Month: October 2011
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Secret Garden at Ferncliff, Secret Garden Room, Secret Gardens
Once Upon a Midnight Dreary …
Once Upon a Midnight Dreary … While I Pondered, Weak and Weary … Over Many a Quaint and Curious Volume of Forgotten Lore … While I Nodded, Nearly Napping, Suddenly There Came a Tapping … As Of Some One Gently Rapping, Rapping at My Chamber Door … Was It the Wind, or Something More ? […]
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Autumn, Autumn Color in the Garden, Ferncliff, Frost, Fun in the Garden, Garden Design, Garden Design Photos, Glamorous Gardens, Halloween, Home, Late Autumn Garden, Nature, New England, Secret Garden at Ferncliff, Secret Gardens, Shrubs for Winter Interest, The Seasons, Vermont, White Witch, Winter, Winter Garden
The White Witch’s Early Winter Trick: A Morning of Sparkling Autumn Treats
The Trick of Winter: Cornus kousa Fruits & Fall Foliage in Early Snow It seems the White Witch of Winter decided to pay us an early Halloween visit last night. Far more accustomed to her raven-haired sister at this time of year, we were all taken a bit by surprise. And though it’s much too […]
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Autumn, Autumn Color in the Garden, Ferncliff, Glamorous Gardens, New England, Pumpkins, Secret Garden at Ferncliff, Secret Gardens, Shrubs for fall color, Shrubs for Winter Interest, Specialty Pumpkins, The Seasons, Trees for Fall Foliage, Winter, Winter Garden, Woodland plants, Woody Plants
Autumn Swirls in a Dance with Winter: A Fleeting Glimpse of Frosted Fantasy …
An October Snow Squall Temporarily Coats the Scarlet Leaves of This Brilliant Viburnum with Fresh Frosting (V. plicatum var. tomentosum ‘Shasta’) A Different Kind of October in the Secret Garden A First For Me; Damask Roses in the Snow (‘Rosa De Rescht’) Candy-Coated Autumn Colors … And Jewel-Like Leaves, Flash Frozen in Time Snow Kissed […]
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Autumn Color in the Garden, Autumn Garden Design, Garden Design, Garden Design Photos, Plants for Light Effects, Trees, Trees for Fall Foliage, Wildlife, Woodland plants, Woody Plants
Autumn’s Kaleidoscopic Color Wheel: Glorious Patterns & Back-Lit Beauty …
 Purple Beautyberry, Smokebush and Maiden Grass Make a Brilliant Grouping (Callicarpa dichotoma, Cotinus coggygria and Miscanthus) Though it Often Spreads Aggressively, North American Native, Hay Scented Fern (Densntaedtia punctilobula) is a Gorgeous and Durable Ground Cover for Tough, Shady Spaces. Taking My Cue from Mother Nature, I Like to Position this Autumnal Favorite Where it will […]
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Autumn, Autumn Color in the Garden, Decorating Ideas, Decorating the Garden, Gourds, Halloween, Pumpkins, Specialty Pumpkins
Pretty as a Pumpkin …
Things that Grow Bumps in the Night: White, Cream and Shadow Blue, I Love Growing Pumpkins, Squash & Gourds, Warts & All (Front and Center to Back: Baby Boo Pumpkin, Gourds & Jarrahdale Pumpkin) Could There be a More Charming Chariot than Cinderella’s Pumpkin (Rouge Vif d’Etampes) Tiny, Ghostly Gourds & Jarrahdale Pumpkin One of […]
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Autumn, companion planting, Cooking, Garlic, Halloween, Herb Gardening, Onions, Plant hunting, Plant Propagation, Plant Spotlight, Planting Techniques, Preserving Herbs, Putting Food By, Root Cellar Storage, The Seasons, Vegetable Gardening, Vegetable Gardening/Potager
Bavarian Purple, Spanish Roja & More: Selecting & Planting Gourmet Garlic …
Gorgeous, Gourmet Garlic! Bulbs, Clockwise from Top of Ceramic Bowl: German White, Russian Red, Bavarian Purple & Spanish Roja. On Table: Two Heads of Doc’s German & One Each of German Red & Music. In Basket: A Combination of All Garlic Varieties, Plus Continental. Creatures of the night, beware: I grow garlic! Garlic and onion […]
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Autumn, Autumn Color in the Garden, Decorating Ideas, Dried Flowers, Flower arrangements, Fresh Cut Flowers, Hydrangea, Indoor Eden, Indoor Table Arrangements, Uncategorized
Blushing Autumn Blossoms …
Blossoms to Spare & Share: One of the Gardener’s Greatest Rewards (Sprigs of Eucalyptus cinerea & Hydrangea paniculata ‘Limelight’ with Autumn Blush) Photographs and Text â“’ Michaela Medina/The Gardener’s Eden. All photographs, articles and content on this site (with noted exceptions) are the original, copyrighted property of The Gardener’s Eden and may not be reposted, […]
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Autumn, Autumn Color in the Garden, Autumn Garden Design, Ferncliff, Fragrance, Gardening Inspiration, Native North American Woodlands, ornamental grass, Secret Garden at Ferncliff, Secret Garden Room, stonework, The Seasons, Witch hazel, Woodland plants, Woody Plants
Misty Mornings & Golden Afternoons: The Burnished Beauty of Indian Summer
Soft Light Through Morning Fog at Woodland Edge Indian Summer —that deliciously warm, golden season between the first, light frost and the killing freeze— is like a sweet dessert after a perfect meal. Oh how I delight in these last, precious weeks of mild weather. Usually, I host an open studio and garden tour in […]
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Apples, Autumn, Cookbooks, Cooking, Gourmet Garden, Orchards / Orchard Keeping, Trees for Fruit
Sampling Sweet Heirloom Treasures … Apple Tasting at Scott Farm Orchard
The Golden Light of Harvest Season at Scott Farm Orchard in Vermont If a rose is a rose is a rose, does it then follow that an apple is an apple is an apple? Of course —except in the most simplistic of senses— neither statement is true. Each of these closely related species —both of which […]
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Autumn, Autumn Color in the Garden, Dahlias, Dark flowers, Foliage, Fun in the Garden, Garden Design, Garden Design Photos
In Concert: Fall’s Brilliant Fantasia …
Flames of the Apprentice: Cotinus coggygria (Smokebush) Turns up the Volume on the Mid-October Music For as long as I can remember, I’ve always been fascinated by the relationship between color and sound. My mom had a fairly eclectic record collection —from classical to kitsch— and as a child, I loved listening to music while […]
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Apples, Books, Cookbooks, Cooking, Fruit for home gardens, Fruit Trees, New England, Orchards / Orchard Keeping, Recipes
Dorie Greenspan’s Simply Delicious French Cake with Heirloom Apples …
Marie-Hélène’s Apple Cake from Dorie Greespan’s Wonderful Book of Recipes, Around My French Table I awoke this past Sunday morning with a kitchen full of heirloom apples from Scott Farm Orchard and nothing more important to do than brew a pot of coffee and bake a special birthday cake. No problem, right? Well, I suppose […]
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Autumn, Autumn Color in the Garden, Conifers, Garden Design Photos, Naturalistic Garden Design, ornamental grass, Perennials for Autumn, Perennials for Winter Interest, Plant Spotlight
Autumn’s Burning Beauty: Flame Grass Heats Up the Mid-October Garden …
Showing Off Ribbon-Candy Colors in My Garden: Miscanthus sinensis ‘Purpurascens’ (Planted with Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Diablo’/’Monlo’ and Miscanthus sinensis ‘Zebrinus’ on Left. That’s Rhus typhina, Occurring in a Natural Stand Behind the Border) If you’ve been following this journal for awhile, you are probably quite familiar with my passion for the sensual beauty of ornamental grass […]
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Autumn, Autumn Color in the Garden, shrubs, Shrubs for fall color, Woodland plants, Woody Plants
A Light in the Autumn Fog …
North American native Spicebush (Lindera benzoin) Shines Brightly in a Clear, Luminous Gold (for a detailed profile on this fantastic plant, click here and to see her spring blossoms, be sure to click here) Most people don’t get excited about dark, dreary days. After all, it’s hard to jump up and down when you’re weighed […]
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Honored to be Interviewed & Featured Blog of the Week at Birds & Blooms …
Visit the Birds & Blooms Magazine Blog, and See the Blog of the Week Feature & Interview by Clicking Here I’m honored to be featured as Blog of the Week at Birds & Blooms Magazine’s Blog today. Special thanks to Ellie Cliffe at Birds & Blooms for the fun interview! Click here or on the […]
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Cookbooks, Cooking, Cooking with Kids, Recipes
Gems in the Rough: Heirloom Potatoes & Delightfully Crispy Faux French Frites {Plus Tips for Root Cellaring Your Spuds}
Crispy Faux Frites I confess a weakness for frites. Real frites, mind you, not the soggy, pale-yellow excuse for French fries found in fast food restaurants. I’m talking about genuine, golden-brown, warm, crispy, sea-salty, flavorful French frites. The last time I had really great French fried potatoes I was in San Francisco of all places, […]
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Autumn, Autumn Color in the Garden, Bee-Friendly Gardens, Color in the Garden, Ferncliff, Flower Seeds, Foliage, Garden Design, Garden Design Photos, Garden Maintenance, Meadow Gardens, Native Plants, Naturalistic Garden Design, Nature, New England, Perennial Close-Ups, Perennial Garden Maintenance, Perennials for Autumn, Plant Spotlight, Planting Techniques, Plants for Texture, Summer flowering shrubs
Heavenly as October Skies at Sunset: ‘Raydon’s Favorite’ Aromatic Aster Sparkles in My Autumn Garden …
Raydon’s Favorite aromatic aster (Symphyotrichum oblongifolium ‘Raydon’s Favorite’/ aka Aster oblongifolius) in the front entry garden in mid-October (Shining gold in the background here: Amsonia hubrichtii and Clethra alnifolia ‘Ruby Spice’) When it comes to North American native wildflowers, there’s just no way I could ever choose a favorite. My plant infatuations are many; varying […]
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Autumn, Farmer's Almanac, Full Moon, Fun in the Garden
Ode to the Hunter Moon …
Waxing On: Maiden Grass Dances by the Light of the Hunter Moon The Hunter Moon is Full Tonight (October 11th) at 10:06 pm ET, and Oh What a Beauty. Step Outside for a Spell … After such a rainy year, a clear night for the full moon is a lovely, unexpected treat. And tonight the […]
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Apples, Autumn, Farm Events, Fruit for home gardens, Fruit Trees, Full Moon, New England, Orchards / Orchard Keeping, Vegetable Gardening/Potager, Vermont
October Orchard Dreaming …
Scott Farm Orchard at Twilight with October’s Waxing Hunter Moon Autumn is apple season in New England, and come October, there’s no place I’d rather be than in an orchard, dreaming. Lucky gal that I am, last week, Ezekiel Goodband —orchardist at Historic Scott Farm in Dummerston, Vermont— took time out of his very busy day to […]
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Apples, Autumn, Autumn Color in the Garden
The Beauty of Harvest Season …
The Glorious Colors of Harvest Season: Multicolored Gourds, Pumpkins & Squash Columbus Day Weekend is traditionally the time when my sister and I meet up to carve pumpkins, roast their sweet & salty seeds, drink mulled cider and bask in the warmth of early October sunshine. In New England, these are the days of  bonfire gatherings, harvest […]
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Artful Garden Objects, Conservatory, Container Gardening, Decorating Ideas, Ferns, Garden projects for kids, Garden Rooms, House Plants, Indoor Eden, Indoor Gardening, Indoor Table Arrangements, Terrariums
Gathering Moss: It’s Terrarium Time …
My Gothic Wardian Case is from H. Potter & the Misty Apothecary Jar is from Amazon A rainy Sunday indoors inspired a bit of renewed terrari-mania yesterday afternoon. After a morning walk through the misty garden —gathering moss and partridgeberry  between raindrops— I set to work refreshing my collection of apothecary jars and wardian cases; […]
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Autumn, Autumn Color in the Garden, Celebrations, Ferncliff, Foliage, Japanese Maple, Native North American Meadows, Native North American Woodlands, Nature, New England, Woodland plants, Woody Plants
“Autumn is a Second Spring When Every Leaf is a Flower” – Albert Camus Welcoming the Month of October …
Welcome Scarlet Reds: Acer palmatum x dissectum ‘Seiryu’ in the Secret Garden Welcome October …  A Favorite Month, in a Favorite Season ! And Glowing Orange: Rhus typhina ‘Tiger Eyes’ in the Border at Meadow’s Edge … Luminous as Stained Glass: Cornus kousa (Kousa Dogwood) and the Remnants of Daucus carota (Queen Anne’s Lace) in […]
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