Here at my Bedford, New York farm, we're all busy with late season gardening chores - most recently, grooming the Australian Brush Cherry topiaries, Eugenia myrtifolia, in the gravel courtyard behind my Winter House.
Topiary is the horticultural practice of training perennial plants by clipping the foliage and twigs of trees or shrubs to develop and maintain clearly defined shapes. Topiary Eugenia prefers sunny locations where all parts of the plant can receive direct sunlight. It is relatively slow growing, so occasional trimming and grooming are needed to keep it nicely sculpted.
All the topiaries in this courtyard are Australian Brush Cherry trees, Eugenia myrtifolia, also now known as Syzygium paniculatum. The Brush Cherry is an evergreen tree or shrub with shiny dark green leaves native to Australia and New Zealand. All of them needed grooming, so Phurba and I got to work early yesterday morning.
The leaves of the Eugenia are lance-shaped, firm, and arranged in opposite leaf pairs. In spring, the Brush Cherry may bear small puffy white flowers. The ripe red fruits in autumn are edible and loved by birds. One can see the new growth that has developed.
The bark is medium gray, rough and with an interesting pattern.
And underneath each topiary, we planted carpet sedum – a low maintenance, sun-loving, evergreen, succulent spreading plant with pretty light green foliage.
Phurba looks under each topiary ball and trims any dead or crisscrossing branches. The branches are thin twigs, so they are easy to clip using hand pruners. Phurba is using Okatsune Bypass Pruners with their signature red and white handles.
Then, with the same STIHL HSA 26 garden shears I am using in the video above, Phurba carefully goes over each ball, lightly trimming the new growth and shaping the balls as I showed him.
This tool is so lightweight and easy to use. It has a rubberized handle for comfort and a secure grip and it comes with its own roll-up case to store all its accessories. The hedge shear attachment with double-sided cutting blades cuts in both directions.
He also trims underneath each ball, keeping in mind, the preferred rounded shape.
And then steps back to see the work he has done and where he still needs to trim.
These topiaries are quite tall – more than 10-feet each, so Phurba uses a step ladder to reach the tops of each topiary. It’s always a good idea to gather all the necessary equipment one needs to get the job done – it will save time and energy scrambling during the process.
Here is a view from above. Trimming topiaries regularly will help to keep the plant in its intended original form. And groom topiaries several weeks before the first-frost to prevent damaging any of the new growth.
The STIHL HSA 26 garden shears hold the charge well. The battery strength indicator on the side is easy to read, and can be checked frequently during the task at hand. We got all the topiaries done on one charge.
This is the topiary I trimmed. It is well-sculpted and rounded on all sides.
But notice the top ball. Because Eugenias love full sun, this one is already pointing toward the light. It will be turned, so it starts to grow back upright again.
And here are four of the larger topiaries all trimmed and displayed with potted sago palms. In the center is an antique faux bois gazebo and my antique bird bath. They all look so beautiful in this courtyard.
Once all the work is done, Phurba uses our STIHL battery-powered blower to clean up all the cuttings. We use this blower every day to clean up any debris around my Winter House. On the right is one of my Multi-Purpose Reusable Heavy Duty Tote Bags. These bags take a beating around the gardens, but they’re so strong and so useful.
The quiet, lightweight blower is great for blowing all the debris off the underplanted sedum.
It’s also powerful enough to blow all the cuttings from the gravel into one area, so it can be picked up easily.
Finally, Phurba rakes all the cuttings and collects them in the tote bag. The entire job took all morning, but the topiaries look great.
Here is one of two smaller topiaries that flank the door. They all look much better now and will remain outside in the courtyard for another month or so before all the potted plants are stored indoors for the winter.
I hope you've all had a chance to listen to my Podcast, "The Martha Stewart Podcast." If not, you can hear it on the iHeart Media App, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Since I launched the show earlier this summer, I've had a terrific lineup of guests. Among them - Snoop Dogg, Alex Rodriguez, Chelsea Handler, Clive Davis, Ai Weiwei, Malcolm Gladwell, Jean Pigozzi, and many more. Some of my podcasts are recorded right here at my Bedford, New York farm. We set up a comfortable space with lights, microphones, and mobile phone camera to capture the video of these informative and inspiring conversations. I'm having such a great time doing these shows and we're scheduling more and more for the weeks and months ahead, so be sure to listen!
Here are some photos, enjoy.
I am always excited when my podcast guests are able to come up to my Bedford, New York farm. On the day of the show, I designate a room in my home, where we can sit and have a quiet, informal conversation. Here, we set up our equipment in the cookbook library of my studio guest house. We put up lights, so the show can also be videotaped for social media.
These 26-inch “soft box” lights are specifically designed for use in a studio or on location for portraits, fashion, or even corporate meetings.
I’ve also used these lights for many of my Zoom appearances – they are great to have and are light and easy to put up and take down. The controls in the back vary the brightness.
In the entertainment business, one will see various pieces of equipment with tennis balls on the feet of lights and microphone stands. They’re used to protect the floors – just cut slits in them and place them on to cushion and pad the feet.
For podcast recording, it is a crucial to use the best microphones possible – these mics are made for speech and can minimize other interfering room noise.
For our podcasts, we have an engineer who comes to the farm to ensure everything goes perfectly. After the show, he uploads the recorded material, so the editors at iHeart can prepare if for publishing.
Recently, I did a podcast with the influential, best-selling author, Malcolm Gladwell. We talked about everything from forecasting a pandemic, Russia’s war against Ukraine, our favorite spots in Tokyo, to his latest book, “The Bomber Mafia.” Podcasts are fun to listen to in the car, while commuting to work or traveling for the weekend.
And did you hear my podcast with Clive Davis, one of the greatest A&R men of all time! He shared so many fun and interesting stories – how he made his way into the music industry and how he mixed luminaries of all the genres at his famous parties.
He also talked about how he developed the careers of artists such as Bruce Springsteen, Carlos Santana, Whitney Houston, and countless others.
This podcast was with Gael Towey and Isolde Motley – two of the founding editors of my magazine, Living. They came to my farm to talk about its development and evolution over its 30-year span. We had such a good time reminiscing about all the work we did and all the accomplishments we achieved to create such an excellent publication.
Some of the podcasts are done from this room above my carriage house. The equipment is very portable, so we can switch the recording atmosphere from time to time.
Remember this one? I recorded this podcast with Kevin Sharkey and photographer Douglas Friedman – colleagues and dear friends.
And another one was done with two farmers I greatly admire – Jack Algiere pictured here, and Eliot Coleman, who joined us remotely. If you are not familiar with them, listen to the podcast and learn about these pioneers and influencers – two greats in the US organic farming industry.
I’ve even done podcasts from my New York City Headquarters – this one with comedian Chelsea Handler.
When guests cannot record with me in person, I set up a computer and connect with them through a program that allows us to record online. I can do these podcasts with anyone around the world as long as there is a strong WiFi connection. Technology has come a long way.
I did a podcast with my good friend, Jean Pigozzi all the way from France. We talked about his beautiful homes, his fantastic parties, and the rules he goes by that guide his life.
I spoke with the monumental artist, Aiweiwei in the UK.
I did a podcast interview with plantsman, garden writer, horticulturist and nurseryman, Dan Hinkley.
And my very first podcast, which was released in June, was with none other than Snoop Dogg. Here we are at the opening of my new restaurant, The Bedford, in Las Vegas last month.
And tomorrow, we’re releasing another fun podcast I know you’ll love as much as I do – full of laughs and great stories.
It’s with singer, composer, actor, author, comedian, and multi-instrumentalist who served as David Letterman’s musical director, band leader, and sidekick on the entire run of both “Late Night with David Letterman” and “Late Show with David Letterman” – Paul Shaffer. It was such a great show. Be sure to listen to it tomorrow on the iHeart Radio App, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Listen to one “Martha Stewart Podcast” and you’ll be hooked.
With its emerald green lawns, manicured gardens, and a newly built barn clad with crisp white board and batten siding, a lovingly restored 1830s Greek Revival farm house in New York's Hudson Valley is a beautiful setting for a wedding.
Just over a week ago, I attended a very special wedding at Clove Brook Farm in Millbrook - the home of my friends and the grooms of honor, Christopher Spitzmiller and Anthony Bellomo. They were married outdoors on a gorgeous late summer day in front of their dearest family and friends.
Here are some photos, enjoy.
Christopher, Anthony, and their team worked tirelessly for weeks to get the barn ready for their big day. Here is the front of the newly renovated barn just before the ceremony. It was a lovely day and the barn was the perfect venue for their sit down dinner.
Here I am with good friend, decorator Stephen Sills.
There were gorgeous plants and flowers everywhere. This is the kitchen porch at Clove Brook Farm.
The barn interior was all set for dinner.
Here is another long table set up in the barn.
A side table is decorated with a topiary from Anthony’s shop, Orangerie, in Millbrook, and a flower filled cachepot made by Christopher.
The bar set up in the barn included a table purchased from my Great American Tag Sale last spring – I recognized it right away. The stone basket of fruit was a wedding gift from Anthony to Christopher.
Here is the arrival table laid out with baskets of moss displaying all the escort cards. Do you know the difference between escort cards and place cards? A place card not only directs guests to the table where each will sit during the reception, but it also points each guest to his or her particular seat at the table. Escort cards direct guests to a table, but once there, they are free to choose their own seat.
The handsome grooms – Anthony Bellomo and Christopher Spitzmiller – emerging from the house wearing boutonnieres of Dahlia ‘Verrone’s Obsidian.’
This is the gate to the Pool Garden where the cocktail hour was held prior to dinner.
Bars are set up on either side of the pool house with the bluest of skies overhead.
On this table is one of Christopher’s gold lustre gourds. The garden border is filled with Russian sage, Salvia yangii, and dahlias.
Christopher and Anthony hold hands during the ceremony.
The table candles are lit just before dinner. Some of the beautiful floral arrangements are done by Cathy B. Graham.
Here is one of the table settings showing dahlia dinner plates by Christopher.
Here is another pretty table setting with custom menu cards by The Printery.
And an overhead photo showing the details of the table, flowers and vegetable tables decorations. Both Christopher and Anthony are avid gardeners.
Here’s a closer look at the stone basket of fruit surrounded by votives. It’s become one of Christopher’s favorite stone pieces at Clove Brook Farm.
Here I am seated next to interior designer Richard Keith Langham.
Here are the grooms cutting their “faux bois” wedding cake with meringue mushrooms. The couple made the cake themselves. An outer layer of whipped cream concealed a rich black forest cake of chocolate layers filled with more whipped cream and sour cherries.
The celebration lasted into the night. Here is the barn lit up with luminarias placed along the stone driveway.
All the guests received decorated cookies by Nikki Berry depicting the buildings and animals of Clove Brook Farm.
And hung from the mantle in the upstairs bedroom of the house was this joyful banner – put up as a surprise by a close friend of the grooms. Congratulations Christopher and Anthony – what a wonderful wedding.
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