Thinking About Your Garden?

You may remember a post I did last summer about the garden consultation I had with Kerry Ann Mendez, whom my friend Anne and I had heard speak at the Philadelphia Flower Show. Kerry's business is dedicated to teaching gardeners how to create low-maintenance, ever-blooming perennial gardens and she recently let me know that she as a new book out! Kerry's lecture was chock-full of short cuts, insider tips and money-saving strategies and I'm sure her book will be too. Although looking at the gorgeous gardens she creates, you'd think they were coddled over daily. For more information on her book, go here.

Kerry also mentioned that the 7th Annual Great Garden and Landscaping Symposium is being held again this year at the The Equinox, a world class resort in Manchester VT April 23 - 24. For more info on the agenda and a full listing of all the nationally known speakers, go here.

For Virginia readers who can't make it to VT, the annual Historic Virginia Garden Week takes place April 17 - 25. The Arlington gardens on this year's tour are JUST up the street from my house but I have to work that day so I won't be able to attend.

(please note these are my personal recommendations and I receive no form of compensation for them.)

Thinking About Your Garden?

You may remember a post I did last summer about the garden consultation I had with Kerry Ann Mendez, whom my friend Anne and I had heard speak at the Philadelphia Flower Show. Kerry's business is dedicated to teaching gardeners how to create low-maintenance, ever-blooming perennial gardens and she recently let me know that she as a new book out! Kerry's lecture was chock-full of short cuts, insider tips and money-saving strategies and I'm sure her book will be too. Although looking at the gorgeous gardens she creates, you'd think they were coddled over daily. For more information on her book, go here.

Kerry also mentioned that the 7th Annual Great Garden and Landscaping Symposium is being held again this year at the The Equinox, a world class resort in Manchester VT April 23 - 24. For more info on the agenda and a full listing of all the nationally known speakers, go here.

For Virginia readers who can't make it to VT, the annual Historic Virginia Garden Week takes place April 17 - 25. The Arlington gardens on this year's tour are JUST up the street from my house but I have to work that day so I won't be able to attend.

(please note these are my personal recommendations and I receive no form of compensation for them.)

Makeover Winner & Something Very "More"

You may remember the generous giveaway Debra of 5th and State offered last month - an exterior makeover of your home. Debra invited myself, Lauren of Pure Style Home and Deborah of Boxwood Terrace to be the judges. Debra had narrowed down the choices to 10 and the winner is Gay of Michigan! At the time, Debra only shared the photos with us but here is a little more about Gay's story:
"We purchased this house in September 2009 after we found out my husband has leukemia. With the chemo we needed to simplify our lives. This 100+ year old Plain Jane does nothing for us on the outside. I would love to see a porch, plantings for birds, and an interesting landscape in winter..... Color? I am open. Personally I am drawn to an urban country style, more hip and updated."

As Debra began to work with Gay, more of her story unfolded. Here is the "more" in Debra's own words:

"But something else has developed that I did not expect, something profound that could be life changing. Her darling husband needs a bone marrow transplant and there are no matches in the data base, not even his children...A curse I possess..........well, maybe a curse.......is that I am a "fixer". Always wanting to jump in and help, to fix, to make-better. And you know what? Maybe I can and maybe YOU can too...As the blogging community we can spread the word and REALLY help...
Joining the National Bone Marrow Registry. Go here to look up and to sign up. I did and it took 10 minutes of my time. You can offer to donate or for free they will send you a test kit containing a swab to rub inside your cheek of which you return.
And...........imagine the magic if we found a match......the best "giveaway" ever. Are you in?
Blessings, Debra"

Makeover Winner & Something Very "More"

You may remember the generous giveaway Debra of 5th and State offered last month - an exterior makeover of your home. Debra invited myself, Lauren of Pure Style Home and Deborah of Boxwood Terrace to be the judges. Debra had narrowed down the choices to 10 and the winner is Gay of Michigan! At the time, Debra only shared the photos with us but here is a little more about Gay's story:
"We purchased this house in September 2009 after we found out my husband has leukemia. With the chemo we needed to simplify our lives. This 100+ year old Plain Jane does nothing for us on the outside. I would love to see a porch, plantings for birds, and an interesting landscape in winter..... Color? I am open. Personally I am drawn to an urban country style, more hip and updated."

As Debra began to work with Gay, more of her story unfolded. Here is the "more" in Debra's own words:

"But something else has developed that I did not expect, something profound that could be life changing. Her darling husband needs a bone marrow transplant and there are no matches in the data base, not even his children...A curse I possess..........well, maybe a curse.......is that I am a "fixer". Always wanting to jump in and help, to fix, to make-better. And you know what? Maybe I can and maybe YOU can too...As the blogging community we can spread the word and REALLY help...
Joining the National Bone Marrow Registry. Go here to look up and to sign up. I did and it took 10 minutes of my time. You can offer to donate or for free they will send you a test kit containing a swab to rub inside your cheek of which you return.
And...........imagine the magic if we found a match......the best "giveaway" ever. Are you in?
Blessings, Debra"