Garden Tour

A Tour of Montrose Gardens

September 30, 2009

Reaching Montrose Gardens in Hillsborough, North Carolina is a pleasant affair. The scenic road into these nationally-known gardens (now part of The Garden Conservancy) passes by charming cafés, elegant shops and art galleries, not to mention 19th century homes perched majestically on lush green lawns. The picturesque setting is what one would expect from such […]

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Inside an Innovative Idaho Garden

September 18, 2009

Step onto this shady and serene back porch, and you might think you’d landed in Italy. Not Idaho. A fountain bubbles in the background. ‘Niagara’ and ‘Suffolk’ red grapes hang from the pergula. Comfy chairs are scattered among green leafy plants, and the courtyard looks like it’s been there for generations. That level of detail […]

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Spring in the City of Trees

June 1, 2009

Legend has it that Boise, Idaho got its name in the 1800s when a French-speaking guide yelled, “Les bois! Les bois!” (Translation: the trees, the trees.)  After weeks of walking through dry and rough terrain, the group was obviously delighted to see the wooded Boise River Valley – and get a little shade.  The name […]

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Unforgettable Day at Andrew Molera State Park

May 19, 2009

You know you’re somewhere special when you drive into California’s Andrew Molera State Park.  This lovely park – 21 miles south of Carmel on Highway 1 – is where Big Sur River runs wild into the Pacific Ocean. It’s also the largest state park in the Big Sur area, with plenty to impress nature lovers. […]

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Mendocino in May

May 8, 2009

A soft wind is blowing as we walk across the wildflower-filled bluffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean. What could be more marvelous than a May day spent in Mendocino, California? This little coastal village, about 165 miles north of San Francisco, has charmed the hearts of travelers since the 19th century. Spectacular scenery. Charming old houses. […]

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April in Paris

April 2, 2009

“The last time I saw ParisHer heart was warm and gay,I heard the laughter of her heart in every street café.” Oscar Hammerstein II (1895-1960) The year was 2004. As my friend Marian Dunshee wandered the streets of Paris one April afternoon, she happened upon Au Nom de la Rose, a lovely little florist and […]

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