Garden Tour Day

Today was the Garden Conservancy "Open Days" tour in West Los Angeles.  After an early morning rain, it cleared up by 8:00 am and the day turned sunny and gorgeous.  My garden was on the tour and I met some lovely people who wanted to know all about the plants.

We talked about the David Austin roses, the teucrium hedge, the heliotrope, and the alstroemeria.

They loved the story about finding my fountain in a small antique store in Pasadena.

They enjoyed meeting my landscape designer Tim Lindsay.

We had lovely volunteers who checked in all our guests.

Sign pointing the way

But the plant  most people wanted to talk about was the Tree Peony.  We just put it in last week and many people had never seen one before.  What a wonderful day.  New friends, lots of garden talk, and ideas exchanged.   I am so happy to be a member of the Garden Conservancy. 

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P.S.  When Blogger.com was down last week I lost some of your lovely comments on my last blogpost. Fortunately Blogger.com is up and running again.

Handmade Books and Stationary

Note cards by Anna Fewster

I have always loved the story of how Leonard and Virginia Woolf became book publishers.  Leonard was concerned about Virginia's mental health and thought if she learned how to print and publish books she would find some relief from the pressure of writing.  And so was born the Hogarth Press in the year 1917.    They began printing on their dining room table and some of the most treasured books to collect by the Hogarth Press ane the ones that say "Printed and Published" by the Hogarth Press, as these were the ones that were hand printed by the Woolfs and their employees.

Book by Clive Bell, with illustrations by Duncan Grant and Vanessa Bell, published by Hogarth Press in 1923

At the Hogarth Press, the Woolfs published the early work of T.S Eliot, Katherine Mansfield, John Maynard Keynes, and many others.  They introduced the English-speaking world to the great Russian novelists and Sigmund Freud by publishing English translations of these works.

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A few months ago I read about Anna Fewster, letterpress printer and book artist who lives and works in England.  I was immediately drawn to her beautiful Bloomsbury inspired stationary and exquisite hand printed books and wanted to learn more about this talented woman and her work.

I was excited to find out that her interest in printing developed while doing research for her doctorate on early 20th century book design.  She spent four years studying the books designed, illustrated, printed, and bound by the Bloomsbury group at the Hogarth Press and the Omega Workshops.  In the middle of doing her research she decided to buy herself a press and teach herself how to print.

She describes the printing process that she uses:

"Using an Adana Eight-Five platen press, metal type, cotton papers, hand-cut linoleum and wood blocks and linseed oil inks, I use traditional processes and craft techniques to create work that expresses and reflects my love of design and detail, and inspires an appreciation of the characteristic texture and quality of letterpress...Much of what I do is bespoke; from stationery, invitations and announcements, to limited edition books, record covers, CD sleeves, and illustrated broadsides.  But I do also have a constantly changing selection of ready-made stationery and printed matter for sale..."

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In this period of time when I think that many people are craving a return to handmade, artisanal products, Anna Fewster's creations are particularly welcome and refreshing.  Here are some of her lovely printed products.

Notecards

Wedding Invitations

Charleston Christmas Card

Bloomsbury Silhouettes

"Picnic at High and Over," book printed and designed by Anna Fewster

"Halo of Dust," book printed and designed by Anna Fewster

I am so inspired by the beauty and quality of these cards and books.   Anna Fewster is creating original and exciting printed materials in the sprit of the Bloomsbury artists, printers, and publishers.


Photos from Anna Fewster's website

The Merry Month of May

What is it about garden people that makes them so generous?  I could think of a dozen examples.  My dear friends Jeanne and Hallie offering to take me to nurseries to look for plants for my garden, or advise me on what would work best in a particular space with a certain amount of shade or sunshine.  Trust me, I am a complete novice and need a lot of help.  Or upon hearing me express a desire for a fountain in my new garden, picking me up and taking me to Pasadena to an antique store that had the perfect fountain for my back yard.  Or my friend Ellen offering me her flower arrangements to decorate my garden when it is on a tour in a couple of weeks.  Or a friend taking me around her garden and sharing her garden knowledge and advice with me.  Or casually saying "let's go to a garden tour in Pasadena.  You will love it!"

Now I have learned that these invitations can lead to all day affairs that can often be exhausting, inspiring, funny, and wonderful all at the same time.  And this is what happened on Sunday when my friends Ellen and Jeanne invited me to go on the Pasadena Open Days garden tour put on by Garden Conservancy.  They also invited me to go to a luncheon put on by their friend who has a wonderful house and garden near Pasadena.  Having learned from experience to just say yes, and trust that this day will be worth it, I jumped at the chance.

One of the beautiful homes on the Pasadena Garden Conservancy Open Days Tour 

Another lovely home, its entry way dappled with sunlight

And so began our adventure.  We had a map and were even following the lead car, but getting lost is part of the fun I have decided.  Because it seems to be inevitable, no matter how good the map is or which car you are trying to follow. After numerous u-turns and inadvertently whizzing over speed bumps, we managed to see all six gardens and they were worth it.  I realize that this garden tour is so much about the small vignettes that stay with you.  Whether the property is huge and awe-inspiring or small and relatable, these gardeners are attending to details and giving us a visual feast of small moments to take in.  Here are some of my favorites:

At the end of a couple of hours of looking at gardens, my friends and I arrived at the house of our hostess who was graciously providing us lunch.  We pulled up to her welcoming  home which was adorned with beautiful gardens wherever you looked.

The first thing we did was make a beeline for her gorgeous rose-covered pergola where the beverages were being served.

Next we walked into her garden room for lunch.  This is the garden themed-table that we encountered.  How gorgeous is this!

A close-up of this heavenly table

Here are some of the beautiful moments I encountered in this lovely home:

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By the way, May is is really garden tour month in Los Angeles.  Here are some garden tours not to miss:
Venice Garden and Home Tour on May 7
Robinson Gardens "...into the garden" Tour on May 13
Garden Conservancy Open Days tour for West Los Angeles on May 15

Go ahead, put on your hat and your good walking shoes and enjoy!  There's nothing like it for getting ideas for your own garden, enjoying a visual feast, and most importantly meeting some wonderful garden friends.

Literary Wanderings

Recently I was excited to discover that reading one book sent me on an artistic journey to other books, as if each writer was continuing a conversation that the other ones had begun.  Michael Cunningham's new book "By Nightfall" is loosely based on "Death in Venice" by Thomas Mann.  As in the novel "The Hours," which was based on Virginia Woolf's "Mrs. Dalloway," Cunningham has taken a classic work of literature and updated it for the modern reader. 

    

But things do not stop there.   There is more to this theme of connectedness than his book implies;  the book's expansiveness is also pointing us in other directions.  Recently I saw "The Merchant of Venice" at the Broad theatre in Santa Monica.  It was a brilliant production and I came home and found a copy of the play, so I could relive some of the amazing moments of this production.

One of the moments I wanted to research was the kiss between Antonio and Bassanio in the court room scene.  It is not in the play as written by Shakespeare, but the love and deep friendship between the two men is, even as Bassanio is about to marry Portia.  And that undercurrent in the play of the love of an older man for a younger,  based more on a longing for youth and beauty than anything else, seems directly related to Michael Cunningham's brilliant new book "By Nightfall" as well as Thomas Mann's "Death in Venice."

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As I discovered these similarities, I had a sense that I was participating as a reader in a continuum of literature and conversation that had been going on for hundreds of years, and it was an exciting journey to be on.  There is a comfort in being a reader and participating in a dialogue between writers and readers over the centuries.  You feel as if you are part of a literary community.  So many themes continue to occur in literature and the way writers navigate these issues and express them in language is why we read.  The best fiction shows us how characters deal with life's most difficult issues, and I am always learning from fiction. 

Michael Cunningham is dealing with several compelling and relatable problems in "By Nightfall."  His protagonist Peter Harris is in midlife crisis.  He is filled with malaise.  He is an art dealer who is worried about selling out, financial issues clouding his artistic principles.  As he is dealing with  getting older, he is attracted by the beauty and youth of his wife's younger brother Mizzy.   This deeply flawed younger brother comes to stay with Peter and his wife Rebecca, and this calls up the classic theme of the unexpected visitor who causes all kinds of chaos in the lives of the hosts.   And Peter recalls the compelling story of falling in love with his wife and her family, in both cases equally passionately.    

And here is another issue that has many literary echoes.  Peter Harris narrates his love affair with his wife's big rambling, romanticised family.  They are of course the complete opposite of his own family.  Can't we relate to this, hasn't this happened to many of us? And we have seen this in other novels as well, and it's always so fascinating.

Remember "The Namesake" by Jhumpa Lahiri?  The hero abandons his Indian family for the family of his girlfriend.  Also "Howards End" where Helen falls in love with Paul Wilcox and the Wilcox family and "Brideshead Revisited" where Charles Ryder is infatuated with the family of Sebastian.  (By the way, please let me know if you can think of any other books with this theme.)

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Michael Cunningham's writing is beautiful in this book and there are many lines that took my breath away.  Here is one of my favorites,

"Still, the bigger surprise for Peter is how tender he feels now, how strangely solicitous, toward Mizzy.  Maybe it's not, in the end, the virtues of others that so wrenches our hearts as it is the sense of almost unbearably poignant recognition when we see them at their most base, in their sorrow and gluttony and foolishness.  You need the virtues too -- some sort of virtues -- but we don't care about Emma Bovary or Anna Karenina or Raskolnikov because they are good.  We care about them because they're not admirable, because they're us, and because great writers have forgiven them for it."

"By Nightfall" is the kind of book that will take you in many different thoughtful directions. We can relate to the main character's search for the meaning of life as he asks at the end of the day or "by nightfall" what is it really all about and how do we live our lives in a meaningful and satisfying way?  

  

The Happy Couple

How beautiful is this!

   Have a great weekend!

England's Hideaways

Le Manoir Aux Quat' Saisons 

What is it about being on a vacation that inspires me to go on future vacations?  Silly question, I know the answer.  I always, always find a cozy book store where ever I am and browse to my heart's content.  And this weekend in Montecito was no exception. When we visit here, we always make a beeline to our favorite independent book store, Tecolote Books in a charming little shopping center in Montecito, near Santa Barbara, California.  And this is where I spotted the beautiful book "England's Hideaways," published by Rizzoli.

I really haven't recovered from the euphoria generated by last summer's trip to the Cotswolds.  I know I have written about it on my blog and shown some of the images from the glorious gardens and properties we saw.  But for me it just whetted my appetite for more trips to England.  And this book is the perfect guide.

First of all, can we talk about the cover?  This is Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons hotel in Oxfordshire where I stayed for a couple of nights last summer.  Our room was "Hollyhock" which is pictured in the book.  It was beautifully English and soothingly traditional.  This hotel is stunning; it is a Victorian English country-house hotel that is famous for its fine dining restaurant.  It is nestled in the Oxfordshire countryside and the property abounds in gorgeous gardens. And this is what so many of these properties feature --  exquisite archictecture, bountiful gardens, and beautiful interior design.

Hollyhock guest room at Le Manoir Aux' Quat Saisons

Barnsley House where legendary gardener Rosemary Verey lived

Whatley Manor, Easton Grey, Malmesbury

Sitting Room at Hambleton Hall Hotel, Oakham, Rutland

The author, Meg Nolan Van Reesma, writes in the introduction about the interior design focus in this book.   "England's Hideaways" is not just a collection of beautiful places to stay in England, but it is also a book about the classic, traditional decor that is known as English style.  All of the hotels in the book are decorated in this English Country style and exude coziness and warmth.  These are the kinds of rooms that make you want to curl up in front of the fire with a book and a cup of tea and never leave.  The author writes,

"From the floral wallpapers and beloved chintz to the gleaming walnut furnishings of Queen Anne and oak-panelled walls of the Tudor reign, English design has not only existed since the beginning of time but has also withstood the test of it.  I believe the country's recipe for success is its ability to evolve and stay fresh and sophisticated while maintaining a strong sentiment of home."

The Blue Room, Hambleton Hall Hotel

The magnificent rose gardens behind Stone Easton Park, near Bath, Somerset

This book will not only entice you to make a trip to England, but it will also inspire you with its great  design ideas for your own home.  Many of us aspire to make our homes welcoming retreats and soothing havens -- this book is filled with ideas for accomplishing that goal.  At the same time we get to be an armchair traveller and visit the great country-house hotels of England.  Trust me, you will want to be planning your next trip!

         

Fabulous New "Bon Appetit"

"Bon Appetit," the venerable food magazine that along with "Food and Wine," and "Fine Cooking" ("Gourmet" being no longer with us) has been my go-to source for recipes for many years, has been redesigned by its new editor-in-chief Adam Rapoport.  The verdict -- it's exciting, fresh, hip and gorgeous.  The first issue is dedicated to Italy and is filled with all kinds of Italian-style food inspiration.

I have two three-ring notebooks that are bulging with recipes torn our of "Bon Appetit" that I cook from all the time.   I have been reading this magazine for thirty years at least. These recipes are tried and true, and I know they will always turn out well.  When I heard that the magazine was being redesigned I was excited.  Why not?  Everything can use a little freshening up, and this redesign is a wonderful new interpretation of the format.  As Rappoport says in his first "Letter from the Editor," 

"the core of what has made the magazine so strong for 55 years won't change.  Bon Appetit is still going to be about cooking.  But how we present this information will differ a bit.  We don't want to just tell you what to cook -- we want to tell you how to cook it, and why to cook it, now.  In May, 2011."

Cooking for me is all about comfort and deliciousness.  Being in my kitchen is pure happiness, surrounded by my cookbooks and notebooks full of magazine recipes.  I sit with a cup of coffee and my recipes, and plan a future dinner party.  I love going to my tried and true recipes and I also love trying new things.  I have many cookbooks in my kitchen and I try to use as many as I can, though I frequently rely on just a few.  But every now and then I branch out and cook from the ones that don't get used that often.  It's an adventure.

Here are some of my favorite "Bon Appetit" recipes from years past:

Heirloom Tomato Salad with Blue Cheese

Penne with Tomatoes, Olives and Two Cheese

Butternut Squash and Apple Soup

Sweet Potato and Sausage Soup

Side of Salmon with Tarragon Sauce

Scampi Fra Diavlo

Pistachio, Raspberry, and White Chocolate Biscotti

Candied Espresso Walnuts

Brown Sugar and Chocolate Chip Pound Cake with Maple Espresso Glaze

Bittersweet Molten Chocolate Cakes with Coffee Ice Cream

And now I can't wait to tackle some of the Italian recipes from this new issue.

I will definitely be making the cover recipe for "Pasta Al Pomodoro"