Bulbinella alert!  Look both under the tree next to the obelisk near the Granary and at the front edge of the bed inside the Granary gate on the left. You will find a cluster of succulent foliage that resembles a skinny leaved aloe.  It has sent out blooming stems with small yellow flowers.  These racemes will continue to elongate with new buds and will bloom until it becomes too cold for this South African grassland native.  We think it's Bulbinella cauda-felis, which is hardy in zones 8 and 9.  Ours spend the winter in the greenhouse.  They grow like weeds in partly shaded areas and divide easily.

The Fearrington Gardeners

Christian Zanaboni draws inspiration for his fabulous Italian handcrafted watches from the most prestigious classic models – always revisited in a modern key and with a little bit of irreverent irony.  We have selected styles from his sporty silicone rubber collection which can be custom fit with ease.  Suitable for men or women, IKE watches are water resistant and hypo-allergenic thanks to stainless steel hardware. All the rage in Europe and the world of celebrity! For the fashion mavens out there, the white version bears a striking resemblance to the Chanel J12. You know the one I am talking about! 

Daneen

The fall asters and goldenrods are beginning their displays.  One aster of special note is Aster tatarica.  It has just begun blooming in the bed next to the outdoor dining area at the Granary.  The basal rosette is lettucelike most of the year.  In autumn it sends up a tall (5-7 feet) blooming stem that carries many small lavender flowers with yellow centers in a plumelike head.  The blooms are long lasting and make quite a show whether massed or poking up through other plants.  In fact, they are nearly always seen massed since they spread easily and rapidly.  The other bed of Tatarian aster may be seen if you stand at the Barn entrance and look across the patio and up under the trees directly across from you.

The Fearrington Gardeners

Wrap new life around something that has been in your closet with a stunning scarf from Dovecote or Bluebirds & Hollyhocks! We have got you covered with options in every style, texture and color…. from chunky handknits to luxurious cashmere, rich solids to beautiful prints to delicately spun whimsy. If you read my journal regularly, you know that scarves are a staple in my wardrobe as there is no easier way to pack for travel.  My head is spinning with all the choices we have this season!!  This is a great time to get a jump on your Christmas shopping while our shelves are overflowing!  

Daneen

I must admit that I still prefer to keep track of my appointments, things to do, places to be and friends’ birthdates in a datebook that serves as my lifeline in a given year before it is retired to a shelf at the end of December.  I happen to like the month-at-a-glance approach to planning….to be able to doodle in the margins and use colored markers to denote categories of entries. In looking back through old datebooks,  I have found that they serve as diaries or journals –  touchstones to remind me where I have been – or in some cases, how far I have come.   I was delighted upon discovering McIntyre’s new shipment of 2009 calendars and datebooks this week!  Jamie orders from an art publisher so they are especially beautiful and everything but ordinary.  There are even gorgeous calendar bookmarks which she tells me never last for long.  I’m already feeling  inspired by the crisp new pages of 2009!   

Daneen

The chill of autumn may not yet be in the air, but the days are definitely growing shorter and the soft afternoon light is whispering “fall” to me…and that means pumpkins!  The charming terracotta jack-o-lanterns at The Potting Shed will stand up to  any lingering late summer heat all the way to Halloween.  Tuck them in a border or place them by your front door – they are available with or without faces. For a festive seasonal touch inside, Bluebirds & Hollyhocks has a fabulous collection of faux pumpkins and gourds in all shapes and sizes…you would swear they were the real thing!  Or stop by Dovecote for some Halloween whimsy!!  Lots of fun for your patch!

Daneen