Sunday, May 12, 2019

Part 2, Designing, Gardening and Walking


To kick off Part 2 of our Cassina Garden Club Tour, 
we will start with the Curacao House. It is located at East Beach,
on Saint Simons Island, Georgia.

Rescued from "the wrecking ball" in 2010, this enchanting property features a garden with a magazine-worthy makeover resulting in a resort-style retreat that is both gracious and sophisticated. Thoughtfully designed, the garden incorporates an outdoor kitchen and screened lanai, surrounding a lush and inviting pool, resplendent with the soothing murmurs of rippling water. Visible from every room in the house and guest house, the walled design ensures a private oasis and provides a backdrop of seasonal color and iconic sounds of rustling palms which envelop the property.

I wish I could take you inside this home. It is my idea of a 
perfect vacation home! We were able to walk through
the main living area, but "no pictures were allowed."
But how gorgeous is this pool area!

They had a wonderful garage apartment with this beautiful bougainvillea 
growing on the trellis facing the pool area.

I have a large container of succulents, but mine have never grown this big!


On the side of the garage was this lovely raised garden bed. 

Our next stop was the Aiken House. 
Built in 1925, this historic Island home and guest house are surrounded by breathtaking gardens and stunning views. Situated on the St. Simons Sound, this oceanfront estate welcomes visitors into an elegant courtyard of ancient oaks and decades old camellias with benches tucked in for visitors to find quiet respite. Paths of established plantings and palms lead friends to the expansive veranda to enjoy the sprawling lawn and magnificent terracotta pots of seasonal color that have adorned the patio since its beginning nearly a century ago.

This was a large property and every area was landscaped to perfection.
The garage had these beautiful trellises with a guest suite above.

There were artist at many of the homes and they were busy painting
away in their gorgeous surroundings!

The front of this home was beautiful, but the ocean view was breathtaking! 

The oceanfront area was large and had several of these beautiful bronze
sculptures. This one looked so real we kept waiting for him to move!

Our third stop was called Family Affair. 
You find this garden full of laughter and child’s play as you enter a garden where kids never run out of things to discover! A play gym, a sandbox, and a pool are tucked into this beautiful garden with stunning views of the Retreat Club Golf Course. The generous terrace provides indoor-outdoor living for this busy young family all the while keeping an eye on their active family. This garden maximizes space and incorporates active areas for play, while creating gardens for reflection and relaxation. Who knew one space could do so much?

This home had a fence to keep the young children and pets from
the swimming pool area.

There was a screen porch and outdoor cooking are to the left of the pool. 

I wish I could get my container pots to look as great as these do! 

This back and side yard backed up to the Island Club golf course.

Not to be left out, the children had a great play area. 

We were asked to not take pictures of the exterior of this home, so we
will start pool side at the Cottage on the Green.
What a delight to discover this cozy cottage tucked among extensive plantings and well-designed gardens. Meander through robust sustainable native plantings of hydrangea, agapanthus, and olive trees complemented by handsome pots overflowing with delightful plantings of seasonal color. Round the corner of the property to find expansive views and a pond creating the perfect setting for the pool. The Mediterranean garden features citrus trees and an herb garden all within view from the back terrace. Find the owners’ children’s garden and potting bench as you exit the property…a true gardener’s delight!



Now this is what relaxing by the pool should look like! 


If you get hungry, you can always dine Al Fresco! 


If you get tired of relaxing and dining, you can always go fishing! 


Right outside the back door, you can find everything you need....



...to make your garden bloom! 


How easy is it to eat healthy, when you can step outside and put together
a fresh salad! 


Our last stop is The Beach House. Located just steps from the beach (and we mean steps), this unique and charming oceanfront beach house showcases a garden nestled among the most challenging of Mother Nature’s micro-climates: salt air and scorching sun. This compact garden provides the owners with seasonal color and has been planted with the harsh salt-climate in mind. An enjoyable and whimsical garden, the plantings present visitors who profess not to have a green thumb with numerous ideas of heat/drought tolerant plants which can enhance any garden or landscape.


This last house holds such very special memories for me. For thirty plus
years I spent so many wonderful holidays and special occasions here 
with the past owners and the large group of friends that were often 
stopping by. We affectionately referred to this house as The Big Chill"
house. Friends came by car or beach walk, because there was always
a party going on! 



I can remember back when the previous owners brought in a number 
of palm trees. They were very young trees, but the new owner gets to 
enjoy them at their full grown best!


The new owners have done a beautiful job of landscaping the area.
This shot is facing towards the ocean, but it did not capture 
all of the incredible view.


These stairs lead up to the back of the house. There is a porch where
you can sit on the swing and look south and watch a storm approach. 
It is a great place to relax rain or shine.


Many an islander or visitor has spent a Sunday night or Ga/Fl game 
around this fire pit! 


This house even comes with a private beach. No being washed 
away by the tide coming in here!


The new owners did a complete remodel, but kept the exterior very much
like it was originally. The first time I visited here, the house was a 
one level beach cottage. Over the years It has been jacked up with additional
porches and levels added. It is exactly what I think "a beach house"
should look like! This year marks the home's 100th birthday! 
I hope you have enjoyed the Garden Walk Tour 2019



source: Debbie's pictures, information and pictures from the Cassina Garden Club.

Click on the title of the post in Coral (at the top) to view this post online. You can see recent posts, other blogs I like, my archives and the links I post on the right sidebar. Some things do not translate as well in email. If you see there is a problem just click over. It is a more enjoyable reading experience. Thank you so much for following my blog. There is also a sign-up link available to receive this blog by email and another one to sign up for my newsletter Southern~Design~Style.. 

Monday, May 6, 2019

Designing, Gardening and Walking


The Gardening Girls and I headed South, in April, to enjoy the
Cassina Garden Club's Garden Walk, on Saint Simons Island, Georgia. 
This year's tour had six fabulous garden's. I took so many pictures,
 that I am going to share them in several blog posts. 

I am going to start out with the house they called
                                           The Village Bungalow
Home of one of the Island’s “tree spirits", discover a tranquil garden 
which provides an "outdoor room" and beckons all who enter the property. 
Nestled in “The Village” of St. Simons, this garden captivates visitors 
with the exacting attention to detail and the charming utilization of space
in this compact garden. Stroll through this property to find a plethora 
of whimsical birdhouses created by the homeowner, 
a potting shed that is both delightful and practical, 
and an abundant herb garden. This garden and home provided 
the backdrop to the film "Christmas on the Coast", 
and will provide further enjoyment to all who experience it!*

This tree spirit welcomed us! 

Love this patio area! 

One of the owner's many bird houses.

Many ideas for container gardens were on the tour. 

You can find little bits of humor around every corner! 

I wish we had time to sit a spell.

Tucked in this corner was an outdoor grill ready for the hamburgers! 

Even the grill area is beautifully landscaped!

A great sun room was inside this house. Look at those pillows!

Most of the homes do not let you go inside, but this one let 
us walk through the main level. I am so glad they did! 

This floor plan was open with the kitchen, living and dining all 
in one area. The sun room was off the living area. 

Such a nice coastal feel in the dining area. 

Heading back outside we found a swing with more great pillows! 

Herbs ready for cooking! 

Of course on the island you would have a "Shrimp" plant, it is 
the one on the back left. 

I love this potting shed. What a great collection of pottery vases! 

Another view of the potting shed.

You also need a place to keep your gardening tools!

This spot was called the plant hospital. When plants need special 
attention they visit here for awhile. 

Fence decorating!

Everywhere you look there is something unique.


Another spot to sit, rest and reflect on God's beauty. 

These fabulous window boxes end our tour.
I loved this home and garden the best, so I started our tour with it. 
But I will be back soon, to show you the rest of the wonderful gardens. 


“The glory of gardening: hands in the dirt, head in the sun, heart with nature. To nurture a garden is to feed not just on the body, but the soul. ”Alfred Austin



source: Debbie's pictures and information from Cassina Garden Club


Click on the title of the post in Coral (at the top) to view this post online. You can see recent posts, other blogs I like, my archives and the links I post on the right sidebar. Some things do not translate as well in email. If you see there is a problem just click over. It is a more enjoyable reading experience. Thank you so much for following my blog. There is also a sign-up link available to receive this blog by email and another one to sign up for my newsletter Southern~Design~Style..