Always Something New Even If It Is Old

A couple of Saturdays ago we went to the Mt Hope Farm Garden Antiques Show in Bristol Rhode Island. There were about 40 dealers with all sorts of great things...statuary, planters, china, silver, linens, all kinds of smalls, garden patio sets, prints, and so much more. This is my husband, first in line to get into the tent...we attended the early buyers event so we would be sure to see everything the dealers were offering.

More folks awaiting the opening of the show.
A few examples outside the tent. One dealer has some wonderful chairs...nothing we could use but I certainly admired them. It was a set of four heavy slated chairs with metal arms and legs...wide seats and backs. What made them remarkable was the back of each chair had a bronze polo player on a horse....these chairs were breath taking...never saw anything like them. There were pricey but if I was into polo I would have to give them a second thought...I can see them belonging to Ralph Lauren! She also had a wonderful zinc table with four chairs in a woven pattern...I really could have owned that set for sure. She said she would be at the antiques show in the Hamptons in July...so who knows?! We plan to take the ferry over from Connecticut and attend that show...hope to see her there.

Lots of patio sets outside. In this corner were two dealers with some wonderful things. We fell in love with a pair of granite planters...and ended up buying them. They are a very plain set with a few thin line carvings for eye appeal...age about 1880's. They are very very nice.

Here is Bob and the dealer wheeling our new planter out of the tent.

My husband and the dealer loading one of these incredibly heavy granite planters into the back of the van.

All loaded and ready for the next one.Below is a bouquet I picked this weekend and wanted to share it...day lilies and catmint for color and coral bell, hosta, lily leaves and ferns for filler and eye appeal...I think it is simply beautiful...going through the garden and finding this assortment was a pleasure.
Wanted to share this rhododendron border with you...we discovered it a few weeks ago. This is on a road we travel all the time and you would never know this treasure is here...as it is always just a huge green privacy hedge for the house behind it. But once a year it gives everyone a glorious gift of color.

Absolutely beautiful!!!!!

Hope you have a great day....

Elizabeth

Antiques and Decoratives in the Garden

I have always felt if you plant but one seed you are a serious gardener...it takes a special person to trust and hope in that one seed so how can you not be a gardener. Over the years we all develop our skills and want to make our gardens more than just flowers or shrubs or vegetables...it seems to just happen a little something it tucked into a space for added eye appeal. If you are like me your taste develops and the old items have a charm that no new item can ever have...of course there are some wonderful reproductions today and they to have their place...we love to go to antique shows and shops and pick up items for the house and garden...below are some photos of our finds for outside. It is impossible to show everything today..so here is a sample of the things we love...Below is an old cement pedestal with a nice armillary atop...it adds such nice height next to a very old Casablanca Oriental Lily...also in this bed is a wonderful terra cotta Wolff pottery forcer, the top is removable.This is a little composition robin that sits on a slender stake amongst the hosta and boxwood.
The antique fencing that surrounds the raised beds is actually from a cast off from the Providence Union Train Station. This turn of the century fencing was found at an antique shop. I had initially just expected to have picket fencing but this fence was a something my husband fell in love with...We had it delivered and the installed...it is extremely heavy but adds so much beauty to the garden...it truly makes the bones of our garden very elegant. My husband bought the antique millstones that are at the two entrances of the garden for me as an anniversary gift one year. I knew we needed something different and these two stones fit the bill! I love them so much...they are perfect!
This is a new cast iron urn but it definitely looks old as it is a good quality. Planted with dark colors it had a nice look in front of the half lap lattice panels.

Below is a wonderful faux bois planter we found at an antique show at Blithewold in Bristol two years ago. The coral bells look nice inside.
We found a pair of these great green and white strapped aluminum chairs at an antique shop...I love the green and the style of the chair. The little two tier wire table has a carry handle and the original turquoise paint. Amongst the peony is a stone face that watches over the garden...to the right is a small marble angel from France.
This old cement bench is tucked under a pine.
A nice view of the storage shed. The stone step comes from Rudy's in Connecticut. If you ever get a chance to visit Rudy's do it! There are so many architectural treasures there...old chicken coops of doors, windows, hardware, sinks, just about anything you could hope to find. All organized...if you get a chance to visit the stone yard down the road by a cow farm don't pass up that opportunity. Rudy sent us down there and we entered through a cow gate that must be closed behind you (a sign points this out). Once you start walking through the old stone steps, the grand stone pillars and columns and old pieces of granite you can't help but be in awe. We never wanted to leave...there is so much beauty in these fields...

This is an old terra cotta Roseville two handled pot...looks nice tucked here.
This is an old cast iron grape vine pattern bench. We have another one opposite to mirror it on the other side of the garden. This bench came from my father who received it from his aunt. This is a common pattern but is a very cherished piece to use. Next to the bench are a pair of old cement urns. if you look closely next to one urn is an old antique cement apple.
In front of the vintage trellis covered in Betty Corning clematis is an old birdbath. Around the top edge of the birdbath is a sundial. Nice piece! On the ground below is an old duck...he is deteriorating but still has alot of life left in him!
This is a photo of the sundial top of the birdbath.This is a glimpse of the garden just as summer is to starts soon...looking back at the spring photos...my garden does grow!
I am so fortunate to have this lovely garden by the pond...

Elizabeth

Our Little Island on the Pond

We are now getting our day cabin ready for the summer. We have a little island on the pond across from the big house. This little cabin is the place we enjoy most in the summer. There is a narrow dirt "bridge" or causeway someone created many years ago so we can access the island without boating over. We can't imagine a better place to vacation in the world in the summer. Lightning hit a 60 foot tree two years ago and nearly destroyed the original cabin so we had to rebuild and remodel...the pots out front now hold clematis that hopefully will climb the trellis...just planted this year so will take a couple of years to mature and really look nice.
This is a faux bois (french for false wood) planter by the waters edge awaiting a planting of ferns or some shade plants.
A whimsical sign by the dock that leads to the water.
This is a beautiful place to sit by the pond. We have several of these benches that were made by a local artisan. They are sturdy and comfortable and simply gorgeous to look at.
This is our little cove. It is a protected place to swim in the summer. It is off the main portion of the pond that is often busy with power boats and jet skis.

A view of the main pond.
Dock leading to our "swimming hole". Notice the wooden duck pointing the way to the water!
A quiet spot to sit in an old vintage Adirondack chair we bought at a yard sale in Connecticut years ago. The tree behind is another victim of a lightning strike almost eleven years ago...it is slowly rotting away but has become home to many birds and it is full of bugs that the birds eat all summer long.
A squirrel pot hanger ready and waiting for a basket full of flowers...the pots are still in the greenhouse but will be transported soon to their summer "home".
We do have electric on the island but no "city" water...we have a water pump and old septic system we have kept maintained from when a house was on the island many many years ago. So water is available but using it is a bit primitive. Inside the outhouse is an actual flush toilet so roughing it is not as bad as it could be! My husband found this sign at a local auction (it came from the old Quonset Naval Air Station in North Kingstown) and thought it was appropriate for the inside of the outhouse...suffice it to say it has made many snicker upon entering!

Getting ready to "launch the paddle boat into the cove.

Everyone is off for the first paddle boat ride of the season. We all attended the Memorial Day parade in Wickford and returned to the island for a steak fry. The weather was beautiful...it was a great day.

Our little island is a wonderful place to summer. We actually use it year round but mostly in the warm weather months. This little plaque sums it up nicely.

We are truly blessed to have this spot to live...we never grow tired of living here and we try never to take it for granted. We love sharing it with family and friends.

Elizabeth

A Peek at My Garden Get Away

Come on into my garden get away. I love vintage garden items...pottery in great shape or with chips...I like majolica, Italian pottery, American art pottery and old Japan...it doesn't matter what. I enjoy anything related to gardening...pictures, paintings, items used in the garden, gardening awards, books, flower frogs, hyacinth vases, jewelry, tools, catalogs, pots...anything and everything.

In the old glass front cabinet I have some wonderful antique garden books, medals awarded for gardening, jackknives, tape measures, victorian trade cards and lots more! If it is related to gardening I tuck it away. I like old brochures and catalogs from garden furniture companies...when we are at a show or auction if we come upon something we like it is nice to find it in an old publication to very maker and age.
Here are more shots of my little retreat....I can spend lots of time in this cottage just looking at these vintage items and adding more when I find them. I love to find old bird nests and I place them in old pots on the window sills. They look great with little glass or porcelain birds in them...I also love old watering cans. I like the common and the uncommon...big or little...they are all great. We have old english ones, french and american. Suffice it to say we love to garden and collect garden items...hope you enjoy taking a peek at our garden cottage retreat.

Happy Mother's Day,

Elizabeth