My Mother's Day! Come see my photos and please leave a comment

We woke up to gorgeous spring weather here in the Northeast and it was so wonderful to spend the day with my daughter, Alexis and dear friend, Kevin Sharkey.  We shared a really delicious lunch and had a fun and inspiring time together.  I hope you enjoy these photos. 

The garden near the greenhouse is growing really well - Hostas, Alliums, Epimedium, and Leucojum

A new Hosta from Klehm's Song Sparrow Perennial Farms www.songsparrow.com is compact, bright green, and sturdy.

More Epimedium, Hostas, Thalictrum and Aruncus

The side terrace looks especially verdant this spring with all of the boxwoods, some stewartias, and the hornbeam hedge just leafing out. Can you believe how beautiful the Kmart Chippendale-style outdoor furniture is?

A gorgeous purple wisteria standard just starting to bloom

These were the wonderfully wrapped presents brought to me on Mother's Day by my daughter Alexis - the four brown and pink packages hold paper coasters printed with my initials, the big blue box is a pair of La Perla silk pajamas, the the colorful boxes were filled with baked goods

You may know that Alexis is a fantastic baker -  she gave me homemade graham crackers, Butter-butters, and chocolate caramel bars.

Alexis searches for and finds incredible boxes for her baking.

Kevin gave me an amazing white porcelain lazy Susan cake stand.

Here is the first rhubarb of the season.

The sink is full of freshly-picked asparagus - we had some for lunch.

The dining room table was set with pretty linens for our informal lunch

A closeup of the place setting

The Olson's from  Silicone Valley sent me some of the season's first bing cherries - so sweet, juicy, and delicious.

A great cantaloupe cut into peeled wedges

This is fresh cream cheese from Russ and Daughters in NYC - no preservatives.

Alexis is now making her own bagels - we all had to admit they were the best bagels we ever had!

Kevin said these asparagus were the best he has ever eaten.

After lunch and Scrabble, we went to my friend's court and had a tennis lesson with Radoslav Radev - a great teacher and charming guy

Kevin is actually a very graceful tennis player.

Alexis and I look just a bit weary after horseback riding, lunch, scrabble, and tennis

Woops! - at 5:30 I remembered that I promised to bring a lemon meringue tart to dinner at the Warden's.

I baked two, just in case - they were unbelievably yummy.

Katie Goldberg and her Seattle-based mom came to visit - Katie works in corporate communications - they wanted to see the gardens and the property.

This is a type of Epimedium that is spreading in habit - it has bright green leaves and is edged in deep red.

A wisteria standard blooming in a deep purple shade - see the new tee pees that we use for clematis integrifolia supports.

This is a newly planted mature lilac standard - it should look spectacular in a few days.

The old apple espaliers are under-planted with blue muscari

Comments

[Stockton]

I love the table setting! Glad you had a great day.

[Sonja Nelson]

Your gardens are beautiful and what a wonderful way to spend Mother's Day! The bagels look oh so yummy, I am quite jealous!

[Sharron Johnson]

Hi Martha, I watch your show everyday I live in Cape Town SouthAfrica. I think we are watching old episodes of your show. Today we watched the programme where the dog trainer was helping to train your little black dog francesca. How far behind are we. We are going into winter here as I see you are getting hot weather. Thanks for a fantastic show.

[Cydney]

Magic, the gardens simply put! So happy your day was wonderful. Thanks for sharing, smiles, Cydney

[Judy C.]

Martha, your tribute to your Mother was beautiful. The song at the end was so beautiful and the person singing has a wonderful voice. I cried my eyes out. This was my third year without my Mom and I think I am getting better. Thank you so much for sharing your life with me. The pictures of your place are lovely and I am so glad you and Alexis and Kevin had a wonderful day. Love you Martha. Judy C.

[Jane M]

Great photos! Looks like you had a very nice Mother's Day.

[Trish]

Your gardens are so beautiful and the grass so green. What a picture they make! I'm glad you enjoyed your day with Kevin and your talented daughter Alexis! All of your pictures took my breath away; loved the table setting. Trish

[Susan]

You are so Martha Stewart!!! Are not Mother's Days wonderful? And the memories of our mothers just conclude a perfect day.

[Amy N.]

Martha - Glad you enjoyed your Mother's Day. Watching your show today, I have to say, as an average housewife, if my family had given me the gift Joey gave to his wife -- having himself and the kids clean the house -- I would have * * *LOVED* * * it!!!

[Kathy]

Hi, Martha,
I'm happy you had a wonderful Mother's Day with Alexis and Kevin Sharkey. The rhubarb and asparagus (from your gardens?) look delicious, as do the bing cherries, cantaloupe, and cream cheese. Alexis is quite a baker. Her bagels, graham crackers, fluffer-nutters, and chocolate caramel bars must have been tasty. She is also a fantastic wrapper of presents like the coasters, pajamas, and baked goods; Kevin wrapped that white porcelain lazy Susan cake stand well, too. It must be beautiful.
I enjoyed seeing the beauty around your home once again. The hostas, alliums, epimedium, eucojum, thalictrum, and aruncus are so lovely as are the boxwoods, stewartia, and hormbeam hedge. What sights to see while sitting in that Chippendale-stlye outdoor furniture! Your purple wisteria is gorgeous as are the lilacs, apple espaliers, and blue muscari. Everywhere images to remember. I'm interested to see the tee pees you use to support clematis.
Your lemon meringue tarts reminded me of the ones my Mom used to make, one of my favorites. Thanks for the memories!
Kathy

[Laurie Ivanchuk{Ukraine}]

Woow what a beautifull yard you have it sure is looking wonderfull already. I just love spring. Sure looks like you had a great day with your daughter, keep the pictures coming of your yard.

[Kathy]

Enjoyed Susan's comment---"You are so Martha Stewart!!!"
Kathy

[Margie]

The wistera blooms are a true gift but everything is beautiful. It is so nice you appreciate nature's gifts and wish to share them with others.

[Sheri]

What a lovely way to spend Mother's Day. I loved your napkins. When my daughter was 4 years old (she's now 17), I took a class to learn madeira applique using Martha Pullen's technique. I made her a little a line linen dress with a madeira collar. I'm going to get my notes out and try to make some of those napkins.

[Desiree']

Martha,
I am so glad that you had a wonderful Mothers Day. The tribute to your mother on your show was just lovely. I cried. I really enjoyed seeing how you spent your Mother's day, Alexis is a very talented baker. Thanks for sharing!

[Kathy J.]

Everything is just lovely. What inspiring images to start out the week!

[Christine Connallon]

Martha,

It looks like you had a wonderful Mother's Day! Thanks so much for sharing it with us!

Best,
Christine Connallon

[Susan Goldberg]

Hello Martha,
Katie and I enjoyed our visit so much! Thank you for allowing us to see your amazing gardens.They are a feast for the senses!
Best regards,
Sue

[Joan Fluor Mason, OH]

Martha,

So glad that you had a wonderful Mother's Day.

Your farm is like living in heaven
everything is beautiful.

I have really enjoyed the last two blogs,,,the tree dedicated to your Mother and your Mother's Day
luncheon. All the food looks so
inviting.

We love your photos, thanks for sharing your home with us.

All the best to you and your family.

Joan, Mason, OH

[Mary Ann]

Martha, You really are special. To have your daughter spend the day with you is so special. I remember the happy times you had with your Mother on the show. You both were happy just to be with each other. My Mother has been gone for 23 years and I still miss her. I can't even imagine how you feel about your Mother not being here. They say if you get through the first holiday without them, it gets easier. I don't believe it. I will always miss my Mom. God bless you Martha and take care of each other (Alexis and yourself). May God watch over you and your family and friends. Mary Ann

[Jon]

What a wonderful day you all had. Everything was so lovely. Alexis and Kevin, and a sumptuous lunch, what more can anyone ask for!
Happy Mother's Day!

[Jennifer]

Happy Mother's Day. It looks like you had a lovely afternoon.

[Sarah H.]

I absolutely love the napkins in your table setting. Are you considering adding those to your Macy's line? The decorative cut edge and the bright color underneath are stunning.

[Kristina]

I often wonder about what makes a good bagel or a good soft pretzel. Do you think Alexis would show us how to do it? That would be different and interesting. All the people outside NYC or Philly area would be able to see what they have been missing.
BTW, I watch everyday and really enjoy the show. I am looking forward to trying the chicken and dumplings that was on today. It looked so easy. I think I am going to put some carrots and celery in mine though.
Keep up the good work!

[sara]

The grounds are your farm are amazing. Looks like you had a nice Mothers day!