Lowcountry Flora

02/28/2026

02/21/2026

Life update:
We had a contract on a lovely, water front, ten acre lot (imagine the garden opportunities), but recently learned that the land may contain unmarked graves from a darker period in our nation’s history. We cancelled that contract and are now looking at a beautiful home built at the end of the 19th century. If we purchase it, there will be lots of beautiful renovation and gardening posts to come. Offer is in with closing date in late April (still time to plant…).

For now I will share a home that I had used as a template when I thought we would be building a home on the 10 acre lot. Those deep set windows!!!!! 😍

https://ouroldhouses.com/love-the-long-driveway-three-houses-on-26-acres-c-1763-in-virginia/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQKNjYyODU2ODM3OQABHuscUzA59fhT8KU4_OqXMJWODP-2VPmBcvk5N16zYboLDKd55t3657YhP6Xu_aem_t98eOviqJVGnG0H8pgDciA

This property is known as Wilton. It is located in Hartfield, Virginia, and it was built all the way back in 1763. It is one of the best-preserved homes from the pre-revolutionary era that is still in private hands today. The house was originally built for a man named William Churchill, II. It still...

02/07/2026

https://www.stjude.org/get-involved/send-virtual-cards-online-to-childrens-hospital-patients/valentines-day.html?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQKNjYyODU2ODM3OQABHvnu33JtoyWJETlQJuM6BlmkyJLCF9tKWxT4QhKD5ViBup4fL43bzKsMlU_R_aem_SaEJPkfmfyV3a9tttzb77w

Choose a sweet e-card featuring layouts inspired by patient art, and then select a pre-written message, or create your own!

01/11/2026

They don’t build homes like this anymore. Those porches! The interior is a bit over the top for me and I can’t even imagine the square footage, but the view, the stairs, and the craftsmanship 😍

This 7096 square feet Single Family home has 5 bedrooms and 5 bathrooms. It is located at 345 S Church St, Smithfield, VA.

12/24/2025

Our family is pretty big on traditions that we have kept since my senior in college was old enough to experience them in a meaningful way. This year our Christmas decor remains boxed up . (I never want to pack up my house again.) Hopefully, we will find (or build) our family home and next Christmas all the boxes will be a distant memory.
For now we celebrate our Christmas week traditions the best we can. Last night we played Settlers of Catan (I won 😉) and enjoyed Grinch floats while watching The Grinch Who Stole Christmas. We almost have the script memorized 🥴.
Tonight we will enjoy candied bacon, grits (made the right way with lots of butter and heavy cream) and waffles before heading out on our scavenger hunt to find signs of Jesus throughout the community.
Typically we would head to the town Christmas tree for family pictures while the kids unwrap their gift boxes which include a new set of Christmas pajamas and an old fashioned Christmas DVD for their future households.
This year that will be a bit different. We will return home to enjoy our favorite peppermint and chocolate chip cookies along with peppermint steamers and a viewing of Polar Express. While the movie encourages us to believe in the spirit of Christmas as related to Santa Claus, it always reminds us to believe in the most important purpose and “spirit” of Christmas.
I hope your Christmas Eve is filled will love and traditions of your own. May the love of Christ be ever on your mind as you celebrate the most perfect gift of all.

Sip a warm Candy Cane Steamer on a cold winter's night and you'll enjoy peppermint dreams, we promise. PS, leave one out for Santa too!

12/24/2025

Oh guys, if you have never spent Christmas in Colonial Williamsburg I would seriously recommend it. We have taken the ferry over for The Grand Illumination (a spectacular fireworks event), experienced decadent hot chocolate and fudge at Kikwins, walked through history steeped streets, and braved the cold for magical ice skating. The people visiting, and staff, have been unbelievably friendly and full of Christmas cheer. It is like traveling back in time far from the maddening events surrounding us. (Of course I realize historically the town would have experienced a few maddening events) but our experiences have been truly magical.

You’re invited to meet the people who bring history to life. Plan your visit to our 18th-century city, where your admission ticket is the key to sites, tours, events, and more.

12/16/2025

We have moved. We picked up the bagged plants last weekend and immediately had a crazy cold front come through. The roses still look good, though. Some even have new growth, which is crazy. I do have a gift for finding properties that go under contract within 24 hours of our viewing them. We did follow up on that beautiful old home that was part of Powhatan’s dowry to John Rolfe. In fact, we went to see it again on Saturday just before taking the ferry over to Williamsburg. I think we have decided that the unknowns are just too great to make an offer. They have lowered the price a great deal, but it is a bit daunting for us. We did find some acreage today and have an inquiry out on it. My hope is to post regularly once we get settled as garden design will be a major aspect of our move. Anyway, I found these on Pinterest and thought I would share….

How to Make Heirloom Style Salt Dough Christmas Ornaments - White and Woodgrain

11/30/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/16kH3LgDam/?mibextid=WC7FNe

11/27/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1DAqdxnMQd/?mibextid=WC7FNe

08/06/2025

Oh my! Why can’t I find anything like this in the location I need to be in???? I would decorate differently, but the bones are definitely there.

I have been silent because we are still in a waiting game. Our house has been under contract since May, but the market is slow and the buyers are struggling to sell their home in TN. I have found NOTHING other than the house I posted originally. That house is still on the market, but the owners have left broken windows and such which makes me worry. I haven’t really planted anything because our buyers will want us out quickly once their home sells, and that timeline is uncertain. I want to chronicle our home and garden renovations once we move so I leave the page up. If you’re still here, thanks. I will design again once I have closure. If our buyers don’t sell their home I am not sure we will list again until next spring. Hopefully that won’t be a thing. Anyway, I thought I would give an update. I hope my local flower friends have survived this HOT summer.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19caYhna6k/?mibextid=WC7FNe

07/17/2025

Sharing this book of gorgeous inspiration for the home and garden. If you are planning a wedding, or simply want to dream over beautiful design, I recommend checking this book out at your local library (wait until I return it 😊) or purchase for your coffee table. I have linked the author’s website in comments.

07/07/2025

Memory popped up in my feed from 2023. I miss posting my designs. We are still in limbo as we wait for our buyers to sell their home in TN. I haven’t really found anything I love with regard to our future home. My roses are struggling in this heat and in their grow bags. I look out at rows of grow bags and hope to be planting again soon. So many sad things going on in this world. Remember to seek beauty, even when it’s difficult and if you are a believer pray for all of those hurting people in Texas.