We’ve been spending every weekend in the courtyard garden, sprawled out on quilts in the patches of sun that last from early morning to late afternoon. There’s a routine, lazy mornings making coffee, walking in a loop around the neighborhood procuring breakfast, stopping at the used book shop, poking around one of the many nurseries in the neighborhood for new garden plants. Back home to read and nibble and drink coffee for hours. It’s suited me, I’ve had so little energy for months. Relax & heal & rest.
The wrought iron plant hangers were found on the street after breakfast one morning. There were about 10!! So exciting.
Herbs in the long planter. Comfrey, rosemary, chamomile, mint.
I never know how to spell these. RANNANANANANCUCUCULLSUUSSSS. So pretty, we just bought 6 or 7 and spread them around.
This book is so amazing. I tore through it. This was the life I dreamed of as a kid, visiting NYC with my grandparents and wanting to be Madonna, lofts in Chinatown, etc. One of my best friends uncle’s worked for Roy Lichtenstein, & regaled us with stories of Andy Warhol, Basquiat, the B-52s at downtown parties. Magic. How do we capture that feeling again, being 12 and feeling like anything is possible, complete freedom?
The green notebook is my new wedding notebook! It’s made me feel 100% better to write down names of shops and their hours, lists of each item & all it needs to exist – not just notes but sections for each aspect and what we need to complete it, down to things like string and sealing wax and stamps. Organizing power!
I’m not usually a pink fan, but I couldn’t resist this pink milk glass cake stand at a little vintage shop near my house. & madelines! The chocolate cookie is this CRAZY cookie named something like floradoraarara that has a caramel cream between two oaty cookies, SO AMAZING.
Lemonade made with rose geranium. This is my summer drink, I am so addicted. Jayne Mansfield tea party moment.
Sweet peas. My mama always grew these up a trellis next to the front door, love love love.
Tiny moss worlds on the stoop outside the back door.
Sunny days and puttering in the garden! I could do it forever and ever.
Marcine M.
1 year ago
best post ever!!!!!!!
verhext
1 year ago
Thank you!! I think we’ve decided on Paris for the honeymoon & I want to ask you a million questions. Maybe I should just read your blog & figure out where to go?
annie
1 year ago
i’m dying. this is the sweetest centering happy memory making way to spend time together i can think of.
so funny you make a garden post today, last night while we were lying in bed the boy said out of the blue “i wonder if i would like gardening”, to which i was like YES. because i just really want a lush little garden one day. i miss miss those smells and textures and happy garden moments.
verhext
1 year ago
it’s soooo nice. grubby dirt feet & bees buzzing & sunshine and flowers, yes. we have this tiny garden then a backyard where we are going to put veggies & now there are roses and calla lilies, and a tiny front yard where we planted dusty miller and brugmansia.
Lorelle
1 year ago
Just finished “Just Kids” today! Now I’m reeling from the inspiration.
verhext
1 year ago
I am seriously tempted to just read it all over again.
lau
1 year ago
this makes me so excited about moving, we are going to have a little back yard with a deck and i want to buy so many plants and make it so lovely. so ready for summer and sunshine!
verhext
1 year ago
It’s probably hotter there than here! When I visited Austin in April, my shoulders melted right down away from my ears! Yum.
april
1 year ago
sigh.
rachie
1 year ago
good work with the wedding notebook!!! i totally thought it may help with some of the overwhelming planning feelings.
rachie
1 year ago
also i really need to change that old picture but can’t figure out how.
verhext
1 year ago
http://en.gravatar.com/
jodi
1 year ago
I ordered ‘Just Kids’ and it arrived yesterday. Glad to hear you thought it was good… I’m looking forward to starting it tonight.
I love all the garden photos, how nice to be sitting out on the grass drinking lemonade… I’m contenting myself with hyacinths on windowsills right now.
Oh, and I live in Paris, so if you are thinking about going for your honeymoon, I’ll try to pass along any tips I can think of as the time gets closer.
flutterby3
1 year ago
I am jealous of these photos…and I live in FLORIDA! It’s been unseasonably cold here and we just had our first semi-warm weekend a few weeks ago and are finally hitting 70 + degrees for the first week. Woo hoo! I hope to be on a blanket this weekend!
Jezebel
1 year ago
I have such a black thumb: “Comfrey, rosemary, chamomile, mint” sounds so mythical to me. Have you listened to Patti Smith reading from Just Kids for the BBC? So wonderful. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00qzh49
verhext
1 year ago
WHAT. Can I go back and listen to the earlier ones? I cannot figure out how!!! AGH! SO GOOD!
Milla
1 year ago
where do you live, paradise? so lovely, sunny and calm.
verhext
1 year ago
Ha, noooo. Berkeley! I moved from SF almost 2 years ago and LOVE it 23947238972 times more than SF. But I want to be in Vermont! WOOOODS.
Cecilia
1 year ago
Makes me happy, to see a garden loved inch by inch – the mirco-mossScape was the best. Ive got to get down more often. Blankets.
Lailita
1 year ago
I love this post so much especially coming from the desert, I dream of having soft weather & secret gardens.
May i ask where you got those beautiful pentacle glasses?
I’ve been looking for some but usually they are too goth cheesy.
laurence
1 year ago
you look like a punk angel in your garden! Patti Smith is my heroine so i will definitely get the book. I have started gardening so I love the light on the flowers in your garden and the idea of a secret garden. glad I discovered your blog today.
Garden Plotting
1 year ago
[...] have 3 outdoor areas at our (rented) house – a front yard which has no privacy, a small courtyard, and a totally neglected backyard that’s more like a long strip. It’s been really great [...]