OK, first things first.
I’ve made it into The Finals of “The Homies”! (YAY!!) Thanks to you!
Now I need your help just once more to win.
I’ve already fallen behind (BOO) but voting is even simpler this time.
Just click HERE
and you’ll see this:
Easy peasy.
omg-can you tell I never got picked for any sports teams??
And now, without further pestering, the post;
Tim Walker
I don’t know about yours, but my garden looks like a dog’s breakfast right now.
Other than a few wildly optimistic blossoms on my pear tree that never grow pears (the eager date who shows up way too early-sweet, but it’s like never going to happen)
I’ve got nada. Zilch. Strike out.
Not only that…but more of this happened …
My last big willow bit the dust.
@$^&*(*%$#
Willow trees in Southern California are undoubtedly beautiful but let me tell you-they need a lot of supervision and attention.
They grow super fast, uproot easily, turn your back and they attract pests, and don’t look so great for a few months every year.
Basically, they’re the teen-age boys of the tree world.
So now I have about 10 of these wonderful stumps sitting around and I’m trying to decide what to do with them.
The Silver Lining is a dead tree turns into a beautiful ______ (Fill in the blank-don’t worry, this isn’t another contest 
)
I’ll put a few back in the garden as stools but I’d love to hear your suggestions on what to do with the rest.
I love pretty much everything with a touch of whimsy, but particularly in the garden.
Nothing more boring than spaces that take themselves too seriously. Life’s too short.
Anna Williams
both images via Pinterest
One of the reasons why I love gardens that incorporate “rooms”, no matter how small, is that they allow you to come upon hidden surprises, which is often the best way to add a sense of whimsy to your outdoor spaces.
One magnificent example of this is the incomparable Ninfa Gardens in Italy, which contains several ‘rooms’ as well as the pristine Ninfa river running through it.
Ninfa
Another is the garden created by Japanese silent film star Denjiro Okochi, located in the Sagano district of Kyoto, open to the public yet not wildly busy.
A stroll through the small, stunning gardens ends with a steaming cup of Macha in the tea house.
Speaking of teen-age boys…my younger son kicking it at the Okochi gardens.
Moss gardens or simply allowing any ground covering to rule also add a lovely sense of whimsy.
a fuzzy pic of my ground cover
Manolo Blahnik
I wish these were in my garden
One of the most effective ways to create a whimsical effect is to place items normally found indoors, outdoors…
This “room” at “Lunuganga” in Sri Lanka (more of this garden and house in an upcoming post-It’s truly beyond)
Some of the arches are mirrored, some are not. How flipping genius is that?!
See me??
Chanel
Of course outdoor mirrors can be applied in much smaller gardens and apartment terraces
both pics via Pinterest
I’ve used mirrors outside in many outdoor scenarios.
Which I can’t show here.
Because I’ve got “Save It For A Book” Fever now.
Giambattista Valli 2012
Another glimpse of “Lunuganga”
Tumblr
The very best thing about applying whimsy to the garden is that it’s utterly boundless.
And almost inevitably, you’ll get a helping hand from Mother Nature.
Whether you wanted it,
or not.
Happy Grammies, Downton Abbey (almost over 
) and to those of you on the East Coast-stay cozy!
xx
~
Located in the Indian Ocean, just a stone’s throw off the southern tip of Sri Lanka in Weligama Bay.
The famous stick fishermen of Weligama Bay
and yours truly, also in Weligama, waaay too many years ago to admit to.
I want to go back to Morocco now
The octagonal open air design allows the tropical breezes to flow through the house. The black doors you see flanking the terrace lead to bedrooms
This was Paul Bowle’s bedroom. Much of the original furnishings and paintings are still there. Don’t you just love the doors?!
Moi, in one of the other bedrooms enjoying a dreamy, sultry breeze on a very hot & humid day.
One of the things we loved about much of the architecture we encountered in Sri Lanka were the wonderful ways in which seating areas are incorporated into walls and floors.
Like this.
Taking late afternoon tea at Taprobane.Uh… no bats ’til dusk right???
The steps leading down to the ocean where the house staff told us the present owner and his mother had been swimming when the Tsunami struck.
A new infinity pool has been built in a higher location on the property. Here you can see how close the beach of Weligama is to the island.
The tropical gardens surrounding the house are brimming with eye-popping bouganvilla
Remember that the tide does rise in the afternoon in Weligama Bay!
A photo hanging in the house.
We had a couple of splendid dining experiences, including one night at “Eleven Madison Park”, mentioned in a previous post and listed in my slow-to-update “Travel” tab
Palate cleansers of heavily marinated diced apples, Apple Jack bourbon, and some molecular hijinks being prepared in the kitchen at “Eleven Madison Park”
and then there was the wild mushroom and poached egg pizza at 
I also enjoyed cocktails one night with “
If you haven’t already checked out Heather’s new book “Creativity at Work” you really should. A thoughtful compilation of creative souls in their work environments, with beautiful photos and very down-to-earth introductions by Heather, as well as inspiring interviews with each subject. A perfect gift or addition to your own library; here my copy (bought the day before Hurricane Sandy hit on my last trip to NY) sits on the living room table this Christmas.
As always, walking and window gazing through the streets of Manhattan never disappoints.
I dreamt and drooled through the recently opened Christian Liaigre flagship store on the upper east side.
and snapped this cute window at Jo Malone, really as a reference for a friend who is opening a tea salon in India! Swoon.
With my good friend Patty, whose hand I’m employing here for scale, I found a wine glass in Bergdorf Goodman that had my name written all over it. (back off Andrew!)
I stayed at The Mark Hotel where, as long time readers are aware, my love of black & white stripes has been applied with reckless abandon.
The Mark hotel (photos from my Instagram)
So, a little food & drink, a spot of shopping & people watching, a drop of culture and the company of loved ones- a perfect week in NY.
My butler’s bells are vibrating in anticipation
During our say in Portugal we had the pleasure of visiting the lovely little town of Pinhao, where the rustic scenes of this gorgeous wine making region are represented on the walls of their quaint train station.
Roberto Cavalli Resort 2013
Check the boots!
I’m totally in love with these Delft On Acid limited edition tiles by South African artist Ruan Hoffmann available thru 
and you can’t beat a spot of delft for old world charm, here mixed with great panache with dark wood, rough plaster walls and the sleekness of modern components.
Delft wallpaper via 
The combo of Delft with peach tones=perfection
Carolina Hererra is channeling Delft for Spring 2013
and Tadashi Shoji
The Mondrian Soho, NYC is in on the moment.
Glorious. Especially if your frenemies are opposite.
dang, I’ve lost the credit for these cute jammies.
Always gorgeous mixed with sea grass and large palm fronds, but then again, you had me at seagrass & large palm fronds…
Karolina Kurokova steps out in Cavalli
Vivienne Westwood
photo by Norman Parkinson
Carolina Herrera’s daughter in a sublime tableau of red & blue delftishness
Tory Burch Spring 2013
My girlfriend admiring the gorgeous tiles of the Pinhao train station. I just noticed how her scarf ties in with the wall border.
image via Pinterest
Gaultier, of course
