Latest Updates:

04/30/08 - Woodland Plant Descriptions
04/30/08 - Woodland Seasonal Chart (excel chart in new window)
03/15/08 - Travel - Western Caribbean Cruise
03/15/08 - Sugar Cookie Recipe
03/08/08 - Plant Articles - Bloodroot
03/02/08 - My Gardens - Woodland
03/02/08 - Travel Home Page
02/28/08 - My Gardens -Dry Woodland
02/28/08 - My Gardens - Under the Sea:Sedum Bed

About Me

Growing up

I was born in Verdun, France.  My father was in the Army when he met my mother who had been relocated to France from Poland during WWII.  Originally my parents communicated in broken German which my father must have learned while in the Army.  I doubt very much that he learned it in the hills of Virginia where he grew up.  I am the oldest and only girl of their three children.  My older brother Jimmy is one year younger than me and Joey is 7 1/2 years younger.

Being a military brat meant moving a lot while growing up.  By the time I was 10 we had lived in France, Kentucky, Virginia, Germany, Kansas and back to Virginia.  I was very envious of the kids in high school that had known each other since elementary school.

Prince William, Virginia - a great place to call home

I currently live with my wonderful husband, Richard, at Lake Jackson in Prince William County, Virginia.  Lake Jackson is actually a dammed river.  Richard likes to go fishing in his 17 foot bass boat. I call this our vacation home even though we live here year round.

Our four grown children (three daughters and a son) visit us at our lake house which was named "The Dam Sight" back when it was built in the 30s.  It got it's name because of the view of the dam from from our home.  This picture was taken from our dock.

We really enjoy the diversity of our neighborhood.   Eclectic is one word that comes to mind when thinking about our community.  We don't have paved roads for the most part which is one of the issues that people here feel passionate about (some for, some against).  Richard and I run an unofficial Lake Jackson website at www.lakejacksonva.com.

Because of where we live, riparian gardening is quickly becoming my passion.  I am working on installing a waterfront garden that will help filter out pollutants before they enter the river as well as provide a place for wildlife to thrive, but the catch is to be able to do these things and still have a "garden" look.  One way or another I'm going to eliminate the lawn at this house. We don't have kids to play on it and since we live on a hill it's not fun to mow.  I've just begun to do this within the last year so I'm not sure yet how successful I'll be.

Being just 35 miles away from Washington DC is great.  We are far enough to have very little crime to deal with but close enough for all the shopping, arts, museums, etc. a person could want.  The picture to the left is of the famous Cherry Blossoms in DC.  

Our county has been growing in leaps and bounds which frankly I'm not so pleased with.  I love the rural areas here and hope that some will be preserved for future generations.  

Boredom is something I rarely experience

My number one hobby is gardening.  As much as I enjoy shopping and planting my favorite part of gardening is relaxing with a cup of tea in one of my gardens watching the world go by.  But gardening is by no means my only hobby. 

I love taking pictures - particularly of flowers, birds, butterflies and bees.  I'm not good at taking people pictures ... there must be a trick that I haven't figured out yet.  I haven't given up though and I'm sure by the time the first grandkid comes around I'll have it downpat.  Digital photography is the way to go as far as I'm concerned.  I've found that if you take enough pictures one of them is bound to turn out.  I also like being able to edit my own pictures which thankfully I've gotten pretty quick at doing these days.

I'm also a collector.  I collect way too much stuff (just ask Richard - he'll tell you).  My favorite collection is of restaurant creamers but they must be individual serving pitchers with no handles.  I also have a collection of forget me not tea cups, old bridge paraphnelia, glass (fenton types), animals dressed as the easter bunny, snowmen with stick out noses (I have 8 different theme trees at Christmas), anything Pixar...I'm sure you're getting the idea. 

I'm also an avid reader.  My favorite authors, although this changes pretty frequently, are Janet Evanovich (that's her sitting, I'm standing), Carl Hiaason, and Sue Grafton.  I also spend time reading gardening books and cook books - both of which I collect - big surprise eh?

I love to entertain, cook, travel, visit public gardens, doing crafts of all sorts including scrapbooks, and shop at junk junk shops or even a good garage sale.  I belong to Countryside Garden Club, Prince William Wildflower Society - a local chapter of the Native Plant Society, The Bluebird Association and I'm an active Master Gardener.  I'm also an election officer.  There is nothing that will make you feel prouder to be an American than working at an election.  I'm not sure which makes my heart soar more... the young first time voters who's timid faces often show pride or the elderly ones that can barely walk in by themselves wearing red, white and blue pins, sweaters, ties and or scarves.