Nature Contained

I always enjoy pulling out a new calendar. My 2008 selection comes from our talented dear friend and client, Anne Henning. What I find most beautiful in Anne’s work is her ability to capture the atmosphere and seasonality of the space she is shooting. Her photographs seem to gently whisper their story to you.

Nature Contained made the 2008 calendar this year! Look at the lovely photos of August and November! The scale is an antique which we received as a Christmas gift from Jeffie at the Provender. Thank you so much Jeffie!! I love how Anne captures the reflection from the barn window. The November photo is of some garden cloches that attach to a giant iron stake which can serve as a votive or vessel for small arrangements. We usually have them grouped in the garden or mixed in with the hens and chicks in the walkway. David was cleaning them out and had them drying on the concrete counter the day Anne came in and shot them.

You can enjoy more of Anne’s work on her website http://www.annehenning.com/ or at her gallery at 19a Depot Street, Duxbury, MA. You can purchase her calendar locally, at The Cottage.

I like that our season ends with a bang. We had a lovely December at the shop. I will say that the early snow and cold snap made some things a bit tricky like hanging garland, thawing conifers for holiday plantings and shuffling frozen stone containers in and out of the wintry weather. The work is hard, especially with a belly, but the end result is so magical it is hard to wear a sour puss and complain.

The whole ritual of bringing greens and nature into the home for the winter is really important to me. It connects me to something old and simple and exemplifies all things Nature Contained; nature without the artificial glitz of modern life. Being a plant person, I find it comforting to look to the Roman feast of Saturnalia as the inspiration to my family’s holiday celebration. Saturnalia was celebrated on the winter solstice in honor of Saturnus the god of agriculture. Romans decorated their houses with greens and lights and exchanged gifts such as coins for prosperity, pastries for happiness and lamps to light one’s journey through life. I cannot think of a better way to celebrate then with the fragrance of fresh greens in the air, the taste of marzipan cake on your lips and soft candlelight surrounding the people you love.

2008 is rolling in and I am looking forward to hanging up the new calendar, waiting for the 3 papilio amaryllis bulbs in my living room to flower, and to spending some time with Ken enjoying the last few months of my pregnancy. The shop at Tiverton Four Corners is closed until the first day of spring, March 20th. We are able to accommodate custom floral and garden orders with 3 days notice and we are in the process of exploring a 3 day reopen for Valentines 2008. We have some fun ideas brewing for 2008 and look forward to sharing them with you via the website & blog over the next few months. Please feel free to contact us via phone or email with any requests or to book consultations for 2008 event and garden work.

Thank you to all of you who made this year special to us; our clients, neighbors and friends who have made the shop feel like home. Thank you for your patronage, support and spirit.