A line of 18th century portraits hung sparely
alongside one another…
The perfection of striped gilded chaise and parquet floor…
This 18th century Venetian églomisé mirror
and the photo above are from Frédéric Méchiche’s
Paris apartment in the January 1994 issue
of World of Interiors photographed by René Stoeltie.
Love the chalky walls, the sense of restraint
the lure of that one extravagant find…
Frédéric Méchiche again…this time for French pop star Karen Cheryl in Paris Objet Trouvé here
One of those small but perfect little books…
Edgy, eclectic, virtuoso pairing of pedigreed antiques with plucky finds…
René and Barbara Stoeltie photography
I am trying to keep you amused whilst awaiting the
Big Extravagant Peony Event. It’s about this time of year
that I start having dark thoughts about whether
these hard to bloom plants are worth their space.
Thirty plants. Twelve plants in bud. The air is heavy with
anticipation, and an unseasonable chill.
Another rumor of rain!
Here’s a Vivid Pink peony about to explode…
That’s nice…but I want this!
The borders on either side…still waiting…
Hi Trish! I have been a fan of your blog for a long time. How exquisite your garden blooms!
I can assure you that any room that the peonies require is worth the effort and 10 month wait! Living in dry and warm Southern California, I would give anything to be able to grow peonies.
I must pay a lot for them, up to $ 8. per stem! I do love seeing your buds ready to burst forth!
Your plethora of photos of gilt and patina-ed antiques, textiles and your garden always keep me wanting more!!!
Thank you, thank you!
Thanks for making my heart sing with all of the beauty. Can’t wait to see the Queen.
They are well worth waiting for,,, an extravaganza of beauty will burst forth in the wonder’s of the here and now and the pretty painted pollen faces will seek its goodness in the garden of visions and dreams.
joanny
Gorgeous! What a lovely gift you give us!
simply divine……and a way for the youngest of us can do things!! A huge gift!
It will be so worth the wait Trish….peonies are heavenly, xv.
Isn’t it amazing..after 17 years, the decor still in vogue…just shows that it is classic really. and o yes we are waiting in antisipation for your explosion-Lady of Peonies and roses…hugs Colette ~Afrique du Sud
Keep waiting Trish! As we know they can be capricious and it looks like all these Beauties are just waiting as well – for sunshine! Oh…I would love to have so many!!!
All of our Peonies are allready ‘gone’! Not many buds this year, more leaves as usual, far too early, too dry, and they only flowered for one week, sadly enough. And two shrubs did not even had a single bud at all!
So, I’ll wait patiently for yours. The borders look wonderful, love the little daysies ‘here and there’!
xxxkarin
Yes, they are worth the wait! But your garden is so heavenly even without them blooming!
Our tree peony season is at its peak, so I’ll be giving you a petite tour of our blooms this week. Honestly, I like the tree peonies even better. Do you grow any?
-Ann
The first picture of Frédéric Méchiche’s Parisian apartment…as you say, Trish, pure perfection. Ah, to live simply…but with the very best!
Peonies, a perfection of Nature, the Queen of the gardens, always worth the wait.
Thank you for a beautiful start to our day.
April
I am watching and waiting here as well…dismayed to find that one of our ten year old peony shrubs did not make it through the winter. First time this has happened to us. I counted on it for its dark pink/red blooms. Gardening is full of surprises, not always good ones! Your blog is absolutely lovely!!!!
Trish,
lol, nice repast while we wait! Patience is not a virtue I enjoy but in the garden it is so worth it!
Karen
Ahhh the waiting is almost the most exciting part of this game. I will await the birthing with a”I can’t wait” attitude + great images.
We had the lovely medium pink peonies growing up. There were always bees buzzing around them. I believe they opened the buds…So worth waiting for. There is nothing like the smell of peonies…wish I still had some.
You are so on my envious list. I think I found your blog about this time last year & watched the peonies bloom too. The gardens & the interior shots you pull continually make me drool!
Kansas has come and gone. Comanche (my truest best favorite) is in bud. Moderate to severe weather alert for today! Things are a bit later this year. It shows again that the real earners of their keep in a garden is the hardscape. New path (?) looks lovely. Fingers crossed for spectacular!
Peonies are worth whatever it takes for even one glorious day of bloom!! Hail the Queen!!
Your pictures are amazing, and your garden is breathtaking, I think all the flowers are worth the wait. I just planted some roses and I don’t know how long I will have to wait to see them blooming may be years, who knows.
Have a great day!
XXXX Ido
Trish, yes, worth the wait for the glorious show of blooms. Sadly, if a stong wind and torrent of rain arrives at the same time, the bushes and blooms succumb to such an onslaught of abuse. The trials and tribulations of gardening, however, the rewards far outway the risks. I always wait for a new post this time of year on your blog with great anticipation, it is all so lovely. So glad I found you also. Nella xo
Oh what a beautiful border! The colour scheme is so pretty! I also love the 1st photo of the portraits – yummy!
Over here in Orinda the peony are FINITO!I had 4 this year……..So gorgeous!
Were you at CHATEAU SONOMA on SUNDAY????
Trish,
I can’t keep my eyes of the images of that apartment!! Ooohh so beautiful! And then your garden looks fantastic! Everything blooms so well! The peonies are worthe waiting for, isn’t it!!
xx
Greet
Peonies are indeed the queens of the gardens… I wish I had your good hand to take care of flowers. However, I know how it feels to wait and wait till the bud blooms; and when it does, that´s a miracle!
your garden is Heaven
Trish,
The peonies look lovely. They look very healthy, and it looks like you will have quite a nice bouquet. Hopefully we won’t get too much more rain so they can open up the rest of the way. I have a few myself, but some haven’t done well with the weird weather this year. Have a great week!
Who doesn’t love peonies?! They are more than worth the trouble!