autumn Archives - Linda Nelson

NEIGHBORLY PLANTINGS AND A PEAK INTO MY LIVING ROOM

October 6, 2016

I was delighted when my neighbors asked me to revamp their front foundation shrub border last month. They purchased this house several years ago, inheriting the contractor-esque plantings installed when it was built.

Here’s what the front border looked like for quite a few years.

©Linda Nelson 2016

This is what it looks like now! It’s an easy care planting that will produce splashes of flowering color, perfect for these occupants’ getaway retreat from NYC’s hustle and bustle.

©Linda Nelson 2016

Yes, it looks a bit “fresh cut out of the barber shop”, but the newly planted material will relax, fill out and naturalize within a season or so.

Isn’t this Carex ‘everillo’ absolutely gorgeous? It’s electric!

©Linda Nelson 2016

Okay, now let’s walk back over to my yard.

I snapped this photo of the walkway to my back yard last week. I think that despite it being early autumn, things here still look fresh and tidy.

©Linda Nelson 2016

My home’s front entry doesn’t lend itself to creating that wow factor. It can easily looked cluttered and out of balance if I’m not careful and selective; however, I do what I can to make it inviting. I like to keep select summer annuals for as long as possible, as many reawaken and brilliantly bloom when the chilly evenings roll in. I don’t exactly decorate for Halloween. Instead, I slowly phase out the summery things and phase in a look that will carry me through late fall.

©Linda Nelson 2016

Okay, let’s take a quick peak inside. I placed some “suggestive autumn-esque” things about. Again, not Halloween, but subtle, yet playful seasonal accents. I must apologize in advance with regard to the color quality and such. The interior of my home is very difficult to photograph; it’s either too dark in the morning or too washed out from the sunlight in the afternoon.

This is my front door tussie-mussie.

©Linda Nelson 2016

Here’s my rope wreath…. chillin’ with St. Joseph.

©Linda Nelson 2016

See…. the look is warm, friendly and transitional. And a little kitschy 🙂

©Linda Nelson 2016

Don’t mind the withering floral bouquet.

©Linda Nelson 2016

Okay, so maybe this hand evokes a bit of Halloween creepiness. Long ago I dated a gentleman that made creepy fired clay creations. This is what’s left of him.

©Linda Nelson 2016

Here’s one of my old windows that I repurposed.

©Linda Nelson 2016

And here’s my cat, who will turn sixteen years old one month from now. Isn’t he handsome? I think so.

©Linda Nelson 2016

I hope you enjoyed hanging out in my neighbor’s front yard, in my living room……. and think my cat is handsome!

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WINGING IT AGAIN

October 26, 2015

I made another visit to Wing Cottage in Clinton Corners, New York, this past weekend. My friend has been renting this jewel of a getaway cottage for the past few years, and I’ve had the pleasure of enjoying it quite a few times now.

©Linda Nelson 2015

Clinton Corners and its neighboring rural towns in the Duchess County region of New York, are just delightful to visit. My friend and I usually poke around in local shops, patron a fabulous eat spot or two, and just tool around to take in the countryside scenery. My soul is replenished and my cares and woes briefly put aside when I’m there; this visit was no different.

The property at Wing is now bathed in autumn’s color palette, but not in any way less lovely than during the summer.

©Linda Nelson 2015

Pictured below are some things I scoffed up for a song at a barn sale we visited. I tend to gravitate towards items that can do double duty. The mini muffin pan, for example, can serve as a bud vase tray, be used to make concrete/hypertufa molds, house odds and ends in one of my drawers or be hung on the wall, as is. I could even use it to bake mini muffins in, but that’s not likely. The little strainer will either cradle one of my succulent plants or get filled with birdseed and placed out on my patio table for my feathered friends.

©Linda Nelson 2015

Isn’t that kitschy little bird feeder adorable? How can it not be, costing just fifty cents! The white cabinet is destined for my office or bedroom, but not before a little makeover.

In addition to our afternoon excursion, I spent a bit of time reworking the property’s flower garden, which was humbly created by a previous owner, eventually neglected and long overdue for some attention. I’ll resume this project next spring and look forward to sharing with you the outcome of its editing.

©Linda Nelson 2015

The vegetable garden has all but closed shop for the season; the remnants of morning glory vines and sunflowers are just reminders of how cheery it looked this past summer.

©Linda Nelson 2015

And, I can’t conclude this post without sharing my friend’s boyfriend’s simplified renditions of works by Andy Goldsworthy…….

©Linda Nelson 2015

Every so often one needs to be taken under wing; this one suits me just fine.

©Linda Nelson 2015

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SEPTEMBER SNIPPINESS

September 15, 2015

I woke up this morning feeling a little snippy. No, not that kind of snippy, but snippy in that I was very inclined to fetch my pruners and do some playful harvesting. I had spent the weekend catching up on much needed seasonal yard work; therefore, a little creative puttering time was well earned.

There’s quite a menagerie of things to choose from and decorate with at this time of year, perfect for segueing into autumn. I always enjoy making floral bouquets. This one is a combination of fresh cut flowers, shrub foliage stems, various floral seed pod stalks and succulent cuttings.

©Linda Nelson 2015

Abelmoschus manihot seed pods make wonderful decorative jarred specimens…..

©Linda Nelson 2015

….. and Crocosmia’s spent flower stalks make for September sprays of loveliness.

©Linda Nelson 2015

Snipping and scavenging seem to go hand-in-hand for me; my favorite finds from the forest floor are feathers and pine cones.

©Linda Nelson 2015

Did I mention that I woke up feeling somewhat squirrely, too? The simplicity of gathered acorns showcased in a vessel is a timeless look for any home’s style.

Well, that’s enough snipping, scavenging and squirreling around for today.

Now……. it’s time for a little cat nap.

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THRICE UPON A YELLOW WING

November 2, 2014

Last weekend I made a return visit to Wing Cottage, and assisted my friend in taking down her vegetable garden and various garden beds for the season. The late October weather was glorious, some trees still clad in the celebratory hues of autumn.

Her vegetable garden harvest had proved bountiful throughout the summer, though upon my arrival this time around I was greeted with just these darling little diehard strawberry plants. And the rooster.

Upon the plants being cut back, it was apparent that the decorative treasures tucked about would now take center stage and be the sole stars of the show.

The property is lined with a few bluebird houses, something I hadn’t taken notice of during my previous two stays at Wing.

My friend’s periodic archeological property gleaning has rewarded her with numerous curiosities and props to play around with and display. She gifted me the bottles and jars, which I will add to my overabundant, yet never enough, collection of bud vases.

The pond on the property was the “it” spot for a harmonious choir of frogs and crickets during my visit back in August; though, by last weekend the performers had already packed up and left. This time around the tune was rustling leaves, and though still music to my ears, proof that fall was in full gear.

However, my friend’s boyfriend apparently still hears frogs and crickets.

I bet Wing wears a blanket of snow well, peeking out like a little yellow box of sunshine. I would love to find out.

If you are just now reading about Wing Cottage, take a peak at my posts from the past to learn more about this gem that’s nestled in the picture perfect country town of Clinton Corners, NY.

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