It's always a joy to see beautiful potted plants displayed around the farm.
Every year, I take out many of my outdoor ornamental urns and fill them with plants. They do well outside in the warmer months and look great arranged around my home. Last week, I asked my head gardener, Ryan McCallister, to fill the faux bois planters on the terrace outside my Winter House Green Parlor with a variety of different geraniums. The leaves of these plants can vary widely in shape, texture, color, and even scent, making them so interesting when planted together.
Enjoy these photos.
Several years ago, I purchased a very interesting group of faux bois planters from The Tropics, Inc. in Los Angeles. The Tropics, Inc. is a leader in the rare specimen plant and tree industry and carries thousands of tropical plants, trees, orchids, and decorative accessories. I decided these planters would look great on the terrace outside my Winter House Green Parlor.
This year, I thought the planters would look lovely potted up with geraniums. These sun-loving plants are loved for their interesting and aromatic leaves, colorful blooms, and versatility both in the garden and in containers.
I enjoy them most for the foliage. These will look so nice in the giant urns.
Ryan starts by adding a generous sprinkling of Osmocote – small plant food particles known as prills. These prills coat a core of nutrients including nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.
I also use Miracle-Gro Organic Outdoor Potting Mix. It contains a quick-release natural fertilizer that feeds plants for up to two months.
Ryan spreads the soil mix evenly across the planter. Geraniums prefer moist, fertile, well-drained soil.
When planting several specimens in one container, it’s a good idea to plan the arrangement first. Be sure the pot can accommodate all the plants’ root systems and that the pot is big enough for all the selected plants when full grown.
Also arrange them so all the plants can be seen. Here, Ryan placed the larger ones on both ends of the planter with smaller plants in the center.
Geranium leaves are typically palmate or deeply lobed, meaning the leaf segments radiate from a central point, as in a hand or fan.
Leaf color is usually green, but many feature variegation and different color markings.
This variety has a red to bronze color leaf, adding more interest even when there are no flowers.
Ryan makes a hole twice the diameter of the root ball.
The hole is also as deep as the root ball.
Ryan carefully removes the plant from its pot and teases the root ball to stimulate growth before planting. This is called scarifying.
As each specimen is planted, Ryan tamps the soil down to prevent any air holes and ensure good contact.
Some of the plants are blooming. Geranium flowers often grow in clusters along long stems and come in a wide spectrum of colors, including soft pastels, vibrant magentas, deep reds, violet-blues, and even white.
Ryan also makes sure there is enough space between plants, so they are not overcrowded and have enough room as they grow.
Ryan mixes the plants together instead of planting like foliage in one pot. Geraniums prefer full sun, but some varieties can also tolerate indirect sun or partial shade.
I think the potted faux bois planters look perfect with the geraniums. These plants will grow nicely and provide color and interest to this terrace.
If you’re thinking of filling planters outside your home, consider geraniums – they’re easy to care for and add charm and beauty to any space all season long.
Have you tried Elm Biosciences yet? Even actress Courteney Cox says she can't wait to use my skin products!
Last month, Courteney joined me at New York City's Soho restaurant, Altro Paradiso, for a luncheon and moderated conversation about beauty, longevity, keeping healthy rituals, embracing change, and building brands. Also in attendance were more than 30 female founders, beauty insiders, makeup artists, and content creators. I hope you saw some of the photos and videos on my Instagram page @MarthaStewart48. It was a great way to share more about Elm Biosciences and our innovative and unique approach to graceful aging and skin care. You're all going to love Elm! Click anywhere on this highlighted link to buy your beauty set right now!
Enjoy these photos.
Everyone is still talking about the lovely luncheon we had last month celebrating Elm. Here I am with Elm co-founder dermatologist, Dr. Dhaval Bhanusali and Courteney. Dr. Bhanusali and I developed Elm Biosciences with an innovative and unique lab-to-patient model offering a science-backed inside-approach to graceful aging and skin longevity. (Photo by BFA)
I love my A30 Elemental Night Cream and the A30 Elemental Serum – both formulas that help enrich the skin. (Photo by BFA)
I’ve been taking the Inner Dose supplements and using the creams every day and my skin has responded so beautifully. (Photo by BFA)
The event was held at Manhattan’s Altro Paradiso. On one side of the restaurant was a pop up stage where we held the moderated conversation. We used Vesper Corp for the event’s set-up and details. (Photo by BFA)
Courteney and I are both passionate entrepreneurs. (Photo by BFA)
During the conversation, I talked about business and passion, about what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur, the importance of staying excited, and one of my big mantras – to learn something new every day. (Photo by BFA)
Courteney spoke about her love for being busy and having many hobbies. (Photo by BFA)
Courteney and I talked a little about gardening. I said everyone should eat fresh vegetables from one’s own garden. Courteney said she’s ready to start planting! (Photo by BFA)
Our moderator was Jenny B. Fine, editor in chief of Beauty Inc. (Photo by BFA)
It was so nice to speak in front of such an enthusiastic crowd – I hope you’ve seen all the social media posts on this fun event. (Photo by BFA)
We reserved the restaurant for the entire midday event. The tables were dressed in white and decorated with fresh spring flowers. (Photo by BFA)
Some of the flowers used include Anthurium, Oncidium orchids, yellow sweet peas and dill. (Photo by BFA)
More flowers were displayed around the venue – created by Sweetscape NYC. (Photo by BFA)
All the place cards were hand drawn by artist Andrea Shine. (Photo by BFA)
The napkins were also embroidered with Elm.
And utter pats were personalized for the event. (Photo by BFA)
The formal symbol of our skincare brand is the elm bonsai. The bonsai, when thoughtfully and carefully maintained, becomes more beautiful as it matures. New England Bonsai Gardens loaned us several bonsai specimens for the luncheon. (Photo by BFA)
The menu included a starter of procscuitto, whipped ricotta and olives. The pane was followed by a Finocchio Fennel salad, Gamberi Crudo, and then Trota with Asparagus, Zuppa Mussels and Chickpea Soup. For dessert – Lemon Sorbetto and Ricotta and Rhubarb Tart – all by Chef Ignacio Mattos. (Photo by BFA)
Each guest went home with an assortment of products from Elm, and Courtney’s home and body collection. Be sure to go online now and buy your Elm Inner Dose supplements, A3O Elemental Serum, and A30 Elemental Night Cream. (Photo by BFA)
After the luncheon, there were many opportunities for photos. Here I am with Jenny, Dr. Bhanusali and Courteney. What a fun event for all. I assure you, there’s nothing like Elm Biosciences – just try it. (Photo by BFA)
Spring is a delightful season to celebrate any occasion!
Around this time every year, when my herbaceous peonies are in full bloom, I love to show off their splendor with a casual garden tour and luncheon. Not long ago I invited our friends from Maman and some colleagues up to my farm - perhaps you saw photos on my Instagram page @mMarthaStewart48. We enjoyed garden Grissini, beet soup and a green salad with vegetables from my garden, wild Alaskan salmon with peas and herbs, my farm fresh asparagus served with cured lemon vinaigrette, steamed baby potatoes, assorted pastries, and several delicious desserts. It was a wonderful meal prepared by our own Sarah Carey and Alex Utter.
Here are some photos, enjoy.
For just a short time from the end of May through the first weeks of June, my herbaceous peony bed is full of blooms in shades of pink and white. I planted 11-double rows of 22-peony types, all selected for their colors, their forms, and their long blooming periods.
Anyone who tours my gardens this time of year always asks to see these wondrous flowers in all their splendor.
I love to use plants and flowers to decorate my table whenever I entertain. Here are peonies in simple glass vessels lined up down my dining room table.
I also like to fill vases and place them in various locations around my home. This vase of dark pink peonies is in my servery, where all my guests can see them when they arrive.
At many of my luncheons, I serve pomegranate iced tea using concentrate from our friends at POM Wonderful – this one with fresh lime and berries.
This time, I also served a black mint tea with fresh mint and strawberries.
A tray of fresh citrus and strawberries was also offered for extra garnish.
Have you ever had Grissini? They are long, thin breadsticks infused with vegetables or herbs in the dough. We used parsley, carrot, and beet. The recipe is in my book, Martha Stewart’s Entertaining: A Year of Celebrations, Clarkson Potter 2011.
My garden produced so much asparagus this year – all thick, delicious and tender spears. This was prepared with cured lemon vinaigrette, fried capers, toasted breadcrumbs and parsley.
Also on the menu – steamed new potatoes served with sugar snap peas, English peas, spring onions, and spinach sautéed in a beurre blanc sauce and garnished with chive blossoms and lemon zest. It was a big hit.
The wild Alaskan salmon was baked with citrus and served with spring peas and herbs.
I also served a beautifully colored beet soup with beets from my garden. The soup is topped with crème fraîche, golden and red beets, cucumber, and dill blossoms.
And here’s a serving of the fresh green garden salad with lettuces from my garden, avocado, radish, pickled yellow carrot, toasted pistachio, and a rice vinegar dressing.
I never forget dessert! Sarah and Alex prepared an array of tarts and cookies.
These are giant triple citrus sugar cookies.
And these are my daughter Alexis’s famous chocolate chip cookies.
We enjoyed apricot tartlets served with whipped cream.
And my fresh rhubarb was used to make this beautiful tart also served with whipped cream.
These are strawberry shortcake cream puffs topped with pink craquelin.
The desserts were so good, every guest had a piece of everything.
Outside, many of the trees were also showing off lovely flowers. These are two of my horse chestnut trees at the foot of my long Boxwood Allée. The day was a little overcast, but still excellent for a spring gathering.
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