Chicago Botanic Garden

Another spot in Chicago which I visited was the Chicago Botanic Garden, an amazingly HUGE and gorgeous set of different gardens a little outside of the city. My favorite part of the garden was the walled English garden. I've always wanted a little secret garden and the entrance to this one was just about perfect! Love that perfect shade of blue on the gate.

The garden was dedicated by Princess Margaret. I wonder what she thought about Chicago when she visited; I would love to hear as I'm sure it's entertaining!

This unusual folly was created in 1992 by Simon Verity as one of the focal points of the English garden. The different elements of the sculpture are meant to represent earth, air, fire and water. I'm not sure about all of that but I love the classical beauty of it!

I loved this central urn on a pedastal. Why do elements like this make a garden so much more appealing to me? Ahhh yes - they add architectural interest!!

The garden was so varied that the urn looked completely different from each angle.

I visited on what turned out to be the most perfect Fall afternoon and experienced the most beautiful light. I think the photo above reflects that.

I can't remember what this plant was, but it looked a bit like an olive tree, really beautiful! All of the plants are of course labeled but I was so happy snapping pictures (all with my phone) that I sadly don't remember what anything is!

The other side of the walled garden overlooks a lake with 2 pavilions at either end.One pavilion is open as a seating area. This would be a great place for a picnic!The other is closed, I assume for garden tool storage. Again, there was that perfect blue.

Outside of the walled garden was this allee of trees with gravel path. I always feel that gravel paths are the most gardeny, forget asphalt or even bricks!

All of the plants were really stunning and you could tell it was thoughtfully planned so something was in bloom every season of the year.

In the center of one lake was 'Evening Island' with a carillon bell. Loved hearing this when it went off!

The Japanese garden was also on a seperate island, but it was much prettier from across the lake.

Behind the walled garden was a beautiful waterfall garden that fed into the lake seen above.

Can my own secret garden have a waterfall too, please?

And what would any collection of gardens be without a rose garden.

I felt the roses were contrasted beautifully by the hardness of "Composition in stainless steel #1" by Gidon Graetz, 1985.

This garden proved that roses can be in bloom during nearly every season of the year.

I would highly recommend a visit to the Chicago Botanic gardens, especially on a beautiful day!

Jayson Home & Garden

I spent the past weekend in Chicago, one of my favorite cities, and enjoyed some beautiful fall weather. One of my stops was to Jayson Home & Garden, a legendary store that I've always wanted to visit.

The building was rather non descript from the outside I felt, but I loved the planter boxes which are apparently a Chicago law to help greenify the city. Is that a word, greenify?

The inside was surprisingly light and airy and set up in such a way as to make you feel the next great treasure was just around the corner. I loved this leather chair with the carpet covered seat and the drum sidetable. The mixture of new and vintage items kept the store feeling a bit like a flea market, but right on point with whats hot right now. I also loved this Chesterfield sofa with beautiful remnant pillow.

Of course, I'm mostly showing the vintage finds, as the other furniture is somewhat expected from a stylish store of the sort and can be seen on their website. I felt these paintings above were especially haunting.

And I bet someone will give this beautiful Victorian aesthetic gilt bamboo stool a good home, I just wish it had been me! I'm sure a lot of people would keep that original cushion as is, but I would cover it with a blue velvet I think.Probably my favorite item was this outdoor aluminum 'bamboo' table and chairs. I think it could just as easily be used indoors; the chairs are surprisingly lightweight and comfortable!

My favorite candles from Cire Trudon were also offered here. They were smart to cover them with glass cloches as the candles are so incredibly strong you don't even need to light them. I haven't lit the one on my coffee table in weeks but my apartment still smells wonderful (Proletaire is my favorite scent)!

Fittingly, this bust of Marie Antoinette watched over the candles.

One could spend hours browsing the store, all of the most interesting coffee table books were enticingly set next to every comfy sofa and coffee table! They really don't want you to leave!

Near the door, you can also buy fresh cut flowers. I normally am not a fan of brick walls in interiors, but it does make for a striking backdrop here.

The lower level (yes, there is more!) had many sale items, but was no less interesting than the main level. Whoever is in charge of their floor arragements is a very clever merchandiser!

If you ever find yourself in Chicago, I really recommend a visit to Jayson Home & Garden as it did not disappoint (This is not a paid advertisement, but if they wanted to send a candle my way I wouldn't turn it down! haha)

UPDATE: thanks for the candle!! Jayson is incredibly sweet!

Jayson is located at 1885 N. Clybourn Ave in Chicago.

Louis XIV

Typically, I'm not a fan of sculpture. I'll rush past sculpture in any museum to get to the paintings (or more likely, the furniture and decorative arts collection!). Nothing against the artform, but for me it always fades into the background.
However, this bronze bust of Louis XIV from 1700 done copying Bernini always stops me dead in my tracks at the National Gallery of Art. The Duveen brothers art dealers from London swear this bust was given by Louis XIV to his brother Phillipe for his Chateau Saint-Cloud where it sat until the chateau was destroyed in 1870, although there is no documentation. Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Arcimboldo exhibit

Last weekend I went to the National Gallery of Art East Wing to see a new exhibit about the renaissance artist, Arcimboldo.

I didn't recognize the name, but I did recognize the art. Arcimboldo (1526-1593) is best known for the paintings of the 4 seasons he did for the Holy Roman Emperor, Maximilian II. Summer is probably the most well known, seen below, dating to 1563. These portraits are comprised entirely of flowers and fruits in the most unusual and imaginative ways.

I spent hours in the exhibit examining the tiny details which are really remarkable.

However, my favorite part of the exhibit is after Arcimboldo and not by the artist himself. The artist Philip Haas created a fiberglass scultpure that is ENORMOUS of the artist's painting of 'Winter' from the 4 seasons. It is set off so well by the I.M.Pei designed space and it took me awhile to snap a photo of it with my phone without numerous tourists having their picture taken in front of it! The painting, seen below, was probably inspired by Leonardo's grotesques, which also are featured in the exhibit.

I recommend you all check out the exhibit which runs until January 9th. You won't regret it!

The Frauenkirche in Dresden

Recently, an Australian friend of mine went on a worldwide tour and sent me back lots of his photos he thought I would enjoy. I was immediatly struck by the beauty of the Frauenkirche in Dresden but even more so by its' fascinating story!

The baroque styled Lutheran church was originally finished in 1743, by George Bahr. The sandstone dome dominated the skyline of the city until it was finally completely destroyed in 1945 during WWII, along with much of the city. It lay in rubble for many years until it was declared a landmark in 1966.

However, the church was finally rebuilt in 2004, after the fall of communism, with only this one wall (the dark portion) being original. A happy case of restoration prooving you can't always keep a good building down!

detail shot or welcome home

Whats the first thing you see when you get home? If you have this condo (office?) in Carmel, CA, it just may be Ganesha, an Indian god. Why have an ordinary door knocker when you can have something extraordinary like this instead (and I am loving this green door)? A house may be about location, size and style but a home is in the details.

A spot to hang your hat

Don't we all wish for a little place to hang our hat and get away from it all? This charming dormer window in Paris looks to me to fit the bill. The ubiquitous geraniums in pots on a Juliet balcony really are so welcoming and homey. You know behind this facade is a little garret bedroom covered in toile de jouy with stacks of books and a cozy daybed with velvet covers and pots of tea with shortbread(at least in my daydream). Is it me or does fall have everyone longing for a nest of their own? Where would yours be?

Hanging around DC

I've been a bad blogger this week with only 1 post, so I'll make up for that here with 2 photos I took this week. The first is a beautiful garden, ready for fall, in Cleveland Park. This quaint Victorian house is up on a little hill and I love how the plants get gradually taller (and more colorful) as they work their way up the embankment.

The 2nd photo I took on my favorite block of N street, across from the house with the rupunzel tower. I love how a very basic townhouse takes on a whole lot of character with great intricate brickwork patterns. Why don't we experiment with this more today? Also notice the bells and whistles up on the roof too. Hope you all have a great weekend!

Playing with Architecture

Where do you stand on playing with architecture; Akin to playing with fire? I don't mean quite the level of playfulness of Disney, but more like this little townhouse I came across in San Francisco.

A plain white stucco house but with some amazingly FUN grillwork; I love the use of color and playful shapes here. You know whoever lives here is definitely a character (in a good way!). Even these little dormers above the door, which I doubt are functional as they're so small, bring a lot of personality to the house. Playing with architecture has a fruitful history. Across the street from this very house is an example: Egyptian Revival, probably from the early 1920s. Don't tell me they weren't being playful! If you can't be playful with your own house, where can you?