• Blog
    • About ContessasHome (Revised – 8/15/21) to
  • Contact Us

ContessasHome formerly Contessas Garden and Gift, LLC

~ Vintage fine and decorative art, lamps, mirrors, chandeliers, small occasional furniture pieces, classic "hard cover"books, vintage "smalls", and handmade decorative art craft

ContessasHome formerly Contessas Garden and Gift, LLC

Monthly Archives: October 2020

Nurseries Still Have Plants Available

31 Saturday Oct 2020

Posted by ContessasHome in Today's Update

≈ Comments Off on Nurseries Still Have Plants Available

Weather is our friend. If you are a gardener or a farmer you are always looking at the weather forecast. We are fortunate that next week will give us three 70 degree days. Of course our mornings will be cooler. But, Mother Nature is on our side for “planting.” Our earth is still quite warm. We’ve noticed after all our rain, the grass is looking a brilliant green again. And if you look at your bushes closely they are coming back to life in a “green” kind of way. Plants are so resilient. Appreciate their never ending rewards. Parkfairfax has a lot of beauty, if you pay attention. Take a nice walk and see for yourself.

We can still plant bulbs for blooming in the spring, and bushes like the ones (3) pictured above – which is scheduled for “install” 
on Thursday on Martha Curtis Drive. It’s also not too late for a few annuals which give your garden just a little bit of color. Even just one medium sized pot on your front stoop, with a blossoming annual can make such a difference. You will enjoy seeing them in the early morning as you are having your favorite beverage. They are a cheerful reminder that in the spring you can have more of the same. How comforting and something to look forward to. Happy Planting this week……

The Garden Contessa

 

Planting today…….

30 Friday Oct 2020

Posted by ContessasHome in Today's Update

≈ Comments Off on Planting today…….

NOT……but our planting post of yesterday did encourage two new phone calls.  Thank you so very much!

These beautiful new Azaleas (3) will be planted very soon. We just purchased them for a client who lives in MD, but owns a rental in Parkfairfax. So we picked them out just this morning. They look very healthy and the blossoms are huge  Lovely!

And, we had another call about planting “fall” natives and creating a garden bed and amending clay soil. We will help both clients next week – post Election Day.

Today we will do some check up at two client sites. Very wet out to accomplish any real gardening today. The wind brings down branches and our clients are away,  so we often go by to tidy up. These are what we call our “maintenance” customers. If this is your situation, think about a “maintenance agreement” with The Garden Contessa. We are happy to help out.

What a nice chill is in the air this morning, but tomorrow looks to be a “some sun” day with 51 degrees. Maybe a great raking day if not too much wind. And maybe a great walk. If things have dried out, we plan to start collecting pretty leaves, acorns and unusual bark and moss. It’s time to create some indoor “fall” decor. 

Enjoy your day!

 

Perfect Planting Weather……coming!

29 Thursday Oct 2020

Posted by ContessasHome in Today's Update

≈ Comments Off on Perfect Planting Weather……coming!


Good Morning,

Thankful for rain. Just so you know…..this wonderful rain will moisten your beds and your yard so that after the rain you will have a perfect opportunity to plant. The weather is showing seven sunny and slightly cooler days ahead. Perfect planting weather. So consider purchasing a few pansies to give your beds or stoop planters a fresh look. Pansies are economical – did you know that if you plant them now – they will reward you all winter, especially on sunny days, and in the spring they will more than double their size in your beds. All they require is a little deadheading (plucking dead blossoms) and a little push of soil up around their bodies. And don’t forget to trim off dead and yellowing leaves. Pansies are cheerful, forgiving, and one of the sweetest flowers that can make it through the cold of winter. Contessa loves them. You might also. Remember that they will bloom even up to around April 15th. Once summer comes it’s way too warm for them. So enjoy them from now through April. This is where their value ($) comes in. One price – covering winter and spring  blossoms. It’s a thrifty way to plant.

One caution: Squirrels love to dig at them, especially when the earth is moist. We recommend a product called “Blood Meal” sprinkled around them like salt and pepper, it will deter the squirrels. And Blood Meal works for all plantings. We have a new bag and we are happy to share.  It doesn’t take much. If you do purchase a bag, it’s about $16. But if you are weary of the squirrels digging up your plants – the purchase is well worth it. If you keep your bag indoors and dry, your “Blood Meal” bag should last a good year. It helps for hassle free gardening.

Happy Planting…..

“Contessa”

 

 

 

 

                                   

The Urn Project

28 Wednesday Oct 2020

Posted by ContessasHome in Professional Services, Today's Update

≈ Comments Off on The Urn Project

Our Urn Project is complete  In a couple hours we will place them in position. (there are two/the other one is still drying). Right now they are drying from a second coat of paint that we finished about an hour ago. They turned out well. We used “0000” strength steel wool to remove the rust buildup, washed them thoroughly  and began to paint them on Monday. Oil- based Rust-oleum in a Flat Black.  Two coats were necessary and so we needed to wait between top and bottom coats so they could dry thoroughly before reversing their position.  

The was a fun project, a diversion from our gardening, and the bonus for us is – it’s another project completed outdoors. Since tomorrow’s not looking so promising weather-wise, we will fiddle with indoors plants, finish a great book,(oh and Delray’s Duncan Library is open on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturdays) if you dare to venture out in the rain,  and then we will prep for our next gardening job on Nov 4.

Grateful to have work – keeps us engaged and active. It’s all good.


If you have work for us, please do give us a call.  Always happy to see what you have in mind. No project is too large or too small. And remember your initial consultation is FREE and valued at $75.  

Penny
The Garden Contessa
703-548-1882
ContessasHome@gmail.com

 

Image

always and always……

28 Wednesday Oct 2020

Posted by ContessasHome | Filed under Today's Update

≈ Comments Off on always and always……

Prayer of St Francis

27 Tuesday Oct 2020

Posted by ContessasHome in Today's Update

≈ Comments Off on Prayer of St Francis

My wish is to share “love” and “peace” with you……

Life is just not normal now. It’s hard not to socialize. It’s hard not to see those we love. Words seem so inadequate.  We wish to touch, to offer a word of encouragement, to just look into the eyes of those we love. This separation time is hard.

Let this prayer of St Francis bring you comfort even as we are apart…..

A COLLECTION – Some of Contessa’s Favorites From Pinterest

26 Monday Oct 2020

Posted by ContessasHome in Today's Update

≈ Comments Off on A COLLECTION – Some of Contessa’s Favorites From Pinterest

pin.it/7IBkLeH

Hellebore

25 Sunday Oct 2020

Posted by ContessasHome in Today's Update

≈ Comments Off on Hellebore

We just planted a new Hellebore on a clients front stoop. Sooo pretty.

Hellebores – a favorite perennial for winter blooms

25 Sunday Oct 2020

Posted by ContessasHome in Today's Update

≈ Comments Off on Hellebores – a favorite perennial for winter blooms

“Hellebores” love the chill and they bloom from now until spring. So very unusual. And during their blooming season they seem to change colors every day. They are wonderful. We love them. On a really cold day with the sun shining they will surprise you. In our opinion they are the “queen” of winter blooms. It seems no two are alike. If it’s bitter cold they bow their faces and shy away. But as soon as the sun comes out they are looking at you again. A true favorite. Harder to find. A little expensive, but so worth it. The best part is they come back next year.

“
Contessa”

Turtle Yard Mosiac

24 Saturday Oct 2020

Posted by ContessasHome in Today's Update

≈ Comments Off on Turtle Yard Mosiac

Well ……wouldn’t this be cool to accomplish? And the “moss” filler between the cracks is lovely. Around here, it’s pretty easy to cultivate moss. It loves our swampy climate. We think this is so very cool. Think about it…..as a new project. Perfect for a shady spot, and we bet you can find the stones on your own  A cool challenge!!  Contessa likes it….


 

← Older posts

Subscribe

  • Entries (RSS)
  • Comments (RSS)

Archives

  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • February 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • January 2012
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
  • July 2011
  • May 2011
  • April 2011
  • March 2011
  • February 2011
  • January 2011
  • December 2010
  • November 2010
  • October 2010
  • September 2010
  • August 2010
  • July 2010
  • June 2010

Categories

  • "Classic" Hard Cover Books
  • Advent Prayer
  • Advent Study
  • Amy Butler
  • Art
  • Before • During • After
    • Before • During • In Progress
  • Birds
  • Blooms
  • Books
  • Classic Art volumes
  • Community Affairs
  • Compliments
  • Cookery
  • Del Ray UMC
  • Downton Abbey Tour
  • eBay
  • ETSY
  • Evening Prayer
  • Faith
  • Family
  • Friday Morning Devotional
  • Garden Tips
  • Gardening
  • Gardening Maintenance
  • Gardening Maintenance /Summer
  • Gratitude
  • Handmade
  • Helpful Tips
  • HOPE
  • Houseplants
  • Lenten Devotion
  • Lighting
  • LOVE
  • Morning Prayer
  • Morning Prayet
  • My Friday Devotional
  • Native Wildflowers
  • New Products
  • Nighttime Prayer
  • Pinterest
  • Planting
  • Planting 101
  • Professional Services
  • Re-potting 101
  • Reflections
  • Sale Items
  • Scripture
  • Sharing
  • Sold Today
  • Special Events
  • The Sabbath
  • Today's Update
  • Tonight’s Thought
  • Uncategorized
  • United Methodist Women – UMW
  • Vintage Acquisitions
  • Vintage Smalls
  • Weather
  • WELCOME!
  • Writing
  • Wrought Iron
  • Yoga (Hatha)

Meta

  • Register
  • Log in

Blog at WordPress.com.

  • Follow Following
    • ContessasHome formerly Contessas Garden and Gift, LLC
    • Join 112 other followers
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • ContessasHome formerly Contessas Garden and Gift, LLC
    • Customize
    • Follow Following
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Report this content
    • View site in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar
 

Loading Comments...