Late Spring at the Studio

Late spring has finally started to settle in around the studio.

April came and went without ever really feeling like the beginning of spring. The weather stayed unusually cold and grey for weeks, lingering much longer than normal after such a harsh winter.

Normally, I wait until after Mother’s Day to start buying plants for the gardens, but this year I think I needed to shake off the cold. My mother, Betty, and I decided to head to the nurseries early and, honestly, it ended up being one of my favorite parts of the season so far. The crowds hadn’t arrived yet, the traffic was still quiet, and we were able to wander slowly through the greenhouses without the usual rush of late spring.

Even though it’s now mid-May, there is still a chill in the air most mornings. But every day the sun feels a little stronger, slowly replenishing everything it touches.

I went with a much more neutral palette in the gardens this year and I’ve been surprised by how much I love it. White flowers layered with ornamental grasses moving in the breeze feel calm in a way I wasn’t expecting. I thought I would miss my usual moodier colors, but I really don’t.

This season, I planted Gulliver White bacopa, Lanai White trailing verbena, and large drifts of Diamond Frost euphorbia. I tucked a few Americana White geraniums throughout the beds and added Blue Dart grasses for movement. I also couldn’t resist bringing home two Corkscrew Rush plants simply because they feel so sculptural and unique. They clearly speak their own language.

The gardens feel quiet now. The birdbath fountains are running again, and most mornings begin outside with coffee, incense burning nearby, and watering the flowers before the day fully begins. This morning I watched two catbirds check out each of the four bird baths, stopping to bathe in each one before flying off together.

The no-see-ums, unfortunately, have returned as well.

Burning incense seems to help keep them at bay, so it has become part of my morning routine too ~ another small ritual folded into the rhythm of the studio lately.

A few pieces I’m loving:

• Botanical Lotion | Citrine
• Botanical Incense Sticks | Country Cottage
• Glycerin Soap | Rind