I really love the world of fashion and I always try to attend the city's Fashion Week events. New York Fashion Week, NYFW, held in February and September of every year, is a semi-annual series of shows in Manhattan usually spanning seven to nine days. It's when fashion designers, brands or "houses" display their latest collections to buyers, the press, and to the public. These events influence the upcoming fashion trends for the current and approaching seasons. Last week, I attended Carolina Herrera's show at The Plaza Hotel and in the afternoon, I went to Dennis Basso's presentation at The Pierre Hotel. Both featured stunning collections for spring and summer 2023.
Enjoy these photos.
It is always exciting to attend New York Fashion Week. I love seeing all the new trends and styles for the next year. Here I am arriving at The Plaza Hotel in my new Mercedes-Benz EQS 580, a battery electric full-size luxury lift-back sedan.
I stopped to take a few photos in the front hall of The Plaza. Since its debut in 1907, The Plaza Hotel has remained a New York icon hosting world leaders, dignitaries, captains of industry, Broadway legends, Hollywood royalty, and the most beautiful fashion runway shows.
Here I am with Carolina Herrera, one of the world’s most distinguished designers. It was so good to catch up with her before the show.
Carolina Herrera creative director and my friend, Wes Gordon, showed a collection of lush florals inspired by one of his favorite novels, “The Secret Garden.” Here, a model wears an off-the-shoulder long dress with a blue and white color print.
This airy spring ensemble shows big flower prints on a white background.
It wasn’t all colorful blossoms, however. There were also hints of black to add sophistication to the collection. Here, the model is wearing pants and a cool summer top, all in classic black.
There was also this strapless bold red dress with a sculptural red rose detail over one shoulder.
Here is another bright floral-themed dress. Models walked down the runway to fun uplifting songs by Barbra Streisand.
This dress with wide belt shows off a bare shoulder on one side and a long sleeve on the other.
And here is a floral jumpsuit with a dramatic flower on one side.
This dress shows off a flowing cape and deep v-neckline. The model accessorizes with large salmon colored matching earrings.
Karlie Kloss was among the models at the Carolina Herrera spring/summer 2023 Collection Show. Her height accentuates this long sleeve, yellow peony trench gown.
The closing look of the Carolina Herrera Collection was this gorgeous black gown – a strapless black silk chiffon dress trimmed with tulle.
In the afternoon, I went to The Pierre Hotel for my friend Dennis Basso’s spring/summer 2023 Show. This model wore a blue and white laced dress accented with a fur jacket.
Light shades of blue, white, and lavender were the predominant colors of this collection.
Many of the free-flowing styles were designed to be flattering for all shapes and sizes.
This model is dressed in comfortable and loose-fitting white pants with an oversized light cardigan in pastel pink and blue.
And look at this beautiful pink formal off-the-shoulder gown. Every outfit was stunning.
Dennis Basso, known for his glamorous evening wear collections, celebrated 40-years on the runway with this show. He walked out to a standing ovation and lots of applause.
I was sitting in the front row and gave my friend Dennis a bouquet of flowers as he walked by. In turn, he grabbed me by the hand and we walked down the catwalk arm-in-arm. And of course, I’m dressed in one of his fashions – a v-neck flowing top covered by a white floral lace cardigan. What a fun time at New York Fashion Week!
The garden maze at my Bedford, New York farm is becoming more and more intriguing with each planted row of greenery.
As many of you know, I decided to take on this fun project earlier this year. I wanted to create a maze of interesting hedges, espaliers and shrubs in the pasture across the carriage road from my Winter House terrace. I started with European beech, European hornbeams, boxwood, and a variety of espaliered apple trees. I designed the maze with different plantings to add texture and interest. All of these specimens will grow tall enough to prevent walkers from seeing the paths ahead. And each row will branch off with various pathway options and dead ends - with only one correct route to the center. Most recently, my gardeners and outdoor grounds crew planted a row of Persian parrotia or Persian ironwood.
Here are some photos, enjoy.
For my maze, I chose this paddock located just outside my Winter House, where I could see it from my terrace parterre. I knew it was the perfect space for this garden of trees and shrubs.
Earlier this summer, we planted the first rows. They included European beech, European hornbeam, boxwood, and a variety of espaliered apple trees.
Most recently, we cleared the next row earmarked for Parrotia trees. The row was measured and then the sod was removed. I never like to waste anything around the farm. I always try to repurpose and reuse as much as possible, so the sections of sod are replanted in grassy areas that have gotten bare over time.
Next, we tilled the soil with our Troy-Bilt Pony Rear-Tine Tiller. Rototilling is one method of turning up the soil before planting. All the plants and trees do very well here at the farm, in part because of the excellent soil. I have worked very hard to ensure my soil is constantly amended and rich with nutrients. If you are unsure of your soil’s quality, have it tested. Kits are available at garden shops, online, and through your area’s cooperative extensions.
Then, each hole is dug. Remember the rule of thumb for planting trees – dig a hole that is two to three times wider than the root ball, but only as deep as the height of the root ball.
Here is one of the holes – it is almost a foot deep and the sides are slightly sloped with the widest part at the top.
In assembly line process, each tree is placed into a designated hole, still in its pot. This way, we can make sure there are enough holes for each tree and all of them are lined up perfectly.
The next day was all for planting. Each Parrotia was removed from its pot and positioned into its new hole with the best side facing the path.
I always say, “if you eat, so should your plants.” For all of these, we’re using Roots fertilizer with mycorrhizal fungi, which helps transplant survival and increases water and nutrient absorption.
The fertilizer is made of insoluble granules that release nutrients as it biodegrades.
Each Parrotia is carefully backfilled. Another rule is “bare to the flare” meaning only plant up to the flare, where the tree meets the root system.
Here is the row all planted – every tree lined up straight. Parrotia persica is in the family Hamamelidaceae, closely related to the witch-hazel genus Hamamelis. It is native to northern Iran and southern Azerbaijan and it is endemic in the Alborz mountains. It grows best in USDA Zones 5 to 8.
All the pots are saved for planting other young trees – never throw away these containers, they come in very handy.
Some of the leaves are already changing colors. Parrotias have a long-lasting, elaborate autumn color display of ever-changing leaves that show off yellow, orange, burgundy and red hues.
The bed is then covered with mulch, made right here at the farm. We love using these Scenic Road wheelbarrows – they’re big and very sturdy.
Brian spreads an even layer of mulch – about two to three inches – under the trees. And then gives the entire bed a good drink of water.
Here is a row of growing boxwood. I think it is looking so beautiful already. Five rows in all to start, but many, many to go, and each path leading to an opening — or a dead end.
Here are the espalier trees. Espalier refers to an ancient technique, resulting in trees that grow flat, either against a wall, or along a wire-strung framework. Many kinds of trees respond beautifully to the espalier treatment, but fruit trees, like apple and pear, were some of the earliest examples. Espaliered trees can grow between four and eight feet apart – enough to allow them room as they grow, but still be close enough for a proper espalier. Among the apples are Liberty apples, Gala apples, Braeburn apples, and Yellow Delicious apples.
For a maze, it’s best to use relatively fast-growing trees that will be at least six feet tall and two feet wide at maturity.
In time, this area will be a spectacular field of puzzling pathways. I am having such a good time designing this living maze. Follow this blog and watch the transformation with me.
Summer may be coming to a close, but this time of year can be very hectic - my gardeners and outdoor grounds crew are busy keeping up with all the rapid growth.
Here at my Bedford, New York farm, the crew is mowing, weeding, pruning, and grooming the many perennial plants and shrubs. I am sure there is also lots to do in your gardens as well. Plus, signs of fall are beginning to emerge - growing apples, pears, quince and medlars, the first colchicum blooms, and the changing colors of the leaves.
Here are some photos, enjoy.
This week, the weather has been warm, but pleasant – temperatures in the 70s with a few much needed showers. Many of you use my blog as a guide to remind you when to get things done in the gardens. This time of year, we’re still doing a lot of weeding and deep watering, mowing, and grooming.
Pasang and Domi are tackling the beds under my allée of lindens. Any weeds and cuttings are placed into my Martha Stewart Multi-Purpose Heavy-Duty Garden Tote Bags. We use these bags all over the farm. Each tote can hold more than 900-pounds! Find them at my shop on Amazon.
And here’s Brian mulching and grooming the newly planted parrotia trees in my living maze.
Persian parrotia or Persian ironwood is a small upright tree or large, rounded, multi-stemmed shrub. It is related to witch-hazel. The oblong green leaves turn various shades of red, orange and yellow in the fall, often persisting into the winter months.
Here is Chhiring on our SZ22-48 stand-on mower. We use this to mow areas where the riding mower cannot go – he is mowing the grass in between the fruit trees in my large orchard. Stand-on mowers are easy to maneuver through tight spaces and can be used on uneven landscapes.
Chhiring also uses STIHL’s trimmer to whack any tall grasses around the perimeter of the orchard.
And here’s Fernando “raking the roads” all around my home. He is in our Polaris Ranger. I love these off-road vehicles. We use them every day for so many tasks. We created this special device to rake the gravel, so it is even and also picks up any debris along the way. This is done every couple of weeks to keep the roads looking neat and tidy. It is made from four soft garden rakes attached to a wooden frame.
Down at my long and winding pergola, the boxwood border is growing so well. These boxwood shrubs along both sides of the pergola were grown from small saplings nurtured right here in one area of my vegetable garden next to my chicken coops. There are more than 300 boxwood shrubs planted here. This photo shows the latest growth.
I love boxwood and use a lot of it around the farm. Buxus is a genus of about 70 species in the family Buxaceae. Common names include box or boxwood. The boxes are native to western and southern Europe, southwest, southern and eastern Asia, Africa, Madagascar, northernmost South America, Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean. The leaves on boxwood branches are arranged opposite from each other, making pairs.
Also in this garden is is Perovskia atriplicifolia, commonly called Russian sage. It shows tall, airy, spike-like clusters that create a lavender-blue cloud of color above the finely textured, aromatic foliage. It is vigorous, hardy, heat-loving, drought-tolerant, and deer resistant.
There are still some beautiful passion flower blooms showing off their color and unique form. They bloom from spring through late fall, The passion flower genus includes more than 500 species of mostly tendril-bearing vines in the family Passifloraceae.
The fruits at the farm are also growing, despite this summer’s drought. Just outside the old corn crib are quince trees – three of the many I have here at the farm.
Are you familiar with quince? Quince is a fall fruit that grows like apples and pears, but with an unusually irregular shape and often gray fuzz. These fruits turn a golden yellow when ready to pick in fall.
I planted a variety of pear trees, most of which are in the orchard. Among them, ‘Bartlett’, ‘Columbia’, ‘D’Amalis’, ‘Ginnybrook’, ‘McLaughlin’, ‘Nova’, ‘Patten’, ‘Seckel’, ‘Stacyville’, and ‘Washington State’.
I also have the espalier of Asian pear trees outside my stable. Espalier refers to an ancient technique, resulting in trees that grow flat, either against a wall, or along a wire-strung framework. Many kinds of trees respond beautifully to the espalier treatment, but fruit trees, like apple and pear, were some of the earliest examples. And, because necessary sunlight reaches every piece of fruit that these trees bear, espalier pruning remains standard procedure at commercial orchards in France. Here I have six ‘Shinseiki’ and four ‘Nijisseiki’ pear trees.
And of course, I have many, many apples. I grow hundreds of apple trees here at the farm – some that were here when I acquired the property and others I planted after moving. The newer apple trees include ‘Baldwin’, ‘Black Oxford’, ‘Cortland’, ‘Cox’s Orange Pippin’, ‘Esopus Spitzenburg’, ‘Fuji’, ‘Golden Russet’, ‘Grimes Golden’, ‘Honeycrisp’, ‘Liberty’, ‘Redfield’, ‘Roxbury Russet’, and ‘Windham Russet’.
There are apples growing in the dwarf espalier behind my carport.
Because of this year’s heat and lack of rain, the apples may be a bit smaller than usual – we’ll see.
These are the fruits of the medlar, Mespilus germanica – a small deciduous tree and member of the rose family. These fruits are not ready yet – we’ll pick them in late October or early November.
The fruit is about one to two inches in diameter, and ranges in color from rosy rust to dusty brown. Medlars are native to Southwestern Asia and Southeastern Europe. The fruits have to be eaten when almost rotten in a process called “bletting”. And, because of this, they either have to be eaten right off the tree or picked early and put aside for a few weeks to blet. The medlar is very pulpy and very sweet. Its taste is similar to an overripe date with a flavor similar to toffee apples or apple butter.
Growing just outside my flower garden are these charming anemones still in bloom. Also known as Japanese thimbleweed, Japanese anemone, Anemone hupehensis, is a tall, stately perennial that produces saucer-shaped flowers in shades of creamy pink to pure white, each with a green button in the center. Look for blooms to appear throughout summer and fall, often until the first frost.
And at the edge of my Stewartia Garden, underneath the tall bald cypress trees – some of the first colchicum sprouts. Colchicum is a member of the botanical family Colchicaceae and is native to West Asia, Europe, parts of the Mediterranean coast, down the East African coast to South Africa and the Western Cape. There is always something growing here at my working farm. And always something to do. I am so very proud of how this farm has developed over the years.
Martha Pins
Martha Tweets
