Gardening - Camellias

With over 3000 varieties, Camellia Japonica offers everyone a choice that may be considered the perfect flower. Every one of the varieties seems perfectly proportioned and gorgeous in color. You'll find antique botanical sketches to adorn your walls:

...but nothing compares to the real thing. Our favorites are white and simple:

Whatever you choose you can't go wrong. Choose western exposure unless you have good dappled light, and make sure you're within growing zones 6-9.

Design Tip - Tone on Tone

There are those who will tell you to run out and get this latest "it" color or that latest "it" furniture style (invariably those who want to sell you something new or who want to manufacture a new trend to sell a magazine); however, rich detail in tone-on-tone color will never fail to impress--always has, always will. Save the color for the seasonal flowers and decorations as seen here. Love this look? Drop us a line, and we can help.

The Goods - A French Chest

This gorgeous new french chest, with its subtle patterned front, is one of our newest additions in the boutique.

Lifestyle - Marie Selby Botanical Gardens

Continuing the garden theme, but staying a bit closer to home, we highly recommend a visit to Sarasota's Selby Botanical Gardens. After an unusually hard frost a couple of weeks ago, you might not expect much, but you'd be wrong. With an absolutely wonderful display house, you'll be dazzled with countless tropical plants year-round... and with the gardens overlooking the bay, gorgeous old homes on the property, mangroves, a butterfly garden, art shows, and the occasional jazz concert, there's always something fun afoot. The display house has orchids, bromeliads and other interesting tropicals galore:

As you exit the display house to tour the grounds, this guy greets you:

Walking the grounds, even after a harsh bit of weather, you'll see beautiful bits of color at every turn:

...and unique specimens like this zombie palm (Zombia Antillarum), native to the island of Hispanola:

Exploring the mangroves that surround the property, there's no telling what fun things you might find, like this new momma racoon escorting her young kit through the roots:

Before you leave, botanical art is often displayed in the Christy Payne Mansion, located on the grounds. Be sure to check it out. One example:

Click the logo to visit their website for more information. It's a wonderful and educational way to spend the day.

Lifestyle - Italian Gardens

If the winter weather has you dreaming of a grand escape to the lush gardens of Italy, use the wonderful website, Grandi Giardini Italiani, to view many of them and plan your holiday. If a trip isn't in the budget, the website makes for some excellent web surfing. Several of our favorite photos are included here; click the logo below the pictures to link to the website.

-images via grandigiardini.it