What can I give them today, what would they like? . . . the voice in my head is asking. And I think Garden! So come with me, let’s go back to England! And there’s other stuff!
Some of you will remember that rainy day when we visited Rosemary Verey’s garden? We were only there for a moment, but you might recognize this video I squeezed into another post at the time (couldn’t wait to show you!); I promised we’d go back one day and show you the rest! And today’s the day!
XOXOXOXOXOXO
It’s wonderful to hear those birds again! In case you haven’t heard of Rosemary Verey, she was an English gardener (1918-2001) who designed gardens for royalty (Prince Charles) and rock stars (Elton John), and others, not quite so well-known, but her most famous garden was the “little one” she did at her own home called Barnsley House near Bibury in the Cotswolds. She opened the garden to the public “just for one day” and ended up with 30,000 visitors a year! She’s inspired every gardener I know in big and little ways. So off we go; let’s start with some wonderful old Musica? Oui!
I always knew I wanted to see this garden but when we got there we were met by a sign at the garden gate that said: “No Entry ♦ GARDEN CLOSED ♦ Open to Hotel Patrons Only!”
Whaaat?? No!! So I ran inside, up to the reservation desk, and asked (trying to look calm and normal), “Do you serve lunch to people who aren’t staying here?” “Oh yes we do,” she said, and I (getting happy again) said, “May we walk in the garden if we have lunch?” And she said, “Oh yes, you may!” “Oh Boy,” I said, “Table for Two at 2 pm please?” And out we went, into Rosemary Verey’s Garden!
(hahaha just now Jack came up under my desk with his furry little head and put his ball with the bell on my chair between my legs! So it’s a time out…. XOXO ➸ ➸
OK, back . . . Look at that sky! ⇑ You can see what a dark day it was, we kept ducking in and out of the rain. On sunny days (and they do have them), those white umbrellas near the house are open and meals are served there.
But not today . . . Here’s what the garden looks like from the porch; we wander out that path to so much beauty . . .
This is Rosemary Verey (a link to a precious video of her speaking about the “Winter Garden” from Barnsley house), and here, on the cover of one of her many books, in probably her most-copied “garden room,” the Laburnum Walk.
This is The Laburnum Walk. Is it not to die for??? So simply designed, a straight path lined with Laburnum (golden chain) trees, underplanted with Alliums — my favorite mix of garden colors.
There’s a “Secret Garden” around every corner here; behind every hedge you find brick paths or flagstone paths leading you along; a mix of everything natural and beautiful; it’s a garden filled with surprises.
Garden gates add mystery, we have to follow! But, before we go further, shall we stop and make tea? Yes, let’s do. Let’s take Jack!
He is always so helpful! Cream? Sugar? Honey? Kitty treat? . . . OK, back to the computer we go . . . all settled in? Here we go again!
Through that first iron gate we went before we needed to make tea . . . and now through that gate in the rock wall . . . and down that path . . .
To this wooden gate of what they call the “Potager Garden” (the French name for Kitchen Garden). Want to go through the gate? Of course! We’re having lunch here! We are patrons of the hotel! We can go anywhere! So lucky!
Looking back toward the house, again, there are my favorite colors … that limey yellow and that purply violet next to the wall — I saw this color combination in one of her books, I put it in my garden too . . . I love the bright spot of color.
This is a photo of my garden, which is a fraction, a mini-minus-fraction of Rosemary Verey’s, but that’s OK, we can all adapt for our own world with pieces of ideas. That’s what inspiration is all about! Learning; seeing something you love, and then doing it your own inimitable way. Anyone can buy a bush, I found out, back in the days that I was still thinking “Oh I could never do that!” Anyone can buy a bush!
When we were here, I wrote in my diary, “it smelled like rain, rosemary, and thyme . . .” and it did!
It’s about as full of texture as a garden can get, tall things, short things, hedges, paths in all directions, herbs, flowers, vegetables, formal, and informal . . .
Do I see lunch here? Oh I hope so!
Designs from Rosemary Verey’s Good Planting Plans …. she does this . . .
And then I, thinking a lot smaller, do this. Maybe we can’t do what she did, but we can do something! Even a little dooryard is enough to bring lots of joy!
We are so lucky that the English people take such good care of their beautiful handmade countryside and we get to go there and be inspired!
THANK YOU ENGLISH PEOPLE!!!
Two pm, time to go! Back to the house through the bottle garden we went . . .
Oh look, veggies from the garden! I know what I’m having!
Beautiful, did I tell you how good the food was on our trip? So good! Here’s Joe’s . . .
Don’t worry, that was just his starter! OK, before we go … I want to give you one more video . . . one last look at the kitchen garden, one last sound of the birds…
XOXOXOXOXOXO
. . . and, here’s where we make an abrupt turn back to reality — we are home again! Breathe . . . OK, it does make a little sense, since we are talking about gardens and healthy food, that I should add . . .
If you have a garden, and you planted zucchini, I’m pretty sure you could be in trouble — possibly you are inundated by zucchini that grow four inches a day, and maybe even looking for victims to foist it off on, sneaking up to friend’s porches, ringing the bell and running. Is this you? We know who you are.
So here’s your answer, one of my favorite summer salads . . . a fresh, easy-to-make salad, that makes zucchini as crisp as pickles.
So pretty and summery with the flowers, and good for you too. Perfect for a summer potluck. If you give away your zucchini with this recipe, no one will complain!
Isn’t it pretty? We love to use the herb lovage on this one . . . if you’ve never had it, it tastes kind of like celery; delicious in soups and salads; sprinkle it over cottage cheese, with black pepper, yum! But any fresh salad herb is good with this; try chopped arugula, lemon thyme (with flowers), basil, or watercress. Here’s the recipe!
One last thing, speaking of Inspiration, Wednesday the 15th is Julia Child’s 100th Birthday! Happy Birthday Dear Julia ♥ ♥ ♥
If you don’t know enough about her, or even if you do, one of my favorite movies, and I think probably yours too, is Julie Julia, so fun!
And now I must go, because you know who’s birthday it is today? It’s Joe’s! ♥ I’m going to bake a cake, we are having a big party this weekend!
Come back in a couple of days, I have a new giveaway in the works, something I think you will like! I meant to do it today, but I just ran out of time. XOXO Have a wonderful day, everyone!!
Willard and a new blog posting – both delightful! Thank you!
Happy Birthday to Joe!
Hugs to Girl and Jack.
Heidi
What a beautiful walk through the English garden! I’m so glad you had it saved. Loved the kitty breaks, too. Happy, happy birthday, Joe — can you smell the cake a-baking?
Oh, now I know how it feels to have your breath taken away, because I kept gasping at the beauty.
Aren’t you the clever one to ask about lunch reservations so you could see the garden. Smart girl!
Happiest of birthdays Joe! You are one lucky man, and Susan is also lucky to have such a gem as you for a husband. Ta ta!
What a beautiful post! Loved going back to England for a visit. 🙂 The movie Julie Julia is one of my all time favorites too! Absolutely wonderful! Jack looks so precious… I love how he helps you prepare your tea. 😉 A very happy birthday to Joe! He’s a lucky man to have you and I know you feel the same about him. Life is good. ♥
Life is good!
The colors of that garden with the purples and yellows amongst the green leaves is so beautiful. Thanks for sharing this amazing garden 🙂
My pleasure Vicki!
Please tell Joe Happy Birthday! My wedding anniversary is today also. Nice to share the date with someone. love the gardens, what inspiration and creativity they lay apon us. Loved the walk way, it seems so peaceful and beautiful at the same time.
Happy Anniversary Jeannine!
Thank you
Dearest Susan, thank you for the beautiful “garden gift”! What a wonderful way to start the day!
Such beautiful garden photos! This is a post I’ll have to come back to and study. The color combinations are inspiring — even for my textile projects. My kitties are jumping on my lap here, and letting me know they want kibble NOW…. so will come back and re-read this post. Love this garden!! Thank you!
What an inspiration! When the rain stops I think I’ll go out and pull some weeds or something! I think I just heard a tree or a big limb fall back in the woods. The ground is water logged and it is pouring here. Excellent quilting day!
english gardens are just so cool!
it always seems like something magical
could happen in them at any moment!
thx for the tour!!!
m ^..^
How I started my day at work:
I read Willard (it came to my inbox)
I read this blog (fast) can’t wait to get home tonight and really read it.
For lunch I’m hoping for Heirloom tomatoes, goat’s cheese and spring leafs and for the main course Angus beef fillet medallions, crisp shallots and red wine!
Now I must get to work:(
Lunch sounds wonderful!!! 🙂
OMG….just translated pounds to dollars in USA Today…..I REALLY have to get back to work to pay for the lunch off that menu!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:)
Happy Birthday to you, Joe:) Have a great day.
I’ll tell him! Thanks Susan!
Waiting with excitement for Willard to arrive. What a gorgeous post! Susan, could you tell me about the teacup you were using during your tea break??? I am in love with it. I collect mugs with birds on them. Thank you for any info you can give me.
Oh good, well, it’s in the Willard, but if you don’t want to wait, it’s in the shopping part of this site . . . up at the top, just click on shopping and there it is!
First of all HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOE!!! That’s most important.
I love the Laburnum walk, that looked like a small slice of heaven. I am going to buy a golden bush and plant it with something purple, cause anyone can buy a bush! Right? The salad looks amazing, I can see that on our dinner table very very soon. What are the tiny little squash I see in there? and Paul Newman’s Italian Dressing? Hugs, Joy
They are just miniature squash, we get them at farmer’s market. Aren’t they cute!? Yes, Paul Newmans’, fast and easy, unless you want to make your own, but his products are always so good, and the money goes to charity!
I know them as patty pan squash. Have not had much luck growing them, but that is not a surprise – even my zucchini plant keeled over. waah… ;0(
oh well…
It’s been a hard, difficult, and weird year growing-things wise!
It truly has been a weird garden year. I thought as you posted about having so many squash that you had to give it away. That has not been the case this year. Lucky to get a couple every few days. Oh well, at least we get that. And you kept those baby squash whole? Sorry so many questions, but that salad looks divine.
Just for prettiness, I did keep the babies whole.
*.✫*¨*.¸¸.♥*¨`*.✫*¨*.¸¸.♥* Good Morning Sweet Sue…First…Happiest Birthday to Your Joe! I Know His Day Will Be Filled with Lots of Birthday Joy & a Feast & Celebration for Him This Weekend! Yay! Second Oh How I Love These Gardens & Those Flowers in The Glass Bottles Hanging from The Trees…Makes Me Smile & Twirl with Delight! I Love This! & Oh Jack! so Cute Ready for Tea~Time & Memories! I Love watching Your Videos Sweet Sue! so Happy Birthday to Joe & Tomorrow Happy Birthday to Julia! ( Leos are Magical) 😉 (We Know!) 🙂 Thank You for Brightening My Morning! Summertime Pixie~Dust Mixed with Birthday Pixie~Dust…& Always Lots of Love! xoxo Poof!*.✫*¨*.¸¸.♥*¨`*.✫*¨*.¸¸.♥*
Leo’s are magical Angie, I think so too, and I know my dad and Joe would agree!
Hello Sweet Sue! Yes… Our Magical Leos…Your Joe Your Dad & My Jonathan….Our Wonderful Magical Leos! Yay! Twirling into Birthday~Bliss! Close Your Eyes & make a Wish You Lovely Leos! xoxo Poof!✫*¨*.¸¸.♥*¨`*.✫*¨*.¸¸.♥* 😉
Oh I just love it all!!! That menu looked delightful!! This weekend we are preparing for our fall garden!! Can’t wait!! Happy birthday Joe!!! Save some cake for the girlfriends! 🙂
What a beautiful garden! I love walking thru gardens and the wonderful thing about gardens… they change from day to day giving you something new to see. Thanks so much for sharing. Happy Birthday, Joe! This is your day so enjoy!
How wonderful and so gorgeous all the colors are. We planted a Golden Chain tree. We enjoyed it for many years before we sold our property and moved. Alas, at 3,000′ and snow it has kept us from planting another one. They are a stunning tree! Had to laugh, when at the Post Office it is not unusual to see a plain brown shopping bag being snuck into someone’s car…Zucchini do get around. Can’t wait to try your recipe. We enjoy them everyway we can through our summer bounty from the garden. Thank you for sharing your garden walk.
What a lovely post and photos ! In England it is known for the average Joe to have lovely gardens and be in a gardening contest . My uncle Aurthur may he ( RIP) was winner three years in a row for is well kept and lovely gardens , he was a master gardener as well . Thanks for sharing your garden walk with us I truly enjoyed it !
Green thumbs and perfect plant weather = beautiful gardens, beautiful farms and countryside!
Happy Birthday to Joe!
You have made my day happier with the garden walk. love it! We use the same lime green and purple in our tiny beach front garden. Today is my time to work in the San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden as a volunteer. Will be inspired by your incredible photos and videos. Thank you so much!
Beautiful place to work Sharon!
Lovely, lovely post today, Susan, and I am reading it right before I hit my own garden to pick beans, cucumbers, and tomatoes. Maybe you have made me brave enough to venture into my tangle of zucchinis! I love them grilled or sauted with oil and garlic . Yum!
Yum!
Susan, thank you for the lovely morning walk through Rosemary’s English garden. The Laburnum Walk took my breath away! Oh my! Through your wonderful photos, we can visit her gardens again and again. What a treasure! ♥♥ Thank you for inspiring all of us! Happiest Birthday to Joe! Celebrate him today… and every day!
Happy cake baking!
Dawn ♡♡
Beautiful post & Happy Birthday Joe and many more filled with good health and much happiness!
Loved being back in England…it just cools me off looking at it – been a little warm here. However, just returned from three weeks in South Africa and Kenya. Critter heaven…the wild animals are so beautiful and serene in their own habitat. Wonderful adventure which I recommend to all! Happy Birthday to Joe and may you all have a gorgeous day!
Welcome home, that must have really been an adventure!
What a lovely treat! Thank you so much for taking us along. Seeing the Golden Chain Trees gave me a bit of a pang. We had them in our garden when we lived in Koenigstein, Germany. They were such a source of wonder, and we loved them. Now I live in arid Colorado, which I love more than life, BUT, there is that which calls me back to Europe in my daydreams. My people are German and English, and I spent a good deal of my life in Germany. We have had the pleasure of visiting the UK on several occasions and there’s always that feeling of recognition when we go. Thanks again for the beautiful photos, Susan!
I had that feeling too Denise!
Beautiful blog post today Susan. Please tell Joe, Happy Birthday! FOSB 4~Ever! ~ Doreen ~
I’ll do it Doreen!
It all looks so lovely and refreshingly cool. Thank you!
Awaiting the Willard from a hot Riverside, CA.
Rebecca
“Put another candle on the birthday cake, you’re another year older today!”
Hope Joe enjoys his day. Lots of Leo celebrations in our family, too! My cousin had a birthday on the 11th. She is also a fan of Susan Branch (try to find someone who isn’t!) so I bought her the birdhouse I found in your Web-shop in the blog. OMG she was thrilled! I was so impressed how quickly the girls in San Luis Obispo shipped it! I ordered it on Wednesday and it arrived on Saturday! PERFECT TIMING! Looking forward to the Willard edition!!
xoxo
I have that little bird house, right next to my front door, I love it too. So glad it got there so quickly!! Tell her I said Happy Birthday!
Speaking of baking a cake here’s a wonderful old song. It’s not about birthday but it’s so jolly and fun and even says “Hello Joe!” in the lyrics. When my kids were little we used to play this song and dance, hop, clap, and laugh like crazy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLkqVjVDO4o
So cute, I emailed it to him! Thanks!
Thank you for the lovely recipe! Are those very small patty pans? If you have too many tomatoes and squash you can make Ratatouille. It needs some eggplant also.
I am going to start to learn to draw garden plans, so I can identify everything for the next owner.
Yes, miniature patty pans. The woman who planted most of this garden here at my house, lived here from 1949 to 1980 … she left a plan for things here, it has been SO helpful!
My farmer here near the boat did not have any zucchinis!!! NO patty pans. I guess I have to go home to VB. I forgot to plant my nasturtiums.
PS Note to Joe…”TODAY IS YOUR BIRTHDAY… HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU…”
Oh, my– thank you!! Today is my birthday as well as Joe’s, and I was secretly hoping for a post on gardening and England but this one was beyond expectations! And the link to Ms Verey led to so many other wonderful garden links. My pond is reflecting blue skies and puffy clouds, the birds are at their feeder, and the Mexican Heather purples are blending with the lime-green of the Plumbago, whose sky-blue blossoms echo the sky– well, you get the picture, and it’s a lovely one. Yes, dear Susan, life is indeed good. Happy day to Joe, and of course, to you and yours. Thanks!
Happy Birthday Shelly!! Thank you!
Thank you, Susan, for the lovely garden tour and tempting zucchini recipe!
Happy Birthday, Joe! Enjoy your party, and enjoy that cake! Tell Susan she
must share photos of it because I am sure it will be delicious and also very beautiful!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO JOE!! I agree about Leos my Angel is one (Aug. 01)…..thank you for the stroll down memory lane and those beautiful gardens in England. I have decided the “trouble” with Zucchini when on the receiving end is…the givers let it get too darn big~!!! and you are so right Susan it grows so big overnight…..everything is always more delicious when it is smaller when it comes to squash. That being said your salad looked beautiful and healthy and worth the try…do you think the Olive Garden Dressing would do the trick?? I just happen to have some on hand. I have one comment on precious Jack…he has so much more maturing to go through believe me…he is still in his kitten stage and before he reaches 3 yrs. of age you will see a little man appear before you so enjoy the kitten in your sweet Jack. Thanks for the lovely blog and have a glorious day my friend. Blessings
I think any hot herby, vinegar and oil, including homemade, will work. I can tell he’s still a kitten!!
Hi~
You should try Bragg Healthy Vinaigrette. It is organic and DELICIOUS!
They make a few other dressings and marinades. Another favorite is Bragg Organic Braggberry dressing and marinade~ delicious on a spinach or mixed green salad with blueberries and or strawberries~ really any berry works~I also add slivered almonds, fresh herbs and edible flowers.
~Yummy!~
I will look and see if our grocery store carries it, sounds good!
Hi again~
They have a website too. bragg.com. It is great!
I also use the apple cider vinegar ( I take it daily) and the liquid aminos are a great substitute for soy sauce and much healthier!
Whole Foods and some grocery chains carry some of their products.
Enjoy~
Lynn
Lynn is absolutely right-
All the “Bragg” products are terrific,
lots of info on their website.
Their products can usually be found
in Health Food Stores and a lot of Amish shops,
if not in regular markets.
Swear by their “unfiltered, organic, apple cider vinegar”-
it will cure & prevent just about anything.
A tablespoon of it, in a tumbler of water to sip daily
will kill anything, loitering in your innards-
clear your skin, gut, bloodshot eyes
& increase your zippety-do-dah energy tenfold.
If it’s too acidic to your liking,
mix in a spoonful of honey and it will
taste just like apple cider.
I love to sip it warm with a straw all day long.
It does seem to curb one’s desire for sweets,
which is good for diabetics
or anyone wanting to shed a few pounds,
to get into that last minute string bikini
before summer comes to an end.
C’mon, Girlfriends….surf’s up ! 🙂
Julie, I’ve heard about apple cider vinegar being very healthy for you. Does the water have to be warm? I’d like to try it.
Linda,
No, you can use it in cold water
but it’s really good in warm water,
especially with a slurp of honey
which balances the vinegar & is really soothing on the throat.
I just carry it around in one of those large traveler’s
mugs & sip it with a straw, day & night-
diverting it right to your throat & down the
ole’ G.I. tract.
Truly, if you add the honey to it-
it does taste a lot like apple cider.
You can use regular “Apple cider” vinegar
but the “Bragg” brand is the best-
it’s unfiltered, organic & cloudy,
full of good things & a lot more potent.
They sell it in a whole lot of different jar sizes-
quite reasonable for all its uses.
Good, apple cider vinegar will cure & kill anything-
bugs & parasites.
To test it, I remember reading
that if you pour it on an earthworm,
it will turn pale pink & die.
I tried that experiment, way back when & it worked-
so you can imagine what it clears out of our
toxic systems…
insecticides, earthworms & guppies ! 🙂
Truly,
go back to the apple-
in the Garden of Eden,
Johnny Appleseed,
“an apple a day keeps the doctor away”, etc.
and I do believe, apples, apple cider vinegar
& apple pie 🙂 has tremendous healing powers.
There’s proof that people with tumors
have taken apple seeds & brewed them in water
to drink like tea & after doing it for a few weeks,
their tumors completely disappeared.
The reason they think,
is because there’s just enough cyanide in apple seeds
to kill the tumor & not hurt the person.
Pretty amazing !
I’m one who believes the cure for cancer & other
dreaded diseases is really as simple as an apple
or some everyday common thing.
Researchers, sometimes step so far outside the box,
that they overlook or “purposely” ignore
the simple, “inexpensive” cure.
There is big money in cancer research field-
can you imagine the amount of damage,
finding a “Simple” cure could do to the “industry” ?
Get yourself a bottle of “Bragg’s”
& a handful of earthworms & check it out
for yourself, Linda-
as the saying goes,
“I’m certainly not a doctor
but I play one on this blog” ! 🙂
Hi again~
Just try to make sure it says ” mother ” on the label~
It really does work!
Deborah Lynn,
I knew there was some kind of cosmic connection to you-
your Leo angel & I share the same hatch date-
wouldn’t change it for anything.
However, I would be willing to exchange my age for hers ! 🙂
I recently left a comment for you, well actually it was for Vanna LOL, and
expressed how I love to check everyday to see if you have left a post or not. The way you began your post today made me really appreciate all of the time and thought you give to making your reader’s day brighter. Thank you thank you. I just gave my Rosemary book to Goodwill. What was I thinking? Will I never learn that I always regret trying to declutter? Now that you have reminded me of how wonderful she is I am going to have to go to Amazon and find a replacement (don’t you just hate it when your forced to shop?). Enjoyed seeing pic of Jack – he is sitting beside the cutest little bird cup- I have the same one, well actually two and they have tops with a little bird on each top. Also love your blue/white spongeware bowl the zucchini salad is in. Here in Kentucky we have a wonderful pottery company called Bybee Pottery that makes blue spongeware like that (needless to say i have a “few” pieces). I actually did know tomorrow is Julia’s birthday and am so glad you paid her a tribute. I probably can remember her birthday is the 15th cause I share something with your Joe, today is my birthday also :-). I am hoping I will get my Willard today! Once again, thank you for juggling so many artistic & creative avenues to happy up the days of others
Happy birthday dear Charlotte!! I hope your willard comes today too! I had to laugh about your efforts to declutter — and applaud you, it’s not easy!
Decluttering goes against our nature doesn’t it? Rest assured, not one of my Susan Branch or Peter Rabbit books was harmed during my madness! My very first Susan book is so old and used that the pages are yellowing! Did you take pics of the wonderful dinner Im sure you prepared for Joe last night? Thats what I thought you might post about today, but today is probably a book working day? Don’t work 2 hard 🙂
Getting ready for Joe’s party Saturday, we have a hundred people coming . . .!
YIKES! Literally (really) 100??!!! Makes me nervous to even think about having that many people for company–even if I DID have a big house. Hopefully you are having it catered or it is “potluck”! 🙂 LOL!
Oh it’s Potluck! It’s in the garden, unless it rains! Joe is putting together a slide show from years and years of our friends here…it will be fun!
In reply to
Pat Mofjeld’s comment:
“YIKES! Literally (really) 100??”
Yes, Pat THAT’S the GOOD news-
the BAD news
is that YOU were # 101 ! 🙂
HA !
Pat,
I would be honored to be #102
or for that matter #1002-
to stand behind you, in the peanut gallery,
like a couple of outcasts
while Susan, Joe & their chosen list of guests
whoop it up, within the picket fence. 🙂
Maybe “Boy Petey” will feel sorry for us
& toss us a little kibble & cake ?
Hooray, getting excited about Joe’s Party…
Party Hats for Party Cats & “Boy Petey” !
Just two questions-
What time shall we, Girlfriends show up-
and do we need
wristbands & I.D. to get in the picket-fence gate ?
I have a feeling this is a Birthday Bash for a BIG Birthday-
possibly “60” as in 6 decades of pure joy,
of which he owes more than half to YOU ?
If so, tell him, “no worries”,
60 is the new whatever-
“whatever” one wants it to be !
Will “Little Jack” & “Big Joe”
both be donning their dancin’ tuxedos ?
What with the cooler forecast for tomorrow,
glad to hear you’re celebrating in your backyard
and not on Lucy Vincent Beach ! 🙂
CELEBRATE your SWEET, little hearts off-
repeat non-stop
’til your smiling Leo’s next birthday,
when you can pause to bake another orange cake
& do it all over, again !
Happy, Happy Party…..
Happy, Happy Weekend to one & ALL !
It’s his 60th….we are getting ready!!!! Very excited, he’s just backing the van in now, I can see him out front, I don’t know what he’s got, but it must be big because the back doors are open!
Julie, if I were the kind of person that enjoyed writing unkind comments to people I don’t know, I’d have to reply to you that the even WORSE news is that you were #102. But being that the girlfriends usually don’t pot-shot each other and are usually positive and supportive of each other, I won’t… LOL! 🙂
Oh, SO exciting-
the way you described it, like a kid,
like it was YOUR birthday instead of his !
HA !
Sounds BIG & Beautiful-
I just betcha’,
it’s that BIG, Blue, polka-dotted jug
from the antique shop in England-
you know the ONE that got away ?
Maybe, a big rabbit hutch with RABBITS ?
Don’t make us all wet our pants, Ms. Branch-
PRAY, TELL…
if it ends up being a big, goofy clown
with a bunch
of those weird, squeaky, animal balloons,
I might just end it all….. 🙂
HaPpY hApPy HaPPy Birthday to JOE!!
Bet it will be a great one! Hope you will post up your birthday party menu!
Thanks for the dreamy garden pics. I can only admire – gardening does not seem to be one of my gifts. Thankfully, I can cook! Thanks for the food pics too ;0) Always think – I could do that!
Love your cute Jack! Lately I have had puppy yearnings that are growing to strong to suppress much longer. I do believe there may be a fuzzy black lab baby in my very near future…
What a lovely walk in Rosemary’s garden. For a brief moment, I really could smell the rain, rosemary and thyme. As for the zucchini, I bought one plant thinking I would be inundated with the beautiful green squash. Unfortunately, not so. I’m probably the only person who cannot grow a crop of zucchini. They start out lovely, and then turn yellow and shrivel up. Must be something to do with the soil. Oh well, maybe next year. And aren’t you lucky to have such a regal helper with the tea making. Jack is such a great companion. Happy Birthday to Joe, mine was last Friday, the 10th, and it was a wonderful day with family. Enjoy your party weekend, and be sure to show us a picture of the cake. Homemade birthday cake is always the best.
Thanks for the wonderful garden tour. It’s nice to be able to transport myself for a few minutes from a grey day in lower Manhattan to a beautiful English garden.
Hope Joe has a wonderful birthday. (How could he not? You’re baking him a cake!)
And thanks for the reminder about Julia Child’s 100th birthday. I’m going to make it a point to watch “Julie and Julia” tomorrow. There are a number of just-published books to celebrate Julia’s birthday: “Dearie: the Remarkable Life of Julia Child” by Bob Spitz (great reviews!); and for those of us who like Julia AND cats: “Julia’s Cats: Julia Child’s Life in the Company of Cats” by Patricia Barey and Therese Burson; and a charming children’s book, “Minette’s Feast: The Delicious Story of of Julia Child and Her Cat” by Susanna Reich and Amy Bates.
Bon appetit, Susan!
I need to take a trip to our bookstore!
What a treat to see such a beautiful garden. It’s been so hot here in No. California that this was so refreshing and gave me hope for cooler days ahead not to mention ideas for my garden! love it.
Happy Birthday Joe 🙂
Love the post Susan, that Laburnum walk is gorgeous. What I did notice is that some of the garden was on a slope. That gave me a lot of hope as the house we are moving into has a sloping back garden, (it’s only small unfortunately), but it looks as though everything will slide to one side and end up in a heap 😉
How’s your rain situation? 🙂
We’ve had quite a lot of sunshine but heavy rain and SHARP showers forecast for tomorrow. I never noticed until you remarked on it, how often the weather forecasters use that phrase. 🙂
Ha ha, just not a phrase used here!
Just drew another contented sigh over your blog, Susan. I echo your statement, thank you, English people, but I add all gardeners and people who make us happy…
” Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.” Marcel Proust
Lovely lovely blog.
Well said Joanie!
“Anyone can plant a bush.” You are so right Susan! When I came back from MV I was inspired by all the hydrangas there. So when my next birthday came lond a good friend of mine asked me what i would like? And i asked for a hydranga. It has grown into a beautiful bush and everytime I see it I think of MV.
Happy birthday to Joe!
Love Nina xxxx
How nice! That’s wonderful! MV doing the inspiring instead of the other way around!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOE!!
I wish my garden here grew like an English Country Garden (I love that song!). The bermuda grass, however, makes it impossible. So does the heat and humidity!
We have pretty much that same problem! Could always be worse though!
Walking through a beautiful English garden is a lovely way to start the day. Thank you! This morning, while having my coffee on the patio, the neighborhood hummingbird flew in and hovered next to me for a minute, as if to remind me that life is filled with unexpected, magical moments.
Wonderful!
Gorgeous gardens! Happy Birthday Joe! and Thank you Susan! Literally, just moments ago, my guy carried in a basket full of lemon squash and zucchini, and I said, what can we do with all of this! And here’s your recipe. It will be on the table today. 🙂 Only question, what kind of Paul Newman’s dressing do you use? I have a few of his. Love them all! Thanks so much.
It’s the vinaigrette or vineger and oil . . . sorry, I think at the time, that was all he had!
Thank you for the beautiful garden tour…and I am salivating over that garden fresh salad…and the zucchini!!!
Happy 100th to Queen Julia…and to my Grandaddy, for this past May, he too would have been 100. My sweet girl turns 23 on Thursday. Happy happy birthday to dear Joe!!
Happy day to you, dear Sue!
Christie…one happy girl:)
Happy Birthday to your daughter, Christie!
Thank you, Sue:)
My daddy…who I adored…would also have been 100 this past March 30th. I feel fortunate – he lived a good and healthy life most of his 96 years…the last 17 years with me – I was blessed!
The Laburnum Walk was my favorite! Love the bottle garden, too! Wonder if they have the same folklore attached to their bottle garden as we do to our bottle trees? I love a bottle tree in the garden. Thanks for taking us along, Susan. What a stunning garden, I would never want to leave. Enjoyed out tea time with Jack. He was so sweet to share his kitty treats. They were delish with our tea. 😉 Susan, I just love all your illustrations…they are eye candy tucked into each of your posts…just beautiful!
Thank you Susan!!
How beautiful are these gardens and you captured the magic brilliantly with your photos! I’m surprised that you’re not still there….digging your heels in and refusing to leave that gorgeous place! I can see it was full of inspiration for you!! Happy Birthday, Joe and Julia!!! xo
As someone else said, I’m going to have to come back and enjoy this all over again later.
Happy, happy birthday to Joe! Lucky man getting a homemade birthday cake from YOU!
Jack could not be cuter than sitting there waiting for tea. And I loved that you showed us the menu. I just couldn’t decide what I would have had, but your salads looked so fresh and delicious. Love the gardens–I had the yellow-green in a sweet potato vine this summer, but no purple and my vermillion colored impatiens died from the heat. Will have to remember purple and line green for next year. Love the bottles in the tree. Love the garden gates. Love the kitchen gardens. OK, I loved it all. 🙂
Thanks for being one of the people who makes us happy. I am grateful for you! It’s good to come here and be inspired.
Lime green, not line green. I do know the difference. 😉
LOL! Whew!
good morning everyone, and Happy Birthday Joe!!!! oh what lovely gardens, and my poor garden is doing so poorly this year, my squash is doing fine and thanks for the zucchini recipe…i know what we are having with our supper tonight as my zucchini is doing very well, all the squash plants are. but my corn is not doing well, my peas never got going and the beans never got going, the tomatoes have no blooms on them and we would be hip deep in tomatoes by now. maybe next season i will the give the garden a rest for the season. just plow in the poultry manure and let it rest. my pumpkins are thriving, i will have pumpkins for Halloween. but for the most my garden didn’t do very well, guess the weather here is to blame, i don’t know. i just love the english gardens and marvel at how they get things to grow so beautifully, wish a little english elf had shown up here to help my garden this year. well off to go feed the chickens and ducks and turkeys and set up the sprinklers for the back lawns, and for the birds…yes they have their own sprinkler and when it gets too hot i turn it on to cool them all down, they love it. Happy Birthday Joe, heres to many many more Happy Birthdays. have a wonderful day today everyone. hugs…… 🙂
I just love the stone walls, variety of gates and walkways! It makes the gardens so unique and new at every turn! I want a stacked stone wall!!! Do you have one in either of your gardens/property? I love your picket fence garden, too!!
I decided to try lovage this year but it died in the terrible drought we have had in the Midwest (almost everything in my garden died).
My herb farmer friend Carolee Snyder has been inundated with questions from me, as if she has some future knowledge of what will grow back and what won’t.
So, I’m getting my garden viewing vicariously through your blog (and, of course, the wonderful Sharon Lovejoy!). I have SO been enjoying your pictures. 🙂
Happy Birthday Joe! Eat some cake for me too! Yum YUM!!
Got 2 questions, one, the lemony lime colored “bush” in your garden with the purple what is that? I am going to have to get me some of those, love the color. Two, in your beautiful garden salad, what are the tiny yellow, upside down umbrella looking squash are those, squash right? OH how cute they are and I have never seen anything like that AND in a summer salad… Ahhhhhhhhh…. I am definately going to have to try that. I don’t have anyone leaving zuchinni at my door, wish they would! LOL!! Have a WONDERFUL day with Joe!
Terri, I forget the name of that bush, ask me again and I’ll try to look it up! Thank you!
Since I asked about it the last time (if I remember correctly), it’s a golden globe cedar. Here’s a link:
http://www.countryviewnurseries.com/2011/evergreens/goldenglobe.html
That’s it!!! Thanks Linda!
You’re welcome. I just love it, but I’m not sure it would grow here. It says it’s a zone 3 plant and we’re like 7 or something. But then that whole zone thing confuses me.
Thanks so much Linda!!!
You’re welcome.
I love it in your garden with the lavender! It is so yummy looking!
Terri, the little yellow squash is called patty pan squash. The ones in the bowl are a mini or young version.
Oh MY, thanks so much Carin! I will have to look for them! They are just the cutest!!
Yes, life is so full of unexpected magical moments! I agree with Roseann! My oldest daughter goes off to college in TEN days, and I am getting weepy just thinking about it. But this morning, I was greeted by the most amazing sunrise – yes, life is GOOD! Thank you so much for sharing the beautiful English gardens with us – mine will never look like their’s, but I do try!!!!! And I loved Jack’s apprearnces, too. Thanks for the good mood, (as always!) Susan. and I can’t leave without wishing Joe a happy birthday!
Happy Birthday, Joe!
Love the Rosemary Verey garden tour. The cool, wet garden was such a nice respite from the hot weather here in California. By the way, you would be a wonderful garden TV presenter (as the say in old Blighty). Take us (virtually) to all the lovely gardens all over Britain – rain or shine!
These English garden posts are so fabulous! I am especially intrigued with the kitchen garden and then a lovely menu using the garden harvest. I agree with you that maybe I can try to create a mini kitchen garden and make it lovely to the eye as well as the palette. At least , I can try.
Happy Birthday to Joe!! We “girls” all love you too!!!
I am so in love with Jack Kitty! That cute face of his is beyond adorable. How do you ever get anything done? I would be constantly playing with him and paying attention to him. How old is Jack?
Thanks for the garden inspirations today and such wonderful virtual tours to enjoy!!
First thing…..Happy Birthday to Joe….Cheers! Wishing you a day filled with laughter, happiness and fun!
The gardens of Barnsley House are so beautiful…and the Laburnum Walk, is out of a dream. Just loved the magic there, and the idea of following brick paths, going through iron and wooden gates to find more beautiful surprises. A Wowzer! So much imagination in the garden design and inspiration in the results….thanks for including the garden plans.
Susan, your garden is amazing – the white picket fence is adorable and welcoming…..to me, it has always seemed your garden is “a friendly garden.”
I just bought some yellow squash yesterday, so believe it or not, I need, yes need some zucchini …LOL and then I will be making the squash salad this weekend, looks yummy.
Little Jack, it was so much fun having him along with us throughout this post…..Do you think that Jack-the Blog Daddy would be okay if Jack the kitty became our Jack-the Blog-Buddy?
Happy Tuesday girlfriends! ♥ ♥ ♥
Happy Birthday Joe! This post was such an inspiration. Love purple and green together.
Loved the garden that you showed us!! It had everything for every person!
Happy birthday to Joe. I’m sure that he will have a wonderful birthday and looking forward to this weekend when he has his party.
Have a great day Susan!
Carol M
What a treat to see such a beautiful English garden! What an amazing walk under the Golden Chain trees, almost magical! You take us on such a wonderful journey, it’s a blessing to know you. Tell Joe, “Happy Birthday”!!!:)
Thanks for the salad recipe–it looks beautiful AND tasty! Will try it soon…but which Paul Newman dressing? 🙂 And HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Joe!!!
Ha! That’s funny, when I wrote that there was only one, oil and vinegar . . .
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Joe!~~ 🙂
Have fun whatever you do today!~~
We may be getting a new Grandson today, or tomorrow……
Wouldn’t that be fun if he arrived on your Birthday??
I will keep you guys posted, so stay tuned!
Wishing you an amazing day Joe, celebrating wonderful YOU!!
We sure miss seeing you guys….
Love from, Tom and Bonnie….. xoxo
(Also…..LOVED the Willard today Sue!! )
A little homesick for California! Alfredo just sent me photos of the garden! Happy new baby Bonnie!
I want to go see it soon…..Alfredo does amazing work, doesn’t he? Your garden here, will be much like the amazing English gardens you showed to us…..BEAUTIFUL!! 🙂
(I’ll keep you posted on the arrival of our new Grandson, Baby Bryce….. We’ll be driving to Sacramento as soon as Lindsey calls us to COME NOW!! xo)
What was fun is that we measured it all out and ordered the plants before we left last time — which was so long ago, it’s really had some time to grow. Can’t wait to see it in person! Still have to lengthen the lawn for the “long walk,” and that’s almost it, except for the flowers! Have a wonderful trip!!!!
I loved following you that day as you showed me the plans, and dreams for it…. I can’t wait to see it in person again too! When are you coming home to California??
Not sure, I want to come soon, but I need to finish the diary first!
Thank you Susan for another beautiful, inspiring blog. It was like getting a good hug from a girlfriend. Thanks… I needed that. Happy Birthday Joe!
Loved it all! Happy Birthday, dear Joe! You two are so very lucky to have each other!!!
Thank you, I think so too!
Goodness !!..my heart is literally beating soooo fast…what a post !!!!….you, dear Susan , are such a good photographer and storyteller !!!..firstly , it’s so good to be back in England and in Rosemary Verey’s gardens…’love the bottle garden and Laburnum Walk and Kitchen garden…I’m so inspired…’love the zuchinni recipe and your watercolors…..you share so much with us !!!!..secondly, tell your dear husband Joe that we all wish him the best birthday ever..now to re-read this incredible post again and again..as well as all the comments..(it’s fun getting to know the “friends”…with love..as always……
There you ARE, mary spring !
I replied to a couple of your previous posts yesterday
but the “Blog Poltergeist”
must have intercepted them, as they did not post.
However, luckily I saved them both
& combined all the info that I thought might interest you, below
Hope you are behaving yourself & looking forward to a bright week,
full of good things.
Speaking of GOOD things-
“Willard” shows up within hours,
so to paraphrase one of the greatest philosophers ever, “Ralph Cramden”-
“POW…that will send all the GIRLFRIENDS to the moon”!
I am so delighted to hear YOU are a “POTTER” !
mary spring pottery-that just sounds so quaint.
Like you, I LOVE the warmth, look & feel of handmade pottery,
especially the American redware, yellowware & scragfitto.
Is that similar to the mary spring style ?
I’m a pottery & pewter type gal’-
I lean to the simple beauty of earthy, handmade pottery & crocks but I do love to mix a whole lot of different styles & pieces together.
Are you familiar with “Wisconsin Pottery” ?
wisconsinpottery.com
He does beautiful work, love ALL of it,
LOVE his lamps, they are works of art for sure…real KEEPERS !
I, also love Irish Potter, “Nicholas Mosse”…
nicholasmosse.com
gorgeous Old World, primitively, hand-stenciled designs
His technique is amazing, looks like it’s been around for years.
His outside base color is a putty cream color, offset inside by a warm, earthy, deeper color.
The Old Rose pattern is the all-time favorite,
but I love his primitive. pastoral animals, too…
wouldn’t want a whole table of it,
but it’s great to mix in with plain, simple pieces.
I hope, if Susan ever ventures to Ireland, she will visit
his studio…that would really be a treat.
Hope you found the book…”Healing with the Fairies”
by Doreen Virtue.
If not, it is available from Amazon for about $11.00
or even better,
there is an eBay listing for several, very good, used copies-
about $6.20 for book & shipping.
Sometimes I think a book like this,
is even more special, when passed thru someone else’s hands.
If interested, type in the item # below in your eBay search bar.
120941314883
You can also order it directly from hayhouse.com
or just go there to read all about the author.
Doreen even offers free podcasts.
Hay House represents wonderful authors,
including Dr. Wayne Dyer, one of the wisest, most gentle people alive.
His book & DVD “Inspiration” is unbelievably good,
as is all his work.
PBS often broadcasts his DVD’s
but your library should also have it-
I just know you will adore it !
Enjoy your week, mary spring…tickle Tickle..’cha, cha, CHA !:)
Happy Birthday Joe!
Have a wonderful day and eat lots of cake!
Happy Birthday To Joe!!! My birthday is next Tuesday!! I Love gardens and so loved this post, too. I’ll be 60 next year and was just telling my daughter I’d love to do something Really special next year for my birthday. She asked what I’d like to do. So after thinking for a moment, I said I’d Love to go to England and see the countryside. (I’ve only been to London). She told me “You should do it!” Maybe your book/diary of your trip will be out by then and I can use it as a guide?? That would be a dream come true!
Happy Birthday Laura!! I think the book should be out by then!
Three cheers for Joe on his birthday: Hip Hip HOORAY, Hip Hip HOORAY, Hip Hip HOORAY! Thank you, Joe, for being the love of Susan’s life and the guy we all appreciate because you encourage her to do all these wonderful things for “the girlfriends.”
Gorgeous, Gorgeous, Gorgeous !
Susan, you would have been a great military commander-
I love the way, you come up against an obstacle
and then, instantly circumvent the matter at hand,
MARCH to the front of the line, this time, the hotel desk
and find a way to carry out the mission…successfully !
YOU kill me-
so quick & light on your feet, just like one of your Kitcats.
Not only, did you find a way to beat a path to the garden,
if you look at your life, in “general” it’s a historical pattern
of how you stormed the beaches of “Normandy”,
survived & walked away, victorious.
It must have all started, on that magic, shoreline, Vineyard rock,
you sat on……wistfully, dreaming of endless possibilites.
There are fairies, angels, gnomes & scalliwags
in all your garden photos, especially the first one.
Won’t say where, because it’s more fun to play the game,
sorta’ like that “Find the hidden pictures” child’s game.
One can’t concentrate too hard-
your eyes must just gently drift over the photo,
all the magical folks & fairies will beckon you & just pop out.
Happy Birthday to our fellow Leo, Joe.
I know Blogdaddy Jack, already celebrated,
but didn’t you say “Little Jack” was also, about to celebrate
his first birthday this month ?
You are surrounded by Leos,
Leos are known for their great manes, loving character & creativity-
needless to say……ALL great big pussycats. 🙂
Word on the street is that “Boy Petey”
cashed in his treasury bonds & Mallo Cup points
so he could secure the deed to that Tenterden Property
and present it to Joe, inside his Birthday card.
In case that deal falls through-
I’m thinkin’ you have millions of followers,
if 800,000 of us, each kicked in a buck-
you could buy that place, live in it for so many months
during the course of a year
and then, rent it out to the Girlfriends,
for a princely sum, the rest of the time-
you’d have that baby paid for in no time !
You might want to do a thorough background & security check
on some of said girlfriends… you get my drift
and you know who, I mean-
a-hem..{Hi Pat, Hi Deborah Lynn, what’s shakin’ girls} ? 🙂
All in all, it could be quite the windfall !
Gonna’ make your salad for din-din…
have those very same, orange Nasturtium blossoms in the side yard.
Have a wonderful, restful Birthday celebration with Joe-
thanks for the magical post
& breaking down barriers to get to the garden-
where there’s a will, there’s ALWAYS a way…
the Susan Branch WAY.
KEEP your eyes on the mission & your feet on the ground, General-
see ya’ on the front lines !
Let us know what kind of cake is Joe’s favorite-
I’ll take a stab & guess, MY favorite….German Chocolate Coconut ?
Oh boy, shouldn’t have done that-
I might have to put the Zucchini & Nasturtiums on hold,
MARCH to the kitchen and pull out the cake pans-
sometimes one’s MISSION can change in mid-air….
I hate it when that happens ! 🙂
You are hilarious Julie, you should be a comedian, but I think you already are!
What…. ?
All those comments were MEANT to be taken seriously,
especially, your military precision & tactical skills.
To be creative & tactical is an Art, unto itself-
a double blessing……that’s how wars are won !
Tactical skills-
I bet, you could have maneuvered yourself,
within 3 inches of the Queen’s Tea Table
and no doubt, she would have found YOU,
the best company, in years !
Don’t dismiss “Boy Petey’s” Mallo Cup Points-
I still have the “Secret Decoder Ring”, I purchased
with those points, years ago.
It’s swimming around in a box somewhere,
packed amongst my
old Paul Petersen paper dolls & training bras.
It’s yours for the asking-
that alone, is probably worth enough to get ya’
a decent, down payment on the Tenterden Deal.
The more I view the realtor’s pics, the more I like it-
you & Joe could really do wonders with that place.
You should paint a watercolor of it,
as you see it, in your eyes,
as a finished project-
that might send off good karma
to the owner & he may nip the price in two.
Seriously, and I do mean this,
I know you’ve got a whole lot going on-
the least thing you have is time
& it’s what you need the most of.
Re: Your video clips on England
You have all these gorgeous, “little stunners” on video-
It would be great, to piece them together into a DVD
& sell as a companion, to your English Diary.
They are PERFECT just the way they are-
the major “work” is already done,
no need to overproduce them-
maybe, just tie in with a few pages of your diary.
With your spirited voice, curiosity & genuine excitement-
it would be a smash…you are such a natural….at EVERYTHING !
There’s no way, someone isn’t going
to buy the book AND the companion DVD-
even if it was just 30-60 minutes long,
even if it wasn’t available ’til after the diary is released.
You could have a pre-order on the dvd, too-
I think you’d be amazed by the numbers.
I could watch these snippets over & over again,
as I am sure, all the other girlfriends do, too !
We watch “Miss Potter” over & over again-
you & Joe are MORE fun than Rene & Ewan. 🙂
Would love to see you do one on the Vineyard, some day-
the best of both worlds…England & MV.
It’s a no-brainer-
a win-win for you, us & England.
Put “Boy Petey” to work-
he may be capable of more than you know-
and yes,
we all are waiting, patiently for his autobiography
some day, too ! 🙂
Ever consider doing one of those
front-to-back books on your childhood dolls ?
You retell your story on “Terri Lee”….front cover
and Joe tells his story on “Boy Petey”…..back cover
and they meet in the middle.
Wouldn’t that be a hoot ?
This post was amazing. Just looking at this garden can bring tears to your eyes. Being there in person must have been over whelming. And she called this her “little garden”. I have a little garden, but I was able to plant 12 Crepe Myrtle trees in our front yard. When they are all in bloom it looks like cotton candy – pinks, purple and one white. When people ask me about the yard, I tell them it was one big accident – no planning except I wanted something blooming in August when it so hot here – just planting what I liked.Thanks again for a very inspiring post – going to add some limey yellow to the yard.
Twelve! How wonderful that must look!
Hi Susan
Well you did it again. I did not know about Rosemary Verey before-perhaps because I am not a very successful gardener. She sounds like an extremely interesting woman, someone I intend to find more information about-library here I come. Thank you for always being an inspiration and for always having something for everyone in your blog.
Susan M
So happy to hear you say that, I try!
Blessings to Joe
In this month of peridot!
May his day be sweet
Full of cake to eat!
Cheap rhyme I know! But have a wonderful time celebrating Joe as I’m sure you will. The garden blog is so beautiful and inspirational. You truly made me love all things English with these blogs!
Sweet! My girlfriends are the BEST!
Happy Birthday, Joe! http://youtu.be/HewjZL1sLYg
Downright adorable!
I love the violets you drew at the top and I love alliums. I can’t wait for the England book
xoxo!
oops- I meant pansies (must be losing my mind)! I have too much to think about.
LOL!
Lovely tour!
I’m so glad you mentioned Julia Child’s birthday. I think I’ll watch “Julie & Julia” again, in her honor.
Grand, thank you!
Cooling, as it heats up, soothing my soul.
Jo
What a treat…a Willard in my email box and now this! I simply adore The Laburnum Walk! I would love to see that someday. Happy Birthday to Joe! My daughter Lacey shares a Birthday with Julia Child- gotta love those August babies 🙂 Thank you for sharing, I was home sick today and this definitely made me feel much better. xxoo Jacqui
Well tell her I said Happy Birthday dear Lacey, and feel better Jacqui!
Happy Birthday to Joe! May your year be filled with love and happiness!
Rosemary Verey’s gardens are so lovely–The Laburnum Walk is my absolute favorite–Lime and purple–just gorgeous—I have been in love with purple and yellows in the garden for ages now—Love the homemade English towns and places you take us to Susan! Thank you. ♥ xoxo
Susan,
You are so much fun; your daily blog brings joy to me each morning! Today was extraordinary! Thank you for being a part of my life!
Blessings coming your way!
Sharon
Thank you Sharon!
The limey-yellow and the purple in Rosemary’s garden made we think of the knitting project you took with you to England–have you finished your scarf?
Happy, Happy Birthday, Joe!!
Still working on it!
Such BEAUTIFUL gardens! Mine look so sad in comparison, especially this year with the drought. Maybe one day I will have the time and energy to make such a pretty garden in my back yard (even though mine is SO much smaller). Thanks for the inspiration Susan!
Hi Susan
Happy Birthday Joe!!! Have a wonderful and joyous birthday!
Rosemary Verey’s garden is such a charming garden and it was delightful to hear all the birds chirping in your videos of it. The bottle tree was a surprise and the Laburnum Walk was spectacular! Alliums never cease to amaze me. I also loved the Potager Garden — how I dream about having a vegetable and herb garden like this one day! Your lunch time appetizer looked delcious –it was such quick thinking of you to make reservations for lunch in order to visit the garden of your dreams.
Thank you so much for taking us for a walk in this wonderful place!
Hugs,
Pat
✳✳✳✳✳ Happy, Happy Birthday Joe!!✳✳✳✳✳
May the BIRTHDAY GODS shine upon you Joe ..(do have a huge bite of cake for all of us girls please) ! It’s calorie free on your birthday ..did you know??
Will give myself a treat and watch Julie & Julia tomorrow for Julia Childs 100th…love that movie!!!
And really loved the walk about in that fantastic garden ..love the purple and lime colors!!!!
Thank you for the lovely walk in the garden and filling our eyes with so much beauty we hardly knew where to look but the laburnum walk…I put it on my homescreen to daily enjoy this sweet beauty….loved the aliums underneath as they added additional interest to the day.
Happy Birthday Joe and thank you for your patience with all us girlfriends tagging along on your recent trip.
We loved todays garden and gardener (didnot know about her) but we all have to thank the ‘HEAD GARDENER’ who first created the world and Eden and man blew it so now we have to create along with Him.
Thank you Susan and Jack and now it is time for my tea.
Love all your posts,
Joyfully,
~Sylvia Faye
Oh, Sue! I just LOVE how you are making your (our!) English adventure last and last, for ALL of us, yay!
You clever girl to figure out a work-around to visit the garden, AND to get a fab lunch out of it too!
Happy Birthday to Joe! Looking forward to a post-party update!
(And, more than ever, looking SO forward to your English adventure journal/book!) xo
I was wondering if you would tell me how you fix your tea. Do you fix one cup, do you take milk? And is that honey? (if so how much honey?) I love my tea with milk and sugar….but alas I’m a diabetic and I was wondering if honey would be better.
Do you fix one cup at a time and do you use tea bags? Too many questions, I know. Sorry.
It’s OK, I love tea, so I do like to talk about it … I use both tea bags and loose tea, depends on what I’m making, usually loose tea in the afternoon, and bags in the morning. Most of the time I don’t use any sweetener at all, but that’s just me trying to be good …. in real life (which happens with my afternoon tea), I love it with a small spoonful of honey, and always with half and half, although, it times of extreme denial, I manage to get by with skim milk. The best, for me, is with honey and half and half. That’s my favorite. I fix one cup at a time, and ever since England, I boil water in an electric kettle instead of on top of my gas stove; saves energy, and is about a hundred times faster. Hope this helps!
It does, thank you. I went to an electric kettle as well and boy is it fast….I love it. Half and Half huh….boy are you naughty…and I’m going to try it. Life is short.
Yes I am bad!
Oh the sound of those birds! It brought me to a time like a dream…. where you could just stand and say “Life is good” I just loved all your photo’s Susan and I actually ordered a copy of the book you gave a link to. Not that we have a huge amount in our little urban lot. But, it made me start thinking…… hmmmmm we don’t need grass do we??? LOL Your just the peaches and cream of my day today. THANKS
Thank YOU Ginny!
Can’t let the day go by without sending Joe a birthday message: your year stretches out before you, shining with the promise of graces and endless possibilities of more good to come – happy birthday. And thanks to you, Susan, for this beautiful stroll through the garden and your delightful “Willard.” I hope Joe will let you post something from his birthday celebration. I so enjoyed your anniversary party. Thanks again for adding so much light to our days.
Ahh…what a perfect day for a break from the heat and a stroll through lovely gardens. Thank you so much for that refreshing respite. It’s about 100 here today (has been for a while now…we’ve caught up with the rest of the country’s heat wave…Fall can’t come soon enough!) and the lush garden was a perfect escape.
I love the idea of flowers in salads. Although I have heard some are edible, it is nice to read your description of the flavors. Makes it a little easier to be “brave” and try them. 🙂 I also am excited to try your squash salad recipe! The recipe calls for Paul Newman’s dressing, but may I ask which one? There are several varieties…I generally have the Balsamic Vinaigrette on hand…will that work? Can’t wait to give that a try.
A very Happy Birthday wish for Joe today! Can’t wait to see the cake and festivities of the weekend…you’ll post pictures, won’t you?
Yes the Balsamic Vinaigrette is perfect!
Birthday greetings to Joe.
I visited Rosemary Verey’s garden several years ago while she was still alive. (I live in England.) I saw some deep pink pulmonaria which I wanted for my garden. When we came to the plants for sale I couldn’t see one, so my friend asked Rosemary who was doing the selling. “Oh, we’ll go & dig one out for you” Wasn’t that wonderful? I enjoyed the plant for several years, then sadly it died 2 years ago. Fortunately I had given a cutting to a friend & she has given one back to me. Hurrah!
Oh, that’s so great!
Gill, Wow! To actually see Rosemary, ask her for a plant, and then to have her offer to dig one out of her garden! Heaven! I’m sure you are very glad that your friend had one to give back to you.
Susan,
Loved this installment of your blog….it was good to have my memory jogged as to Rosemary’s garden…I didn’t forget, just needed a jogging, as we did so many things while with you in England….we are enjoying our summer fare from our garden! We just had too much dry weather here in n.w. Ohio so we didn’t have the usual “Oh my! So much zucchini and so little time to eat it all” worries….we have harvested a little bit at a time….enough for meals with or without dinner guests…and give them a wee bit to take with them….
Joe’s birthday! Hope that he has an enjoyable one to be sure!
Cynthia
Please give Jack a little rub on the cheek for me? I was pleased to see that he is still up for being a big part of your day….love that about kitties!
If he had his way, I think he would like to be the ONLY part of my day! 🙂
I love the gardens. I am blessed to have a friend that is growing a garden like the one you have posted. In the springtime it is beautiful and throughout the summer. Happy Birthday to Joe and many more birthdays to come.
Oh my, Happy Birthday to Joe!! We share the same Birthday, August 15th. We will be off to Virginia though.
Happy Birthday Patti!
It was a great birthday!! I can hardly wait to try your cheesecake. Look absolutely delis 🙂
Happy Birthday Dear Joe! He is practically one of the girlfriends….sort of….well, he does belong to you, Susan, so we count him as part of our “IN” crowd around here! 🙂 What is his favorite cake for his special day?
What a GORGEOUS garden that is. I loved the gates, and that walkway took my breath away. I love that parts are formal and parts are not….it is such a divine mixture of sheer outdoor beauty. I think all of us are richer for having seen it with you. Gardens feed my soul somehow. I also love that you have taken that feeling and those garden designs and created smaller scale versions back home in the states. We are constantly in the process of creating our front and back “gardens” every summer now….and cant wait to add more and more until one day, our dream is that our backyard area will BE an English garden….all enclosed and private and beautiful….and the front will also be as beautiful, if not fully enclosed. Thank you for all of your inspiration and also for this wonderful site that has meant so much to my life and world. I dont say it EVERY time I write, but I feel it….it means a great deal to have a place to be connected with the girlfriends comments and have something in common with so many different ppl….and all because you are so generous and inspiring and willing to share so much of yourself and your life….and husband! lol. It is like having a special place to go to just feel happy and to share happiness with so many other like-minded girlfriends….wow! It is so appreciated! Hugs!!!! Diane
PS…I am also now rather hungry after reading that menu and seeing all of the pics of food! I could go for that asparagus soup…..
PSS….Julia’s 100th birthday?! She is going to be celebrated in my home tomorrow…..I have Julie and Julia dvd and some books…..! It is a time to celebrate her!
I am so excited for you new giveaway, can hardly wait 🙂
Me too!
I love the gardens, the birds, the flowers. I’m so glad you made videos too. The videos are great with the birds singing their little hearts out. I can almost see Peter Rabbit in the bushes! *L* It’s so peaceful yet so alive. Green is my favorite color and when I think of England I see green. Can’t wait for the Diary!! It’s wonderful that Jack is such a big help to you. *L* What a sweet little fellow. I don’t have tons of zucchini but I know where to find it. Love squash.
Gee wiz, I forgot to say Happy Birthday to Joe! I love birthday cakes the best. Hope he has a great day. I’m sure he will.
Happy Birthday to Joe!! We share the same Birthday, August 15th!!! I am taking a road trip with the Husband to Virginia…Happy Birthday Joe 🙂
Happy Birthday Dear Patti!
THIS is why I love you!! 🙂 You have a cat that sits on your counter and you actually took a picture of this to share with us! Such behavior happens in my house, of course, but I keep it a secret in case some of my dinner guests find out and never return! I love your bravery – it inspires me!
Thanks for another beautiful respite during my day and Happy Birthday, Joe!
I’ve had people surprised by it, but I think I’m like a mom with kids — what germs? I know, he’s a cat, but I’ve survived all these years. Luckily all my girlfriends sleep with their animals too, although there are no dogs on their counters! I use hot water and soap on the counters! 🙂
I would have to agree–what germs? 🙂
hi susan!! that post inspired me to rush out into the yard and start digging around..plotting and planning my next move!! just LOVED the pics of Rosemary’s garden…hummm..isn’t ironic that she’d have the same name as a delightful herb!!??!!…anyway..loved the post and YIPPEE SKIPPEE FOR JOE!!! happy birthday joe and many many more…cheers!!! what kind of cake susan?… welp…my school year begins thursday…have had several days of welcome back teacher/staff gatherings..i made blueberry muffins and took them with me to share…seemed to ease the pain… : ) a Julia Child fan since forever…just got the new book about her today as a matter of fact…called “Dearie”… making her boeuf bourguignon in her honor tomorrow ( never could pronounce that right!!!) …what a gal !!! take care..can’t wait to hear about joe’s party!! have fun… love, cindy