Garden of Optimism

A gardener can look at a newly planted flower bed and visualize the future.

Right now, my redesigned garden area is drab and bleak.

Still in the early stages, and struggling through the winter, there are no blooms.

Signs of hope are springing up as green sprouts peek through the ground. Seeds sown in the fall are emerging with a new freshness. What doesn't look like much now, will hopefully flourish and my dream will be fulfilled.

Last fall, I decided to redesign this area of the garden that had become a real problem. There were overgrown shrubs that had become greedy and sapped the nutrients from the surrounding plants.

There were runners of crabgrass undermining the root systems of all the existing perennials. I had to dig up the runners and pull them out by hand. It was time-consuming and it was discouraging, but I persevered.

It was very painful to lose so many plants from this overhaul. Yet, it was necessary in order to grow a beautiful garden. When I was finished, I had a clean slate in this garden bed. I brought in new soil amendments to restore the nutrients. I added new plants. Some were expensive, but worth the outlay since this front garden area is so important to us. I also moved some of my good performing plants into this new garden.

Being a gardener, I have patience to wait for the bounty. I know it takes time to weed out the bad performers and grow better plants. In a few years, this garden will be abundant and overflowing with beautiful flowers, foliage and herbs. My efforts, patience and determination will be greatly rewarded. It will be a better garden.

I view the current economic crisis much like a garden. The bad performers must be weeded out to make room for the good. New ideas are being planted. These ideas need a lot of tending and enough time to mature in order to reap the rewards for a better economy.

May all individuals, throughout the world, become gardeners to help redesign and grow a stronger, more rewarding economy for the future.

Story and photo by Freda Cameron

An adorable home decor and accessories store with a good cause

I was introduced to Nest a few weeks ago, and I finally got around to checking it out. Besides their products, the best thing about Nest is their mission:

"Nest is a nonprofit organization dedicated to changing the lives of women in developing countries. The mission of Nest is to support women artists and artisans in the developing world by helping them create sustainable entrepreneurial businesses. To do this, Nest provides micro-credit loans to be used for the purchase of the supplies and materials necessary to begin and/or maintain art or craft-based businesses."

I look forward to seeing what they have in the future as the companies grow! They also have a lot of cool, indie products by domestic designers.




Beautiful serving bowls from Mexico. The salsa bowls at the top were also featured in Domino.

Sweet little tea light holders






African baskets are always stunning

Pretty little tea towels.

Art for baby
I *LOVE* this bracelet. My sisters' pet name for me has always been Heart, so it's fitting. :)

A gorgeous cuff bracelet.

They also carry a lot of really pretty stationary

I always use handmade soaps - they are much nicer for your skin and last a really long time. Nest has a huge selection.

Have a Berry Happy Bird Day with Holly

The best entertainment this week has been the bird party! The Robins and Cedar Waxwings have been having a berry good time in the Oak Leaf Hollies.

The Oak Leaf Holly is a hybrid and stands up well year-round through drought in summers, soggy winters and hard freezes. It is rated for zones 6-9b. If you have clay soil, this is a good holly to grow in your garden.

Forming a natural, pyramidal shape, the Oak Leaf Holly is an evergreen that grows around 15 feet high but only 8 feet wide. You can plant this holly in full sun or part shade. You may find it listed as Ilex x ‘Oak Leaf’ or with a common name of Red Oak Leaf Holly.

As a natural bird feeder, the Oak Leaf Holly is one of the best. These hollies are loaded with red berries that obviously provide food for the birds.

In the springtime, the honey bees literally swarm the new flowers. You don't need a male and female for flowers and berries, so one of these hollies can stand alone.

If deer are a problem in your garden, try the Oak Leaf Holly. My shrubs have suffered no deer damage - a necessity for my outer gardens.

We use a trio for screening one side of our garden on the east, keeping company with several osmanthus fragrans, a Kwansan cherry and several perennials. We use another as an accent between our guest parking and our private parking space on the southwest side of the house where the sun is harsh.

I love the versatility and performance of the Oak Leaf Holly. The birds think it's tops, too!



Story and photos by Freda Cameron

Beautiful Carpeted Rooms!

Carpeted rooms aren't normally featured here on Decorology, as I tend to have a penchant for hardwood floors. However - the folks at Fun on the Floor have lots of pretty and inspirational home carpet ideas. I could see why one would want carpeting in a bedroom, den, or child's playroom, and it looks like they have a lot of modern and chic options. Their photos are really gorgeous too, which scores major points with me! How about you guys? Do you have carpeting around your home?



Love the high white ceilings!






...what a great rug pattern










*love love love* this living room

Image tribute to Domino - great living rooms

Trust me fellow Domino mourners, there are many more tributes to come! I will be scouring the site thoroughly before they take it down. *tear* Today's tribute is to living rooms.


I like it when open floor plans use furniture (like these couches back-to-back), in place of walls

It's the color on this wall that gets me...gorgeous

I couldn't live with this wallpaper, but a lovely room



jewel tones aren't going anywhere my friends!

Not cozy enough for me, but the colors are dreamy!

A lovely vintage living room of Domino reader contest winner Lara Rossignol

Rashida Jones's instant hit of a living room.

One of the many before and afters Domino graced us with! I love how serene the room turned out - the perfect place to relax after work.