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Spring has Sprung .... Sort of

3/23/2016

 
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Sunday was the Vernal Equinox
The March equinox signals the beginning of spring in the Northern Hemisphere - earliest spring since 1896 -  It marks the moment when the sun crosses the celestial equator going from south to north. 
Don't despair just because it snowed; we are truly on our way to Spring.

Like most gardeners,  I can't wait to get my hands in the dirt
While I've been biding my time,  I've been taking advantage of some of the great resources available to gardeners in our area. 
The Delaware Center for Horticulture 

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The Delaware Center for Horticulture (The DCH) is a non-profit community resource organization dedicated to promoting knowledge and appreciation of gardening, horticulture, and conservation. 
Their work includes creating community gardens, beautifying public landscaping, planting trees, and hosting educational programs and community events.
 
I've been attending their Winter Lecture series

First up, "Design Your Kitchen Garden - The Art of Growing Food" by Ellen Ecker Ogden
We learned new ways to design and plant a kitchen garden for productivity, low maintenance and pleasure.  Pick up a copy of her book, if you want to join the fun.

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​Next up, "The Art of Gardening at Chanticleer" by R. William Thomas
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Chanticleer has been called the most romantic, imaginative, and exciting public garden in America. We enjoyed an enchanting evening exploring the creative process behind the magic. Want to learn more?  Pick up a copy of Bill's new book. ​
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In addition to their community programs, the DCH holds The Rare Plant Auction annually at Longwood Gardens. 

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​Save the date and celebrate the 36th Annual Rare Plant Auction® held on Saturday, April 30th, 2016 at Longwood Gardens, with special guests Bunny Williams and celebrated plant expert, Page Dickey.



The Master Gardener Program 

A wonderful resource for area gardeners
​

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​The Master Gardener programs provide intensive horticultural training to individuals who then volunteer as Master Gardeners in their communities by giving lectures, creating gardens, conducting research, and many other projects. They offer some of the best regionally specific advice you can get on home gardening.  
Delaware offers their program through the University of Delaware MasterGardeners
This is an invaluable service to all of us and a great opportunity for those with a desire to expand and share their horticultural knowledge. 
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I had the pleasure of attending a lecture by Dr. Anne Boyde, Master Gardener, last Saturday  on  "Art in the Garden".  Full of great advice and wonderful examples, it certainly had us all looking at our gardens with new eyes.  

Time to rethink the garden gnomes. 
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This region has been called the Garden Capital of America
​and with good reason

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We are blessed with countless public and private gardens of note in our vicinity. Paramount among them is Longwood Gardens

Although most of us have had the pleasure of visiting their spectacular holiday displays or been thrilled by their fountains, not all of us know about their extensive educational programs.  They offer programs for all levels of both professional and amateur horticulturists. ​
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I've relished my time working my way through their Floral Design Program.
With lectures, demonstrations and time to create with outstanding floral materials, it has been one of my creative highlights.  A serious, tail wagging happy place for me. 
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And how lucky are we to have Winterthur in our backyard?

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​Don't miss the March Bank
 
 In 1902 at the age of 22,  H. F. du Pont  began naturalizing daffodils on the bank and by the 1940s had planted thousands of snowdrops, snowflakes, crocus, squills, and glory-of-the-snow. It is in it's glory, so stop by.
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Winterthur offers many garden programs, including  Second Saturday Garden Walks

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Want to take the March Bank Home with you?
Enjoy the beauty of the March Bank year round with this stunning oil on canvas by Jacalyn Beam 
22.5" x 18.5" overall framed dimensions
March Bank - $1200

Time to Celebrate All Things Irish

3/17/2016

 
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March is Irish-American Heritage Month

With over 34 million Americans claiming Irish ancestry, chances are you have reason to celebrate.  Even if you have no Irish blood flowing through your veins, join in the fun.

Did you know?
  •  9 signatories of the Declaration of Independence were Irish.
  • 253 Irish-born men have received the Medal of Honor.
  •  20+ US presidents claim Irish ancestry - including Barack Obama
  • Irish-American Kathryn Dwyer Sullivan was the first woman from the U.S. to walk in space


Get in the spirit - Read one of these classics by Irish authors
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Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift (1726)                   
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde  (1890)
Dracula by Bram Stoker (1897)
Ulysses by James Joyce (1926)
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe  by C. S. Lewis  (1950)
Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt (1996)

Or maybe one that you're not as familiar with
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Tristram Shandy
by Laurence Sterne (1760)
"The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman" humorously chronicles the life of Tristram Shandy. It was made into a movie in 2005 with Steve Coogan, Jeremy Northam and Gillian Anderson
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The Last September
 by Elizabeth Bowen (1929)
A portrait of a young woman's coming of age in a 1920 country house of Anglo-Irish aristocrats as the British rule in Southern Ireland comes to an end.  Also a movie with Maggie Smith, think Downton Abbey gone Irish.
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At Swim-Two-Birds
by Flann O'Brien (1939)
A wildly comic send-up of Irish literature and culture.

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Room 
by Emma Donoghue (2010)
The story is told from the perspective of a five year old boy, Jack who is being held captive in a small room along with his mother.  This one too has been made into a movie which has been getting major buzz for Brae Larson who just received the Best Actress award for her portrayal of the mom.


We can't seem to get enough of  films about Ireland 

Here are some of my favorites
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The Quiet Man
1952
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Far and Away
1992
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Waking Ned Devine
1998
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The Secret of Roan Inish
1994
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Philomena
2013

We're celebrating in the shop with two of our favorite products from the Emerald Isle

Belleek 
The iconic porcelain of Ireland
 
Founded in Northern Ireland in 1857, Belleek is characterized by its thinness and slight iridescence.
Want to learn more? Check out this video
The Belleek Story
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We have these two lovely marine themed pieces in the shop
Perfect for the beach house
4" shell vase -$125
8" shell vase - $65


​Waterford 
Irish Crystal

Treasured heirlooms since 1783
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Here are just some of the lovely Waterford pieces currently in the shop
Large candle pillars in Lismore pattern - $375 the pair
Vase - $145
Pair of highball glasses - $95
Pair of round candlesticks - $95

    Karen Helme

    Karen is an interior designer and the owner of FOUND. 

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Frederick Country Center
5716 Kennett Pike
Centreville, DE 19807


Hours

Wed - Sat 
10:00-5:00

Telephone

302-777-FIND

Email

foundcharmingobjects@gmail.com
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