Fun with Flowers and Peonies at Pharsalia

Welcome to Applejack Lane on this overcast Sunday morning.  This week I have spent an exorbitant amount of time in the outdoors in the yard and gardens.  But I must tell you I had a lot of inspiration to do so.  On Wednesday, our newly formed pseudo-garden club had its first outing at Pharsalia in neighboring Nelson County, VA.

Pharsalia, built in 1814 by Thomas Massie for his son and new bride, is a private residence and working farm with original outbuildings and  lovely gardens and  pristine orchards.  The present owner and fifth generation Massie descendant, Foxie Morgan, schedules various flower, birdhouse-making, basket, and cooking workshops throughout the year as well as hosts private weddings, reunions, and parties in the  elegant and historic residence.

I wondered it the fox on this rock at the base of the lawn was supposed to have been a tribute to our hostess or indicated that fox hunting once occurred on the premises. 

Our workshop was called Fun With Flowers and Peonies.  When we arrived, we gathered around the gazebo for a few flower facts from Foxie...

  

We were on the front row...

 

 Then, we were off to cut flowers and peonies...

We made arrangements...

We posed for a picture...

Followed by a lovely lunch on the lawn...

 After a lazy lunch, we toured the grounds.  This stick fence caught every one's attention...

Before leaving, we sat once more on the lawn gazing at beautiful orchards and taking a few moments to breathe in the pastoral sites of the day...

 After leaving Pharsalia, it was back to the reality of Applejack Lane where planting, weeding, and mulching awaited.

The rhodos are gorgeous this year...

 Herbs need to be marked...

Te bunny got mulched...

 And the replanted hostas did come back...

 Oh, by the way, here are my flower arrangements two days later...

Thanks for visiting AppleJack Lane.

Birthday Bash at the Brewery

Saturday was Mr. Applejack Lane's birthday.  Since Saturday is his normal day to golf, we chose to take him on a birthday excursion as soon as he came home as he is usually starved from being out all day.  And as in the past, we do not tell him where his birthday destination will be.  It is just get in the car and go.

This year's dinner site was the Blue Mountain Brewery or BMB as the locals call it. Blue Mountain Brewery is in the heart of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains, located in neighboring Nelson County near the crossroads of the Shenandoah National Park and Skyline Drive.   The brewery site also happens to be in the midst of Virginia’s finest wine region, known as “The Monticello Wine Trail”, between several of Virginia’s premier destination vineyards. It takes us about 30 minutes of driving time and we arrived late afternoon on this beautiful sun lit day in January .

The parking lots were packed.  People were milling around the grounds, sitting on the patios, enjoying what was left of the sunny afternoon.  I wished we could have come earlier to have an outdoor respite ourselves.

Inside, the place was really hopping.  My son tells me Saturday and Sunday are like this all the time.  But he is a regular patron there so we had no difficulty getting a table. It sort of reminded me of Cheers where everybody knows your name.  At least the staff knew his name. 

Most breweries have a sampler and this is BMB's tasting.  My son recommends The Full Nelson, named in honor of the county. 

Here's the birthday boy...

We all ordered something different. but here is the Chicken Parmesan pizza after a few guest tore into it.  I should have gotten a picture before it was dissected.  The presentation was beautiful.  Pizza is a specialty at the BMB.  Just about every table around us had at least one along with other entrees.  We enjoyed various burgers, Cuban sandwiches, and salads with all dressings made in house.  The chipolata ranch was excellent.

The restaurant has co-oped with local farmers to supply the hops and other ingredients for the beers as well as provide what is seasonally feasible for the food that is served.  One local establishment supplies the breads used for sandwiches.  This is a great boon for the economy of Nelson county.

The ladies in the party can't wait to go back and enjoy that terraced patio on a warm spring day. Blue Mountain Brewery is a place for friends, family, and those of us who enjoy the natural beauty of the Virginia countryside.

  Happy Birthday, Mr. Applejack!

Another Saturday Excursion

Just north of Harrisonburg on Route 11 is Harper's Lawn Ornaments. This has been a gardener's wonderland for ornaments and garden statuary for over 40 years. Most of the goods are made on site. In recent years, Harper's has developed a very nice water garden and fountain business. If you have a few hours to relax and meander, take a day trip and enjoy the sites.

There are mirrored balls,


beautiful fountains, and water gardens. Can you see the pineapple on the top of this fountain? These things are more affordable than you think.


Today, I am looking for something special. Hum, I don't think I need a lion.

I can't use a dragon today, either. Maybe another trip.

This boot is not my size. I'm not sure about the color, either. I don't think Stacy or Clinton would say it follows the rules.

These shoes look like the ones my dad wore around the farm except he would not wear shoes with holes in them.

I love these classic urns, but man, are they heavy! You can find all sizes and shapes of containers


and pedestals. This is just a sampling, and I do mean a sampling! You can find wares that are painted in various tones or the unfinished white pieces.

A pineapple finial is a must for my next trip.

These dogs belong in my friend Valerie's yard.

If this were gray, it would look like Cathy's dog, Mr. Kahlo. In fact, I bet this piece is heavier than Kahlo.

What about a squirrel

or two

or three? I would consider nailing this on the oak tree outside the kitchen window. This is a cute feeder! Maybe, I'll add him to next trip's list.

If I had pebbles somewhere, I would definitely bring this to Applejack Lane.

If you need a pig for your yard, I know where you can find one!

This is such a sweet piece, but I don't have a wall for this little boy and dog on which to sit at Applejack Lane.


I usually pick up a rabbit, but I thought this one was a little weird. His pose reminded me of a dog wanting to play.

Oh, WOW! A pink flamingo! Now, this is a possibility! I just heard about a pink flamingo party earlier this morning. He could join the flamingos I got for Mother's Day! But, alas, I must remember my mission.

Hum, now we are getting somewhere.



This is a sweet piece. I wonder.......


Ah, ha! This is what I want today. An apple leaf birdbath to go on Applejack Lane! But, it is not going to be a birdbath. You will have to stay tuned it to see what I plan for this.


Goodbye, Mr. Lion. Another fun morning at Harper's Lawn Ornaments. Until next time!

Art in the Park

Saturday morning, I went to Art in the Park at Gypsy Hill. It is a yearly event to showcase local and not so local artists. The weather was absolutely gorgeous, and many families enjoyed the amenities that the park had to offer.



I stopped by to examine cutting boards that were made from trees indigenous of this area. They had beautiful tree ring markings to add to their beauty.

This was an interesting vendor from Hot Springs. His friend in Utah made picture frames out of slate by water cutting. Some of the slate pieces had evidence of fossilized material within them.


Some beautiful stained glass art was also on display.


Several years ago, Cathy gave me a gourd birdhouse made by Susan Wolf of Toms Brook. I was happy to see her display here in Gypsy Hill. Doesn't this cat look like he just swallowed a canary?

I saw an old teacher friend here at this tent. Betty, second from the left, has been teaching an environmental class through Mary Baldwin College. This year's theme has been Lewis Creek, a mainstay of Staunton. Lewis Creek has its source less than half a mile from Applejack Lane.
Betty's students incorporated art and journaling in the ecological studies. The animal box sculptures which portrayed the animals of Lewis Creek were well done. The students who had their work on display were very talented.


Even the dogs enjoy Art in the Park.

It's time to leave. But I must make one more stop by the infamous Duck Pond. One of my favorite artists, Mary Ann Vessey, did a print of the Duck Pond several years ago. Every family in the vicinity has memories of taking their children there to feed the ducks, swans, and fish. Art in the Park is one of the simple pleasures of living in Staunton, Virginia.