Beyond Frost and Deer: Agastache, Salvia and Buddleia

My deer friends are a common sight lately. We often have to walk out into the front meadow to encourage a herd of deer to move on. One fawn seems to think about trying to play with our greyhound--not an activity that we wish to see.

There is some foraging going on. The swamp sunflower (helianthus angustifolius) has been completely picked clean of blooms. I'm struggling with whether or not to leave those in the outer garden for next year. The deer have even eaten lantana blooms and that is not something that I've ever seen before. This foraging started in late August and appears to be the work of the 2008 fawns who are now venturing into the garden on a regular basis.

The salvia greggii, agastache, verbena, buddleia, azaleas and roses continue to bloom in spite of several frosts and a freeze in the last week. Of those, the salvia, verbena and buddleia are outside the cottage garden fence and untouched by deer. Azaleas and roses are grown inside the fence away from the deer.

I continue to be impressed by the salvia and agastache in terms of long-bloom season, deer-resistance and low maintenance. I found that deadheading the buddleia frequently during the summer has provided me with long-lasting blooms on those bushes. If there was ever a deer-resistant combination to recommend, this is it.


Other companions around the salvia and agastache are:

1. pink muhly for fall color


2. echinacea 'Ruby Star' for summer color


3. spirea 'Neon Flash' for spring color


4. buddleia 'Adonis Blue' for blooms off/on


5. crape myrtle 'White Chocolate'

This combination of perennials, ornamental grass and shrubs is my favorite in the garden. I think similar results can be created using a different color scheme. If I were to change anything about this, it would be to have enough space to mass larger numbers of these same plants together. All of these photos show the fall colors and blooms. If you'd like to see this same group in summer, please look at my previous article Designing a Colorful, Deer-Resistant Garden.

My dream house!!

I absolutely love this house, inside and out! I feel like it would lend itself perfectly to a simple, no-frills lifestyle that I covet living here in the Big Apple. I grew up in a big old country house, and I'm sure one day the tug on my roots will be too strong to ignore.

so, so beautiful!







Love this simple bedroom








Images via Country Living

Mysterious and Spooky?

A friend of mine found this thing (on the ground) while walking in the woods of Chatham County, North Carolina. He couldn't identify the object. He asked me. I didn't know. I went in search of the answer. Can you guess what it is? The first hint: It's about the size and weight of a cantaloupe. (You can click the photo to enlarge)

While you're thinking about it, I'll share a little story with you. The following story comes from North Carolina Legends by Richard Walser.


The Devil's Tramping Ground

In a wooded area in western Chatham County is a well-worn path that forms a ring forty feet in diameter. The path itself is a foot wide. The center of the circle and the ground outside the path are lush with grass and other plant life, but nothing grows in the foot-wide track. At sunset, when rocks or similar heavy objects are placed in the pathway, they are found the next morning to have been brushed aside. In fall and winter, when rabbit hunters roam the surrounding countryside, their dogs perform joyously until the chase nears the barren circle. Then the dogs tuck their tail between their legs and slink away. They will not go near the spot.

Soon after the first settlers came to Chatham County, they discovered the strange site, which soon became known as the Devil's Tramping Ground. This was before 1800.

Though no one ever saw him stalking there, it was believed to be the haunt of the Foul Fiend, who came at night to tramp around and around and around in a circle, his head lowered, his expression intense. It was during these hours that Satan planned his evil schemes to undo mankind. At the first light of morning he was gone, winging his way like a bat across the world to carry out his nefarious purposes. Yet so scorching had been his footprints on the ground of his circular pathway that the soil became infertile, and the nocturnal retreat of the hellish Prince of Darkness was shunned and avoided.

Leave your guess about the "thing" in the Comments section below. I'll provide more hints within the Comments section throughout the day...or until there is a correct answer!

Juxtaposed: Dwell and Traditional Homes

It really is great that people have so much inspiration when it comes to styling their homes. I don't have anything particular to say, other than I'm sometimes very surprised when I see either an extremely classically styled home or an extremely modern styled home that people actually live there. I guess this is because I've never been in a home with such a focused aesthetic.








I love the cabinet in this room and the outdoor table put together.

Images via Traditional Home




I like the console diagonally and all the plants on it- softens the place up a little.


Wow - I wonder if that kitchen is always so organized...

Images via Dwell

How Do Gardeners Overwinter?

Frost, freeze warnings and snow. Winter has arrived early in many of our gardening zones. The gardener in you prepares your plants for winter. When the weather turns cold, how do you, the gardener, overwinter?

1. Are you an evergreen who adjusts to the changing temperatures -- actively gardening all year long?


2. Are you a deciduous type who sheds your gardening gear -- but still needs a daily garden walk?


3. Are you a houseplant who spends the summer outside -- but finds a comfy winter spot inside by a window?


4. Are you a perennial who shuts down for the winter-- happy for a break from gardening?


5. Are you a tropical plant in a tropical zone --merrily oblivious to winter?

I’m a deciduous type because my garden boots, apron and trug will sit idle. I may do a few little things, but I'll be a passive, rather than active, gardener. I will still need my daily stroll through the garden to see what's going on with all of my little plants. It’s a compelling force, no matter the temperatures. I need my connection with the earth.

I’ll get cranky without a bit of sun or light. On sunny mornings, I'll have my coffee on our front porch to absorb the low, southern sun. I will take afternoon naps in our garden room because it is full of windows on the southeast side of the house. It also has a fireplace, so even the dreary days can glow with a little light. I need sunshine and light.

I’ll read books, magazines and catalogs in hopes of emerging with bright, new ideas in spring. I’ll make wish lists of plants. I’ll look through my photos of the garden and start planning what I’ll tweak. I’ll satisfy my creative side by blogging and sketching out designs. I need to feed my appetite for gardening.

Plant or gardener, I suppose Mother Nature gives us winter because we need to restore and replenish our energy for the next growing season.

The Master of Art Nouveau

I thought I'd just share some drawings from one of my favorite artists for a little change of pace. Alphonse Mucha influenced more than just drawing and painting, but was involved in the design of jewelry, dishes, and other home decor. Enjoy!


(click for a really close-up detail)

Serving and Table wares by Mucha
(click for a really close-up detail)

A biscuit tin
(click for a really close-up detail)

An advertisement
(click for a really close-up detail)
Images via Mucha. the Triumph of Art Nouveau by Arthur Ellridge

Main staircase of the Maison Horta, Brussels,
designed by Victor Horta, begun 1898. -Love the banister


Door detail of Gaillard display cupboard,
with typical Art Nouveau motif of the coup de fouet.

Images via http://www.artnet.com

Amelie's adorable apartment! Lots of pictures!

I was watching Amelie the other night, and decided I had to write about her apartment. Probably the first thing that stands out is the palette- almost everything is warm red and oranges, with some green and blue here or there. For a "woman of almost 23" her apartment is very put together, and looks as if she's lived there for years and years. Being introverted and a little bit isolated, it makes sense that her place is much more than a crash pad, but her save haven. She also has great taste in art and wallpaper!


Her whimsical bedroom




The entry way...*love* this wallpaper



Her kitchen...I'm guessing it's only the wall behind her that is red, and then the other walls are tiled.

Even her windowsill is cute.




The living room. I really like the blue lampshade



I love that she has a dresser in the bathroom.



Images via Hotflix.net and Screencaps