Victoria July/August 2021

Dear Friends One of my favorite quotes about this season is a well-known musing from Henry James: “Summer afternoon—summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language.” From the earliest childhood days whiled away along the shores of the coastal area where my family once lived to the most recent hours of solitude spent dreaming and digging in my garden, there is something so enchanting about the possibility to pursue rest and rejuvenation, surrounded by the beauty of nature. This issue pays tribute to a treasured time of year. “La Vie en Roses” on page 53 offers a petal-perfect escape to Grace Rose Farm in Southern California, where a field-to-fragrance experience awaits, and “A Gathering Place” on page 45 invites us to step into…

Visit our website to read this issue’s online stories and to find more of the content you love. Take a closer look at some of our favorite July/August features: Cottage Charms Find inspiration for cultivating home and garden at Mint Julep, a breezy yet refined Victorian retreat ensconced within a lovely mountaintop community. Amid the Blossoms Entrepreneur Gracie Poulson of Grace Rose Farm invites us to explore her business of bliss, a brimful garden abloom with beauty and possibility. Heirloom Additions FrenchGardenHouse proprietor and seasoned hostess Lidy Baars shares ideas for incorporating an array of cherished antiques into summer table settings. A Bit of Denmark In Southern California, the European-style town of Solvang offers an opportunity for visitors to explore the architecture and culture of Scandinavia. We love your ideas! Do you have any suggestions about something you’d like to see…

I have several cherished pieces, including a plate upon which Mama served my birthday cake each year, Fenton vases that were wedding gifts to her and Daddy, and their silver salt and pepper shakers, also a wedding gift. But I suppose my most prized keepsake is a cameo that my parents purchased from an antiques shop in Charleston, South Carolina, on their honeymoon and gifted to my maternal grandmother, for whom I am named. It has been determined to be more than two centuries old. My grandmother wore it every day. I have a picture of her holding me as an infant, and she was wearing the cameo. I wear it quite often. It reminds me of all of them. Regardless of whether it’s in style, the cameo is part…

Whether she is settling into the hand-woven rush seat of an antique European chair for a quiet cup of tea, standing at the stove to stir hearty soup brimming with spicy sausage and creamy white beans, or arranging place settings with cherished finds, Jan Karon loves spending time in her kitchen. Domestic areas such as this one, curated with an eye toward creating as well as highlighting memories, bring special joy. For example, adorning the table are floral chargers discovered in County Sligo, Ireland, while doing research for her book In the Company of Others. Although the #1 New York Times best-selling author once approached design with a sole focus on aesthetics, she has come to expect more from her home. “You and your guests deserve something better,” Jan says. “A…

July breezes in, bringing balmy weather and an invitation to enjoy outdoor living to the fullest. “What I love most about summer is the color,” says Annie Sloan, “from the increased daylight hours, meaning that full beams shine on hues, showing them to their absolute best, to the floral displays evident in English country gardens.” For this enthusiastic artisan, the month’s arrival also means turning her talents to creative projects that enhance the charms of her own private sanctuary. Within the ivy-draped walls of her garden in Oxford, Annie demonstrates how Chalk Paint® transforms ordinary items, from watering cans to benches, into pretty, personalized decorative accents. Since paint dries faster in the heat, it may be necessary to thin it a bit with water or keep a spray bottle handy to rewet…

“JUST LIVING IS NOT ENOUGH. ONE MUST HAVESUNSHINE, FREEDOM, ANDA LITTLE FLOWER.”—Hans Christian Andersen…