Category Archives: happening in my life
happening in my life.
This week has been quieter at my house. I enjoy TLA (see the incredible bluebonnet bouquet I made from the little pins Sarah created for the event?) and speaking at schools, garden centers and events, mainly because it’s so much fun to make with new friends. It is nice to have a down week, though.
It was great to finally meet STEVE CHAMBLEE of CHANDOR GARDENS at Arbor Gate in Tomball, TX when I spoke there last weekend. Not sure how he did it, but Steve managed to put up two gorgeous pergolas in a 40 MPH wind! Then he actually “signed” his pieces of garden art….with a chainsaw! Maybe it’s a guy thing, huh?
Now it’s crunch time preparing my upcoming talk for the Herb Society of America conference in Austin May 3rd-5th. The research makes for an intimacy with rose history that’s competing with my OTHER love. When I was asked to lecture on “the herb of the year,” it seemed a fairly easy task to expound on our national flower’s past. The problem I’ve run across is knowing when to stop. Rose roots run deep, that’s for sure! Even though they are native only in the northern hemisphere, it seems everyONE, everyWHERE has an opinion on our past when looking through rose-colored glasses. I’m especially excited to hear fellow conference presenter SUSAN WITTIG ALBERT. Susan’s many best-selling mystery novels might already be familiar to you. Her newest book out is from the China Bayles series, which centers on ex-Houston lawyer/current herbal shop and tea room owner who helps uncover who-dunnits in tiny Pecan Springs. The stories are unique in perspective of plants and place. If you love the Hill Country, you’ll love this series from Susan, one of several series she manages to juggle. Also on the menu will be Lucinda Hutson whose cookbooks – THE HERB GARDEN COOKBOOK and COOKING WITH THE SPIRIT OF MEXICO – are a yummy feast to the eyes and tummy. She’ll be sharing photos of her beautiful gardens in Austin, which have been featured in magazines (Southern Living and Fine Gardening, to drop a couple of names) and on PBS’ CENTRAL TEXAS GARDENER.
At my house, the poppies are getting old and pruny, the seeds almost dried and ready to share, so remind me…..who wants some? I’ll miss their lively dance every time a breeze gets them going. It’s like DANCING WITH THE STARS, only they get a resounding 10 every time. Eat your heart out, Kirstie Alley! c:
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- Steve Chamblee
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- Steve Chamblee’s easy-to-build (for him!) pergola demo at Arbor Gate
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- bouquet of bluebonnets
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- last of the poppy blooms
outside my window.
One down and one to go……
The Texas Librarians are a fun bunch. I know. That’s hard to believe. Librarians FUN? I’ve decided it’s all in your perspective. When you are a 2nd grader who cannot keep her mouth shut (why are you all pointing at me???), the librarian seems awfully picky about solitude and silence. (Remember Mrs. Barton at South Athens Elementary? Boy, I do! She was so beautiful but the only thing I think she ever said directly to me was, “That is ENOUGH, Miss Foster!” and I couldn’t imagine why she was always picking on me….) Spending time with librarians in the classroom on my school visits has given me great admiration for Mrs. Barton (who passed away a few months ago I heard.) But hang out with them at their annual TLA convention and you get a whole NEW perspective. They know how to have fun! I appreciate they let me share some of that good time with the release of BLOOMIN’ TALES.
Tomorrow (Saturday) I get to visit one of my favorite nurseries, The Arbor Gate in Tomball, Texas. Owner Bev Welch asked if I’d come talk about wildflowers and how to use them in the landscape. Wildflowers are one of those enigmas: people drive miles to get a good look at them and have their babies/dogs/significant others photographed in the middle of them, but not too many people plant them in their own yard. Why? The comment I often get is “they look messy.” I’ll dispel that myth by introducing folks to some incredible wildflowers for landscapes and show them how to make them a part of ANY style landscape. After all, a wildflower is simply a blooming plant that doesn’t need any help to grow. Who wouldn’t want a whole YARD of that? Take a peek at a few wildflowers blooming at my house right now…..
Also, DON’T FORGET my photo caption contest is still happening on my Facebook Author Page!
happening in my life.
While gathering photos for upcoming presentations, I ran across this shot I took last spring. I was taking pictures of the beautiful blooms in my front yard and happened upon this conversation between a baby wren and its mom.
The scene’s all-too-familiar, isn’t it? Got several photos in the sequence of their discussion, but this one really spoke to me. Is it a mom thing? It obviously is NOT just a human thing! I decided to enter it into a photography contest. When I posted it to my Facebook author page with the caption I’d given it – “Can you hear me now?” – I started getting even BETTER captions from y’all, so I’ve decided to make it a contest (thanks for the suggestion, Gail!) to win a copy of my new book out in two weeks, BLOOMIN’ TALES. So head over to my FB author page and give it your own caption, or just comment on this post with one. I’ll have an unbiased judge…. or at least a LESS biased judge…. pick a winner.
Hope you’ll come see me if you are in the Little Rock area next Saturday. It looks like the Arkansas Literary Festival has a GREAT line-up of speakers and I’m hoping to catch up with some of the authors in town for the event. c:
cherie foster colburn 