Mt Cuba Botanic Center

Former home of Mr. & Mrs Lammot du Pont Copeland, Hockessin, DE

If I were to have a conservatory it would be lovely to have large tall windows facing southeast. From inside I could look out on the rolling hills of the Piedmont range in northern Delaware. The tall windows would allow light to flood into the second story of the house and the room.  The sun would fall on the black and white tile floor. The potted plants would thrive in the pleasant environment.The walls would be painted with a soft taupe. A perfect sideboard in green with gold leaf accents would be just the thing to showcase a collection of floral china pieces....   Continue Reading

Mt Cuba Gardens, Hockessin, DE

A rare day in May found me walking in the woods down a path flanked with blooming ephemeral spring flowers.  There were jack-in-the-pulpit, and the trillions in yellow, wine, red, white and pink were all about the ground.  The native florida flame azalea shrub with its deep orange blossoms added intense color in the green forest.  The tulip poplar trees shot 100 feet into the sky providing a full canopy of cooling shade.  My destination was the lowland ponds.  I wasn’t sure how it could be any prettier and yet when I arrived it was wonderful....   Continue Reading

Nemours Mansion and Gardens is Alfred duPont’s tribute to his family’s French Heritage.  In 1909 he built a 102 room mansion in the late-18th-century French style.  The mansion is said to be based upon “Marie Antoinette’s Petit Trianon at the Chateau de Versailles.”  I toured the mansion and it was lavish and lovely.  The garden surrounding the house is said to be the largest formal French garden in North America.  It is  grand,  symmetrical and designed to impress. ...   Continue Reading