If you're in or near central Massachusetts this week and love to hunt for treasures, be sure to stop in at the Brimfield Antique Flea Markets - it's going on today through Sunday, May 15th!
I went to Brimfield yesterday. Brimfield is considered the oldest outdoor antiques event in the country and the largest in New England. It's held three times a year and is made up of about 20 different show fields filled with individual sellers of antique, vintage, and new items. I loved seeing the variety of goods for sale. It reminds me of the Great American Tag Sale! Don't forget, my special airs May 25th on ABC at 8pm ET! Be sure to watch it!!
Here are some photos from Brimfield, enjoy.
Here I am at the entrance to one of the dealer booths at Brimfield – it’s filled with garden ornaments, urns and plant stands. When attending a flea market or antiques sale, be sure to dress comfortably and in layers. This day started chilly – about 40-degrees Fahrenheit, but it was in the high 60s by afternoon. And don’t forget your sunscreen and hat.
Here are some of the tabletop urns and ornaments for sale.
In another booth, Fire-King. Fire-King is an Anchor Hocking brand of glassware. The Fire-King line includes bowls, casseroles, cups, plates, serving platters, creamers, vases, and more, in a variety of colors. I have always loved the Jade-ite color.
There were lots of vintage crates and boxes.
This is an old braille child’s plate – complete with alphabet letters and the matching braille symbols.
Do you know what these are? These are antique gate weights used to help keep gates closed without latching.
These are vintage salt and pepper shakers.
There were lots of beads and other jewelry.
This gentleman found a clown! Luckily he also had a hand truck to transport it.
And this shopper found an “extra pair of hands.”
This tent was filled with ship lights for sale – some small…
And some very large! One never knows what one can find at an antiques flea market.
This is an old display shelf, likely for a hardware store to hold various small pieces such as nails, screws, nuts, and bolts, or other objects.
Here are some concrete planters – all sold.
Here are some other concrete planters we saw – most of them were also already tagged “sold.” Another tip is to arrive early at tag sales, antiques fairs, and flea markets – things can go very quickly!
Flat Earth Designs, which is based in Atlanta, Georgia, had these charming concrete garden mushrooms.
At another tent, architectural pieces such as these giant corbels. A corbel is a structural piece of stone, wood or metal jutting from a wall to support weight, similar to a bracket.
There is a lot of glassware for sale at Brimfield, such as these hobnail glass bowls, goblets, and teacups.
There’s furniture for sale – some vintage and some new. It’s the thrill of the hunt at Brimfield – so much to see!
Here are some unique outdoor garden chairs – waiting to go to their next home.
And here’s a unique sofa… bright red and with no ends. Is it in the shape of lips?
Here’s a pair of pigeons. They remind me of my fancy pigeons at my Bedford, New York farm.
And here I am at Vincent Manzo’s tent – my friend and antiques dealer. Stop in and see him at Brimfield, just outside the Apple Barn. And don’t forget to watch the “Great American Tag Sale” May 25th on ABC at 8/7c! It’s going to be great!
If my busy schedule allows, I always try to attend the "Hat Luncheon".
Last week was the 40th annual Frederick Law Olmsted Awards Luncheon hosted by the Women’s Committee of the Central Park Conservancy. More than 1300 attendees filled the park’s Conservatory Garden for what is popularly known as the “Hat Luncheon” - a festive affair where guests don their most extravagant chapeaus. Frederick Law Olmsted was an American landscape designer and widely considered the father of American landscape architecture. Olmsted was made famous for co-designing many well-known urban areas including New York City's famous Central Park. This yearly gathering is among the Conservancy’s most important philanthropic events supporting its mission to preserve, maintain, and enhance the iconic public green space.
Enjoy these photos.
Here I am in my “hat luncheon” ensemble. I always embellish one of my own hats for the affair. This year, I decorated my hat with many fresh daffodils from my gardens.
It was a cloudy, rather gloomy day, but hundreds of guests wearing their fanciful toppers came out for the well-known gathering at Central Park’s Conservatory Garden located at Fifth Avenue and 105th Street.
Waiters in white dinner jackets escorted all the ladies down the steps leading toward the awards ceremony venue. (Photo by BFA/Darian DiCianno)
The event was held under this giant white tent. It was so fun to see others walk down in their creatively designed hats.
Inside, cheerful tables decorated in bright spring colors. (Photo by BFA/Deonte Lee)
Here I am with my longtime publicist and dear friend, Susan Magrino. (Photo by BFA/Darian DiCianno)
Everyone wore hats of all sizes and shapes adorned with all kinds of embellishments. Here is one that caught my eye – a basket of spring flowers.
Here is another creative hat decorated with yellow roses.
I stopped for this quick photo with Lu-Shawn Thompson, philanthropist and wife of the late District Attorney Ken Thompson.
This is philanthropist and Central Park Conservancy Trustee Gillian Miniter in her spring purple headpiece.
Miss New York, Sydney Park, chose royal blue for her outfit.
Here’s a fun photo of Susan and Katherine Zeller Gage, the beautiful wife of Chef Daniel Boulud.
There were so many unique and interesting hats like this one on actress, author, and producer, Ali Wentworth.
Hard to miss this hat and cape worn by television personality Suzy Buckley Woodward.
Here’s another charming hat adorned in pretty orchids.
So many of the attendees, including we three – “got the memo” to wear floral designs.
This is designer Shannon McLean in a fanciful butterfly hat. (Photo by BFA/Darian DiCianno)
The lunch was catered by Abigail Kirsch Catering Relationships. It included these fresh grilled chicken salads. The floral décor was designed by Andrew Pascoe. (Photo by BFA/Deonte Lee)
And for dessert, a trio of strawberry delights – a mini strawberry shortcake, a fresh strawberry and a strawberry dipped in chocolate.
The annual “hat luncheon” in New York City was another huge success. I am already looking forward to next year’s event. (Photo by BFA/Deonte Lee)
The vegetable gardens at my Bedford, New York farm are ready for planting.
Having a really good vegetable garden where I can grow lots of fresh, delicious, and nutritious produce is extremely important to me. I share the vegetables with my daughter, my grandchildren, as well as other relatives and friends. Every year, we spend a lot of time preparing the soil for planting - tilling the earth, adding natural fertilizers, and building raised, well-aerated beds.
Enjoy these photos.
Building up the soil is the most important part of preparing a garden for growing vegetables and flowers. Deep, organically rich soil will encourage and support the growth of healthy root systems. Once the soil is fertilized, it’s ready for rototilling. The purpose of tilling is to mix organic matter into the soil, help control weeds, break up crusted soil, and loosen the earth for planting.
Here is Phurba with our Troy-Bilt Pony Rear-Tine “Big Red” Tiller. We rototill the vegetable garden every year – regular tilling over time can improve soil structure. The soil does not need to be tilled very deeply – less than a foot is fine.
This model tiller has four forward, one neutral, and two reverse speeds for easy use.
Here is a view from the operator’s position. It is not a heavy piece of equipment, but does need to be pushed slowly through the soil to work it well.
The machine is set to till the soil at about six to eight inches deep. On some tillers, the speed of the rotating tines helps determine the speed of the machine.
As Phurba moves, he makes sure to overlap his passes slightly, so every bit of soil is covered. Tilling also helps to level the ground as it turns over the soil. Phurba is also wearing proper safety gear – long pants, closed shoes, and head and face protection.
Here is one side of the larger garden all done. One can see the tilled dark, rich soil.
This soil in the adjacent garden is not yet tilled – one can see the difference in color.
Phurba goes around clockwise with our Troy-Bilt in the same manner. Only rototill when the ground is moist, but not wet – the soil should still crumble when picked up. It’s also a good idea to do this on a day with little or no wind, which could also slow down the task.
In the foreground is nutrient-rich soil that has been tilled. In the center is soil that Phurba still has to go over. If one is not sure what amendments the garden soil may need, one can test it to gain more knowledge of its pH, phosphorous, lime, potassium, soluble salts, and soil texture. Soil testing kits are available at garden centers, or through a local cooperative extension.
The vegetable gardens are quite large, so it takes time to rototill the entire space, but it’s well worth the effort. One complete pass over this garden takes a couple of hours. Once the soil is upturned, determine its condition – too much sand in the soil may make the soil too dry, and too much clay may make it too wet. The soil should be a good combination of earth, sand, and clay. My soil is very well balanced.
After the soil is well tilled, it is time to create the beds. I like to use the most amount of space possible for planting. Here is a line of jute twine marking the center of the garden. Jute twine is easy to tie from one side of the garden to the other. The twine will mark the raised beds so they are all aligned perfectly.
In the center is the perennial herb garden. This area is also marked with twine.
Brian tends the herbs – making sure the beds are weeded and the plants are in good condition.
Here’s Phurba raking and shaping the tops of the raised beds. Raised beds warm more quickly in springtime and maintain better aeration and drainage.
Narrow footpaths are dug alongside each bed using the twine as a guide.
The footpaths in between each bed are only as wide as the spade. These paths are used for walking, weeding, and cutting.
It takes time to build the beds perfectly. When building raised beds, be sure every part can be reached without standing on it. Let this be a number one “ground” rule – never step on the soil within raised beds.
We’ll be planting lots of crops soon. No matter when the soil is prepared, only start planting when the soil is warm enough to be worked. The soil temperature for planting cool weather vegetables is about 40-degrees Fahrenheit. 50-degrees Fahrenheit for onions and leeks, and at least 60-degrees for other warmer and tender crops.
Here is the main footpath between the two sides and leading to the center herb garden. It is also measured and marked with twine before edging. This aisle will accommodate the wheelbarrow and sprinklers when needed. It’s always exciting to start planting the vegetable gardens. I can’t wait for all the delicious vegetables we’ll have here this summer.
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