Gardens of Dreams & Delight

Above is a view of the Pearl Modern Garden, containing Globemaster allium, Bernini Oriental Hybrid Lilies, various hostas and a "Penelope" tea rose bush.

Our New York garden is a mysterious place. In the shade of the great mulberry tree, countless creatures of every description carry on with their daily duties, some as mundane as gathering fallen seeds or rotting leaves, or as violent and chaotic as waging war or relocating the colony. Birds of romance who mate for life holiday here - bringing their spouses year after year to take the waters and eat the gourmet seed we indulge them with. Swooping yellow Swallowtail butterflies arrive just as the Rose of Sharon begins to flower, drinking the sweet ambrosial nectar. 

When the Casablanca lilies bloom, their intoxicating perfume suspends you in a magical invisible net. Time seems to slow down as you breathe in their indescribable scent, their long petals opening fully as if in one instant, a color so white, like crisp white sheets in the midday sun.

Jardin Majorelle is the jewel-like garden in Marrakesh, Morocco where the great designer Yves Saint Laurent lies in rest. The walls are painted a haunting blue that lies somewhere between lapis lazuli and cobalt glass. Gardens in North Africa are Eden-like oases where succulents grow with citrus alongside towering cypress trees as pointy as spears. 

Below is a favorite photograph of a moonlit garden in Neuilly, France.

We love to host intimate dinners in our garden. We ritualistically light the candles in our collection of Indian, Turkish and Moroccan lanterns, their mosaic panes shine kaleidoscopic colors, making everyone look absolutely gorgeous. 

The mysteries of the night garden abound. The nocturnal sleeping vines begin to creep. The hallucinogenic moonflower unfurls itself, and if you are very lucky, you might catch a glimpse of a luna moth dancing with the moonlight.

Cocktail of the Week - "The Moonflower"

serves four

2 oz St. Germain elderflower liqueur

2 oz lime juice (2-3 limes)

6 oz vodka

8 oz white cranberry juice

ice

chill glasses

combine all ingredients in a large ice filled cocktail shaker or pitcher

shake well and strain into chilled glasses

garnish with lime peel

Enjoy!

If you have any favorite outdoor entertaining ideas, please feel free to share them with us!