Although I’ve been writing my blog since 2012, you have not heard from me since the middle of September. I had to take a voluntary “leaf” of absence because there was so much going on in my life.

Temporary book cover

First, I had a deadline of September 30 for submission of my manuscript for the book Reinventing Your Landscape that Timber Press will be publishing in March 2017. Submission included at least two hundred photos (I gave them over three hundred) and illustrations. As it was, I didn’t mail all of that to my editor until October 22, the day before my eye surgery. Needless to say, during that time, I pushed everything else aside in order to finish the book.

You know how most book titles have a colon after the initial title and then a subtext? I am thinking about Reinventing Your Landscape: The Process of Transformation or Reinventing Your Landscape: What You Need to Know. I would love your thoughts on these two possibilities or any other suggestions you might have. I’d also love suggestions for what the cover should be.

The Awards Chair presenting my award to me

I did take two and a half days in late September to fly to Washington, D.C. for the APLD national conference. On the garden tour day, I saw some amazingly creative landscapes and took hundreds of photos. While I was there, I was a recipient, at the awards dinner, of the Harry Schuster Service Award, given to a member who has served the organization above and beyond. I’ve belonged to APLD (Association of Professional Landscape Designers) almost since its inception twenty-six years ago and was certification chair for six years and served as president twice. The award also recognizes someone who exemplifies the wonderful personality of the man for whom it was named, particularly enthusiasm and a welcoming nature.

Painting by Joaquin Sorolla of Louis Comfort Tiffany in His Garden

On October 11, the Cleveland Museum of Art opened a special exhibition entitled Painting the Modern Garden: From Monet to Matisse. Prior to its opening, I was asked by the museum to give a gallery talk on November 10 at 2:00. During this talk, using some of the paintings as a vehicle for discussion, I will be relating the principles of landscape design as seen in the paintings to your gardens and landscapes. If you are interested in attending, you must register for the talk even though it is free.

Eye surgery, you ask? Yes, my opthamologist found that my diminishing vision was caused by a hole in my right retina. The only way to fix it was by inserting a gas bubble in my eye, the pressure of which would close the hole. The week following the surgery was a totally non-working week during which I had to keep my body and eyes inclined toward the floor or lying on my stomach. It was quite a relief when that week was over.

Sedum ‘Lime Zinger’ in bud

Sedum ‘Lime Zinger’ in flower

While I was recuperating, one of my brothers sent me a lovely video of flowers that open from bud to full bloom. As he said, the music isn’t wonderful but the photography is gorgeous. I hope you will enjoy it as much as I did. It’s called the Life of Flowers. Go to You Tube, type in The Life of Flowers, and it’s the fifth one down, from Costa Farms.

Fallen leaves raked into perennial bed

There are still a lot of leaves that need to be raked off the lawns and groundcovers. Save yourself some time and effort and rake them into your beds instead of out to the curb. Those leaves are Mother Nature’s way of replenishing the soil.