Design

On the calendar, fall is here, but in the southeastern U.S., we definitely have an long prolonged warm period into fall. After intense summer heat, the highs moderate, and the lows gradually drop, and finally, cooler air comes. Tomorrow, the high is predicted to be only 72° F. That's warm, for northern folks, but cool for us for late September. The Virginia creeper has already turned a lovely scarlet color -- maybe hastened by droughty conditions. This one is climbing up into the large Southern red oak near our house. Virginia creeper ( Parthenocissus virginiana )

I'm not the biggest fan of the brown and blue combo (although thechocolateblues.com is my most popular decor shopping blog), but this bedroom in the Traditional Home Built for Women Showhouse III designed by Scott Laslie is just so pretty. I love the block-print fabric for draperies and upholstered headboard, especially combined with the pink accents. And how about that chandelier? Wow.

After a quick dash to the mountains this weekend, I'm finally feeling at home again. The light was extraordinary at sunset. It illuminated the perennial border and the front meadow. And Mocha, after a long weekend, just waited for my gardening companion to come home.

I love this Los Angeles bungalow belonging to designer Moises Esquenazi . Such a fun mix of fabulous colors that leaves you feeling happy and rejuvenated. The outdoor space is to die for. I don't think it would be hard to entice friends over with a backyard like that! View more images and read all about the home at House Beautiful .

I walked through a series of interesting neighborhoods to reach a small nursery in a developing district along N. Mississippi. Some remarkable initiatives for community development (the 'trees' are the entrance to the Rebuilding Center), an excellent parking and all sorts of interesting landscapes were part of the experience. But the nursery, Pistils , turned out to be wonderful -- full of great plants, a charming shop selling all sorts of things, and knowledgeable staff. It was well worth seeking out.

As a big fan of maps (as well as budget-friendly ideas!), I love how this room was created with only $150 worth of inexpensive maps. This particular room was designed by David H. Mitchell for Southern Accents 2005. Check out this post on Brilliant Asylum for even more great rooms featuring maps and globes!

Thanks to Desire to Inspire , I discovered the portfolio of Canadian photographer Stacey Brandford . If you haven't checked it out for yourself, you must now! These images are just a taste of his skills. Such beautiful and inspirational shots! I especially love the first two of the dining room. So pretty!

I don't live in a large city, but I'd like us to do more to green the streetscapes and business landscapes. Portland isn't perfect, but their street plantings, "hell strip" plantings (that's the strip between the street and sidewalk), and containers are a big improvement from what I normally see. Of course Portland has the perfect benign climate for container plantings, and tough site plantings. But, this is what I saw in the downtown Pearl District of Portland today, and think about what you could encourage in your community. I know I'll be going home with good ideas about what to try.

I was going through some of the bedrooms on pointclickhome and thought these were great. So calm and peaceful, but modern and stylish too. I absolutely love the fireplace in the first image. And isn't that high ceiling amazing?! LOVE.

I'd noticed the tromboncino squash leaves disappearing, but because the vines were so robust and sprawling (and we could hardly eat all the squash, anyway), I assumed that deer had jumped the fence beneath the powerline corridor. But, my gardening companion reports that it's actually a rather large woodchuck (aargh!) that scuttled back into a burrow beneath the brush pile. Hmm, it's back to Chuckster bait, woodchuck lure, and a large Havahart trap after I get home.

The peacefulness of the Japanese Garden in Portland soothed an overstimulated conference attendee (that's me). I love interacting with like-minded folks, but I'm also used to having a LOT more quiet time than occurs in back to back sessions (no matter how interesting). I know I have company here -- many garden writers and photographers are reflective and observant, and not necessarily 24/7 types. I spoke to several like-minded folks today. So visiting the Japanese Garden was an antidote to the conference experience in closed-in rooms and no windows. These rose buds in the Portland Rose Garden near the Japanese Garden were my favorite image from a striking garden. This fellow has his territory near the snack stand staked out. It involves coaxes tourists into feeding him/her.

I am totally digging this bedroom belonging to actress Ione Skye. With the help of interior designer David Netto , a party room and art studio was transformed into this cozy and serene bedroom. I love all the details going into this bedroom, especially the fun hanging egg chair. Check out domino for even more photos of this great home !

Gaillardia with flower fly Rudbeckia subtomentosa ' Henry Eiler ' is an unusual and robust selection of a midwestern black-eyed Susan -- the ray petals have a lovely rolled edge. I've had fun learning more about western Agastache species -- there are some great candidates. I don't know what the species of this cultivar is, but it certainly is striking. It's Agastache 'Summer Love' from Terra Nova Nursery.

I love these unique rooms designed by Agnes Bourne , whose design studio is based in Jackson, Wyoming. The kitchen is so cool with the sketch and typography, not to mention absolutely gorgeous turquoise cabinetry. - Agnes Bourne via Desire to Inspire

I'm embarrassed to say, I found these twin giants hidden under the zucchini leaves yesterday. Just what am I going to make? If they taste all right, some will go in the freezer for soups this winter ... some in bread ... some into fried zucchini appetizers ... some given to my daughter. Please send me your recipes ;)

This endearing garden owner was looking for advice (the rest of her garden was spectacular). There were so many interesting vignettes in the jam-packed (I should say plant-packed) gardens we visited yesterday that I can only provide a sampling. Foliage plants are used extensively here, and apparently these gardens were quite representative of NW gardens.