Perennials in Your Princeton Pots

I have to say I love to be a bit smart when I can.  One of the smartest ways to be a bit frugal in the garden is to simply plant perennials in your containers and watch them come up next year! I add just one or two annuals and I am done! In this combination I have an lady fern, heuchera and some astibile. I place them right in my flower beds. This one is on the northern side of the house so I add some lime for the shade. These sat out all winter with all that snow and look at them. Happy to join the living.
I can't wait to show you the specimen tree that is going in the front of the house.  Charteuse!

Chartreuse and Pink in the Cottage Garden

I have to tell you how much I love chartreuse in the garden and especially in my shade garden! It absolutely pops!  I always pay attention to the home I am designing a garden for because it is important that the foliage and colors work with the home and the architechture.  This property is tight and charming,  so the plan is too almost go over the top with that feeling.  I want the garden to feel almost like you are visiting a dollhouse.  Sweet and dear and not too full of itself with sophistication

Faucet Fettish at the Hopewell Carriage House

As I sit and sip Assam Tea I want to share what is going on inside the 1890 Carriage House.  When I purchased this house last April all appliances in the kitchen needed to go.  The dishwasher leaked and the oven was not up to par.  I decided on the Miele Optima series dishwasher. I am a huge fan of this dishwasher, a GE cafe stove with a second oven below and a Fisher Paykel fridge so that freezer can be on the bottom.

The next thing that needs to be done is to change out the sink and faucets.  I decided on Perrins and Rowe faucets from London that are very vintage in polished nickel and no sprayer.  An orginal Shaw farm sink will be put in which is keeping the era of  the house. These sinks have been made since 1897.  I also wanted one for my last house but it did not fit design wise so I waited and I am happy I did.  I believe in working with the bones of a home and respecting its historic place.  So I will not change out the cabinets for a couple of reasons, it's BIG money but more importantly I love the open shelving that is already here and I would put cabinets in that already look like what is here. I do not want a perfect look.  This is a humble carriage house and what is here is already right.

I do hate the tile that is here though. From a distance it might look charming.  Close up it is grungy at best. It is hard to keep clean and it needs to move on.
  What is coming is Calcutta marble.  Carrera is just a bit too safe for me and I love the veining of the Calcutta.  Will show you a quick sample of that.

Here is the Calcutta! I am going to use it as the counters and backslash.  Aren't I fancy?  I think it will look classic, understated and delicious.   I will of course,  keep the maple center island in place for prep work in the kitchen.  So why not have a bit of marble? I will make me immensely happy and I believe it will make the next homeowner happy too someday.

Check out the English faucet..
I love it so much I might sleep with it until installed.

The Hopewell Carriage House Spring Perennials

Today I just really want to share some of my perennials that are coming up for the first time in this garden.   Many are natives and I love the foliage especially the Bloodroot.  Since the carriage house is Nantucket grey I am going kind of over the top on pinks, blues, and purples...

Have you ever seen this sweet dainty daffodil?  Hawera is a heirloom variety and very dear.  I planted Thalia which is white and Mount Hood which opens yellow and turns solid soft white. Here is the hosta 'June'  She has to be my most favorite.   In this case the sun deepens her yellow and the edges will be a blue green.

Here is the foliage of Bloodroot and the early spring flowers have disappeared.  What a woodland treasure.  Don't miss  the semi annual plant sale at Bowman Wildflower Preserve Mother's Day weekend.  This preserve is all about the natives.

Tomorrow I am going to show you the kitchen inside with exposed beams and share my vision for the changes that will be happening.  Some new faucet fixtures will be enhancing this 1890 carriage house to go back to its roots with a English farm sink to boot.  Also I cannot wait to show you the marble that I have chosen.   I know some of you are thinking about the persnickety care of marble.  Those of you that know me,  know I am just the girl to watch over it.

The Hopewell Carriage House has its First Spring

Bulbs are coming up and most of the perennials that I divided in the autumn are showing signs of success. Mushroom compost is in and I am waiting to add more helleborus in the side garden.  The garden you see here will be the sun/partial shade garden. On the side of this wee little home will be the true native garden and shade garden. Pictures to follow..

Enjoy a little Brunnera "Jack Frost"!

Transplanting Bulbs in your Princeton Garden and Amend your Soil

Now might be the time for you to think about the autumn for just a moment.. If you have narcisuss that you want moved to another location, mark what they are so that they are ready to be moved in the fall.  It would be smart to tag the different varieties so that you will remember what they are.
I hope that today I can make time to go and get some Espoma Organic Gypsum to loosen my clay soil.
It is not a fertilizer but will add some valuable nutrients and calcium and sulfur to the soil.  I added Mushroom compost to all transplanted perennials.
My camera crashed so I have not taken pictures of the carriage homes garden sprouts.  I will work on that also.
I am getting closer to choosing an English rose that will have strong fragrance for the garden gate.  The variety that I wanted to choose is already GONE!  It looked a lot like a Japanese herbaceous peony so I am back to the drawing board.
My containers that have perennial herbs were left outside last winter are sprouting! As are the perennials in containers. I supplement with annuals but you cannot beat perennials even in your containers to return the following spring!

Simple thoughts of the day.