QUINCY HAMMOND LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE

I have been on enough garden tours in my life to know that the ratio of good:bad:mediocre is approximately 10:20:70, with about 2% of the goods being very, very goods. So I hold no expectation of every garden I see on this trip being a life-changingly inspirational experience, particularly when my very particular tastes are applied as the measuring stick. However, even in the worst and especially in the mediocre gardens, there is always a moment that makes it worth the visit—an innovative plant combination, an impressive tree, a unique paving detail.

At nearly this moment one week from today, I will be having my first glass of airport wine, waiting to board the first leg of a four-week journey around the French countryside (with much more and better wine.) And gardens--as many gardens as my eyes and intellect can absorb. The list is ambitious--40 at current count--but ranked in order of aesthetic preference per region. Yellow drops are maybe-if-there's-time. Green are must-see.  Turquoise are raison-d-etre-pour-moi. 

My Paris garden was published in the New York Times yesterday! To be fair, the article was about Abercrombie & Fitch and the photos focused primarily on the models (as they should.) But I am still a little over the moon...

...those ellipsis from my last post taunting me. Reminding me I have not written in so many months. There are two reasons: everyone's favorite excuse--especially for self-important blog-writers--"I was really busy" and the true story. I just didn't want to share. I wanted to keep it to myself for as long as possible, because it was that meaningful of an experience. Even now, I will limit photos and commentary to the designs of the incredible gardens of Florence. Wouldn't want to deviate from the focus by blathering on and on about the generous family that hosted me who will hopefully now be lifelong friends, or being followed around with cashmere blankets and prosecco by the staff of the glorious Il Salviatino, or being alone in the gallery with the David in tearful awe. This is not a travel blog.

So, without further delay, Boboli...

I am interrupting the reports of my European adventures to link to a great post on the myriad beautiful paving patterns at Dumbarton Oaks in Georgetown, Washington, DC. See for yourself on Jennifer Horn's blog Planted Cloud, http://www.plantedcloud.com/2010/11/dumbarton-oaks-paving-patterns.html