Ready for another book review? Ready for Spring? Temp here today?  -30

            
The all new revised and updated edition is THE definitive source on gardening from the brand southern gardeners have turned to in nearly 50 years.

This completely redesigned and updated tome features over 1,700 beautiful color photographs and over 7,000 featured plants, many of which this northern gardener seriously covets.

It is all here in one glorious resource

Every section delves deeply into a topic and provides the reader with every detail one might need

A treasure trove of Q & A's, design, care, disease, ..........

I can never see wisteria without the memory of traveling to Charlottesville, Va. for a design project. Seeing wisteria in bloom everywhere, I gasped but was quickly corrected "Do not even think of suggesting that WEED for my garden!" One mans weed is another's fantasy......

Interested in veggies? From the simple carrot to the exotic and heritage varieties, in ground to containers, it is all here

Seasonal checklists guide the reader irregardless of your level from beginner to seasoned professional

This edition is bigger and bolder, covering every imaginable topic with hundreds of hints and tips

This is the single most authoritative source for gardening in the South. A reference book that will be at your side until in a state of tatters, nothing goes unaddressed. This northerner wants a Northern Living. Leave a note, one very lucky reader can add this treasure to your collection.

 Meanwhile, back in Illinois........
It is annual season, ordering for Spring is complete and wanted to share great news in case you did not hear

Big news in the horticultural world, a promising option to the disease ravaged impatiens of the past three years. Downy mildew nearly ravaged one of America's favorite annual. After years in trials they are ready for their introduction this Spring.
  -  14-20" high and wide
  -  5 available colors
  -  Called Bounce because they are quickly revived if stressed.
  -  morning sun, afternoon shade is optimum

With warm thoughts,
Debra

Want to get away? I DO.......

                                  

Hello! Anyone remember me?
Strangely, my computer decided to play games with me, frustrate me and incite violent thoughts..........

 Has this happened to anyone else?

        -I could not post a blog as it was hijacked by Scentimental Notes (??) and I did not have the password........REALLY!!!  Who is Scentimental Notes?
        -If I was able to reply, I appeared as Scentimental Notes, Begging for Attention,
        or  Puddin was Murdered ....... SERIOUSLY??!!
AS IF I WOULD RESPOND TO A DESIGN POST AS PUDDIN WAS MURDERED?!

My right arm, Agnes, seemed to have fixed this mess.

Lots to catch up on..........

    Thoughts of getting away are much more pleasant, and with that I present our trip for 2015

                 

With many more details available and additional plans in the works, drop me a line if interested. This has just been posted and we now have 7 available spaces left

 Picking up where we last left off.......the winner of the Markham Decorating book is Leslie Harris! Please forward your details Leslie

Debbie Freitag, still waiting for your mailing details!

Two more books have been added to my review line up, will get back to that on my next post.......8 more to go!

               France inquiries and book details can be addressed to debra@scentimentalgardens.com

                                                              With affection, 
                                                                      Debra
                                                  (AKA Puddin was Murdered)

'DECORATING THE WAY I SEE IT' by Markham Roberts

Our second book review and give away is the outstanding decorative coffee table book on the life's work of renown designer Markham Roberts

 Known for his ability to work within any design vernacular, Markham Roberts brings a fresh approach to both traditional and contemporary styles

 It is the true art of the blend with varying styles in furniture, textiles in layered patterns and color in rich and bold combinations

 His work can be found around the world where he is often viewed as the very definition of chic

 Influences from across oceans combine in crafting a true global influence

 Orange happens to be my favored color for bold accents and Mr. Roberts seemingly agrees as you will notice repeated use of this palette.

This is a book to read and re-read as his richly textured designs reveal their individual nuances. This is easily my favorite design book in years!

Mr. Roberts crafted the book as a design process, layer by layer revealing the basics; floor plan, furniture layout, color palette, textile selections, with the incorporation of objects and art.

The book next leads the reader through a discussion on architecture, landscaping and gardens, showing the importance of the interrelationship between the interiors and the exterior. A man and principal I strongly eschew.

Finally he pulls all the pieces together using his own country house in the Hudson Valley

 You will be WOWED by this richly detailed book; learn from a master while enjoying Mr. Roberts personality and wit.

To win a copy you must be a follower of this blog and leave a comment. It will be difficult to part with this treasure chest of design empowerment.

So here I am in Atlanta with 2 weeks of shopping ahead of me and Day 1 was a winner. Seems as though my focus is natural wood, well for today it was. 

 These set my heart on fire. Would anyone have guessed that these are vintage draft horse mud shoes? No? Well I was baffled and intrigued. Apparently in regions where horses are working in a muddy/bog area these shoes prevent sinking
As a collection they make quite the statement, happily!

Often times you will see these trunks balancing on three legs. What to do when a leg breaks? GENIUS! But that is Lisa for you

A brilliant vignette, don't you think?!

The first two items already have a home with two interior clients but my trailer remains very empty

To win this wonderful book, simply be a subscriber and leave a comment

GOOD LUCK!

Debra

The winner of the Gardens of the Garden State is Debbie Freitag. Get in touch with your details!

'GARDENS OF THE GARDEN STATE' Book Review and Give Away

Isn't January the perfect month for reading books? And it's the perfect time for me to provide reviews for five garden and interior design books I have been holding back on. If you have been with me for awhile, you will know that once I write a review I love to give the books away.

So let's begin with a garden book and dream of flowers and their garden homes in the coldest season.

Monacelli Press takes us away with Gardens of the Garden State, by Nancy Berner and Susan Lowry with stunning photographs by Gemma Ingalls.

 The most densely populated state in the nation is aptly named 'the garden state', for a reason. It's temperate climate makes it possible to grow a wide range of plants along with a series of complex topography

 The terrain ranges from glacier swept endpoints, mountains, rolling hills, coastal plains and flat basins. I would personally love for these glacier boulders to reside in my flat Illinois garden.

 The authors selected 28 private and public gardens and began an 18 month odyssey documenting the beauty found

View formal gardens of merit to wildlife gardens to a lighthouse garden near Cape May

 The diversity of interest will captivate you and take you away, to dream and plan.

 Visit the largest public Iris garden in the country

 Most intriguing to me are the peaks into private gardens and photographers Emma and Andrew Ingalls capture them at their best, expressing the designers particular point of view

For further reviews and a guaranteed delivery see this lovely tome HERE

Now, all you have to do to win this book is leave a comment. A random generator will chose the fortunate recipient.

Not commented before? I have had many tell me they do not know how or they feel comments are only for fellow bloggers, not true! Go to the horizontal gray box under "You also might like" displaying images of 3 older posts and hit on comment to reply.

Good luck!

Debra