jasper's country escape

Wow! This is Jasper Conran's country house. It could quite possibly be the most beautiful house (and garden) I have ever seen.

Ode to Laura Stoddart. Do you know her work? When I see her illustrations I am transported. She draws magical creatures in just the best outfits -- and a whole menagerie of topiaries! Just discovered she has another anthology out that I don't have yet. It's called All for Love and is a collection of verses about -- you guessed it -- love. Includes Shakespeare and Dorothy Parker -- love her, too. Found this excerpt online:

I will be great and you rich, because we love each other. Victor Hugo

Wow. I'm off to buy it online now. Meanwhile, here are some examples of her work -- books, Crabtree & Evelyn label illustrations, dinnerware for Portmeirion. Enjoy.

Garden inspiration. Nobody could ever call me a gardener, but I do so love looking at beautiful ones. My ultimate dream garden must-haves: plenty of green, boxwood, white blooms, statuary, topiary and treillage, vegetables, herbs, oh yes, and a conservatory would be lovely too, thanks! Here are some pretty examples I've seen on my travels.

from the gone-but-never-to-be-forgotten Charlotte Moss Townhouse shop in the heart of the Upper East Side. Oh Charlotte, a jaunt to NYC won't be the same without your lovely shop! This is the best treillage I have ever seen. photos: margot austin

the courtyard garden at the Number Sixteen, London. Didn't have enough time to enjoy properly. Excited to see chairs that are almost identical matches to my own set of 8. photo: margot austin

A tiny pocket behind a glass door but open to the sky at the Hotel des Grands Hommes in Paris. So French, so chic, such a beautiful urn. photo: margot austin

Well, really no garden to speak of, just a couple of boxwood balls in pots (foreground) but with butler service and a view over Mayfair, I'd take it (if, that is, I could afford it). Terrace at the Connaught Hotel, London. photo: margot austin.

Oh my, really quite envious of this exquisite conservatory and surrounding green and white garden. If I could hire a gardener, this is where he would work and I wouldn't lift a finger -- except to sip some iced tea. photo: marston & langinger.