kind when I was in high school and I’ve never been the same since.
6. I let my horse in the house a couple of times after school before my parents got home from work. I was curious to see what he thought of TV. I never got a definitive answer… yay or neigh. Get it…neigh? Sorry… can’t help it. I’ve have never tried to bring one of the horses in this house but I have thought about it.
7. I was in the garden deadheading when I went into labor with my daughter. The mid-wife lied. Natural was awful.
8. I almost blew myself up once with dynamite. One day gonna blog about that one.
9. Hid behind shelving at a local drug store from my father-in-law while I was having my passport photo taken because I wasn’t ready to spill the irresponsible beans that hubby and I were leaving the country, the farm, the kids… to see a concert. To my surprise and delight the plane didn’t crash, the kids and animals survived… and they maybe even missed us a little.
10. For the most part, I am the Cat that Swallowed the Canary everyday. I am so thankful to be alive and that I get to do what I love and sing my song in this life.
I nominate the following bloggers and will continue to add to the list:
Benga at BengaQuickPhotography
Stacey at Stacey M Designs
Ester at MamaAfrika
Tricia at Luminosity
Rosemary’s Pink Diamond Fizz Cocktail
Baked Brie with Dried Cherries & Thyme
Blood Orange and Radicchio Salad with Hazelnuts and Shaved Parmigiano
Creamy Potato Soup with Pancetta Croutons
Sauteed Asparagus and Snap Peas
Beef Tenderloin with Rosemary and Chocolate
Dark Chocolate Souffle’ Cakes with Espresso-Chocolate Sauce
Thanks to our friends Eric and Joanne Tills from our dinner club for letting me post the menu for our upcoming dinner. I’m certain it will be delish! Farmboy and I will be bringing the Chocolate Souffle Cakes so I will be certain to post about that later. I can’t wait to taste that Beef Tenderloin with Rosemary and Chocolate! Be sure to click on the titles above to view the recipes.
