Gardening Guide

Recently I spent a couple hours talking to Darlene, a gardening guide. A year ago, I met Darlene at Pensacola's Farmers Market. She showed me pictures of some fabulous gardens from France. After working 10 years in horticulture, she decided last year to start her business. During our first meeting we talked about some foundation plants. My heart skipped a beat when she recommended hydrangeas.  Her organic approach to gardening reminded me of watching my parents use their own compost in their garden. With Darlene's help, I hope to be sipping iced tea next year in my backyard admiring all the beautiful blooming hydrangeas, guara, rubeckia, cone flowers, coleus, agapanthus and maybe some heirloom roses. Here are some pictures from Pinterest and Houzz of beautiful hydrangeas and gardens. Enjoy.

Memorial Day

Always grateful for those who sacrificed their lives for the sake of freedom. Hope you have a good Memorial Day. All pictures from Pinterest.

Cottage Homes and Gardens

I love so many homes in my neighborhood of East Hill. Charming and eclectic best describe East Hill, a neighborhood of homes primarily built in the 1930s and 1940s. Many of the cottage-style homes featured in these photos have two and three bedrooms. There are exceptions like the home below. Most yards still retain the original azaleas, camellias and oaks--but owners like to add a variety of new plants. Some hardy perennials that you will see are hydrangea, agapanthus, society garlic, begonias, oak leaf hydrangea, and various ferns. Palms and citrus trees also thrive in this environment bordered by Bayou Texar and Pensacola Bay.