Although cats are remarkably clean, well-groomed animals, I've always been a firm believer in regular brushing, combing, and bathing. Here at my farm, I have six felines. Three of them are long haired and reside in my Winter House - my silver shaded Persian Magnolia, my dilute calico Persian Dahlia, and my brown Persian longhair Lilium. Every afternoon, their faces and ears are cleaned, their nails are checked and trimmed if necessary, and their coats are given a good, thorough combing.
Enjoy these photos.
This is Lilium – very friendly and always ready for a good rub. As part of the daily routine, my cats are brought down to the basement, one by one, for a short grooming session.
This is Dahlia, the youngest of the trio.
But first up for grooming is Magnolia. The cats know when it is grooming time. Sometimes they go downstairs on their own. Sometimes it’s a little more challenging to find them.
For daily grooming, I use a multipurpose comb for the cats because it is so light and easy to use, gets out tangles and dander, and makes grooming so quick. I also have a cat nail clipper on hand in case any nails need trimming.
These are my Martha Stewart Pet Wipes from my shop on Amazon.
Magnolia’s face is cleaned with a pet wipe to help remove dirt, odors, and stains from her delicate coat while conditioning the skin. They’re perfect to use daily.
Magnolia doesn’t seem to mind it at all – she stays very still.
I also use the wipes to carefully clean around the outside of the ear canal – never inside. Since this is done regularly, there is little dirt, but it is also good practice, so the cats are comfortable being handled.
Enma checks to see if any of Magnolia’s nails need trimming. When trimming, be sure to only trim off the tip. And only cut the white part of the nail – never the pink part, which is called the quick – this is where the nerve and blood vessels are located.
Enma combs with one hand and uses the other to hold the fur down where she is combing – this prevents pulling, which could be uncomfortable.
It’s always good to look for and remove any matted fur. This is important because collected mats can cause irritation and hairballs. My cats are brushed every day to keep their coats as tangle-free as possible. Baths are done only when needed.
Next is Dahlia, who starts to fall asleep during her brief grooming session. Enma is sure to wipe in between the creases. This helps to prevent possible tear staining.
Always be sure to introduce the cat to new tools before using them, so they never shy away from grooming time.
Dahlia is getting her nails trimmed also. Pet nails grow quickly, so it is important to check them often and trim whenever needed.
Finally, it’s Lilium’s turn. She’s the biggest of the three.
Lilium loves to be combed. She stays on Enma’s lap for the entire session.
Here she is on her back while her stomach is combed.
And a good, thorough face wiping. I am sure they all feel fresh after a little grooming.
Right after, it’s upstairs for a scratch on the cat tree.
You look beautiful my dear Lilium. I always cover the pets’ favorite resting spots with towels. Doing this keeps these areas extra clean, and extra cozy.
Magnolia is ready for a nap. My cats definitely like their routines – they like to sleep and lounge in the same places.
And here is my pretty Dahlia, who loves to be near anyone who will notice her. I am so glad my cats are all are very healthy and happy.
My three year old garden maze is filling in so wonderfully.
The three-acre pasture just outside my Winter House is the setting for my maze. Since work began I've planted a variety of different hedges, espaliers, trees, and shrubs - hundreds of specimens that I selected to add texture and interest, and all according to a detailed map I created specifically for the space. Each row branches off with various pathway options and dead ends, but with only one correct route to the center. Guests who wander through are stumped at almost every turn.
Here are some of the latest photos, enjoy.
British horticulturist Gertrude Jekyll once said, “A garden is a grand teacher. It teaches patience and careful watchfulness; it teaches industry and thrift; above all it teaches entire trust.” I’ve had to be very patient and careful in planting my living maze, but it’s growing beautifully. This is a selection of Platanus acerifolia ‘Bloodgood’ trees, also known as London planes.
I planted these trees in early November 2022. They are planted in a rectangle with two long rows and two short rows and an open space in the center. These trees are large shade trees with broad open crowns. Looking closely, one can already see some of the fallen leaves – the seasons are beginning to change.
These trees are sought after for the three-lobed, toothed, dark green leaves that turn yellow, orange, and red with the fall season.
Its bark makes it even more interesting because it sheds in a patchwork pattern with growth and age.
This is one of several Liquidambar styraciflua ‘Slender Silhouette’ trees, American sweetgums. As these trees mature, they will maintain their erect, columnar form, growing up to 50 feet tall and only about four-feet wide.
The deciduous dark green leaves are a beautiful star-shape.
And while they are green now, in autumn the leaves show a kaleidoscope of colors, including vibrant yellow, orange, red, and purple.
I have three of them here that are towering over the other plantings. The ‘Slender Silhouette’ sweetgum is highly adaptable, drought-resistant, and easy-to-grow, but it does best in well-drained soil where it can get full sun.
Red Beauty holly has bright red berries combined with glossy, dark green foliage. Many varieties of holly, Ilex, have compact habits and glistening leaves that’s excellent for hedges, borders, and yes, mazes.
The long, upright-growing branches of Hick’s yew have dense, glossy, green foliage that naturally forms a narrow habit. And right now, they are showing off berries, or red drupes, which usually come out in late summer and persist through fall.
An espalier refers to an ancient technique, resulting in trees that grow flat, either against a wall, or along a wire-strung framework. Many kinds of trees respond beautifully to the espalier treatment, but fruit trees, like apple and pear, were some of the earliest examples. Espaliered trees can grow between four and eight feet apart – enough to allow them room as they grow, but still be close enough for a proper espalier. Among the apples in my maze are Liberty apples, Gala apples, Braeburn apples, and Yellow Delicious apples.
Paul’s Gold threadleaf false cypress, Chamaecyparis pisifera, has year-round golden green foliage. The soft sprays of Paul’s Gold threadleaf false cypress emerges yellow in the spring and retains its gold color throughout the winter.
Parrotia persica is in the family Hamamelidaceae, closely related to the witch-hazel genus Hamamelis. It is native to northern Iran and southern Azerbaijan and it is endemic in the Alborz mountains. It grows best in USDA zones 5 to 8.
Some of these leaves are also changing colors. Parrotias have a long-lasting, elaborate autumn color display of ever-changing leaves that show off yellow, orange, burgundy and red hues.
This is a hedge of European hornbeams. Botanically known as Carpinus betulus, the hornbeam is a fast-growing deciduous tree. In fact, it can grow about four to five feet per year. It is native to Western Asia and central, eastern and southern Europe, including southern England.
Hornbeams are often confused with the common beech because of their similar leaves; however, the hornbeam leaves are actually smaller and more deeply furrowed than beech leaves. The leaves are deciduous and alternate, with serrated margins.
The ninebark is a deciduous spring-flowering shrub often planted en masse.
In autumn, the leaves develop a tinge of bronze. Ninebark can grow 12 to 18 inches per year, but it can also tolerate hard pruning when needed.
My overall plan is to plant as many interesting trees, hedges, espaliers, and shrubs as possible in this space and to create a fun and challenging living maze. The plants are spaced closely, so they become closed hedges in time.
And close to the bottom north end is my giant eagle – looking out toward the landscape beyond. I’m looking forward to completing this project and watching all these plants mature and also confuse those who stroll through… after all, it is a maze.
It was a beautiful summer afternoon - just perfect for a special photo shoot at my farm.
Some time ago, my outdoor grounds crew foreman, Chhiring Sherpa, asked if his daughter and her fiancé could take some wedding photos in my gardens. Chhiring has worked with me for more than 25-years, so I was delighted with the idea. The couple, Alina and Sam, along with their photographer, Don Hwang, selected several locations - in front of my stable, at my long pergola filled with bright orange tiger lilies, in the Boxwood Allée, by my tree peony bed, in my sunken Summer House Garden, at my small pond, and poolside.
Unfortunately I was away on this day, so I asked that they share some of their photos - here are a few, enjoy.
My farm, my home, and all the gardens, groves, and allées are constantly being used for my television shows, book shoots, and other appearances. I work very hard to make sure it is always in good shape for these events. This is my long clematis pergola in summer, when it is bursting with bright orange tiger lilies.
Here is my allée of pin oaks. These were some of the first trees I planted when I moved to my farm. In fact, Chhiring helped plant these trees with me. At that time, they were just a few feet tall.
Here is my pool, which was completed in 2018. I also have a pool house and a large pavilion nearby where I have hosted many spring and summer gatherings.
My sunken Summer House Garden was just a blank plot of earth when I moved here. The focal point is the giant ginkgo tree in the distance. I designed and planted a formal garden space with boxwood hedges, shrubs, ginkgo trees, thousands of spring blooming bulbs, and other specimen plantings. It has matured beautifully over the years.
On this day, I opened my farm to this young couple, Alina Sherpa and Sam Tharkay, for a series of portraits.
Alina, Sam, and Don, came late afternoon to catch the best light. The best time to take photos later in the day is in the last half of the “golden hour” before sunset when the light is soft, and warm.
Here is Don taking photos along the edge of the carriage road of my back hayfield.
Close by – Alina’s brother, Mingmar, and Chhiring. Mingmar, who is a US marine veteran, has also worked for me over the years.
Next stop is by my pond, which I restored earlier this year.
Here, Don sets the scene for the photo. He poses the couple, positions them in the best location for light and background, and then takes a series of images from several different angles.
When selecting a photographer for a special occasion, be sure to look at his or her portfolio to ensure their style of photography matches the desired vision of the shoot. It’s also important that the photographer’s personality is compatible. The session should be fun for all. Here, Don carries the bride’s long cathedral veil along the footpath of my Summer House Garden.
Other areas include the lawn in front of my tree peony bed under the shade of my giant sugar maples.
There are a few shots of Alina by herself – this one in front of my stable.
And a few photos with my beautiful Friesian. This is handsome Geert.
And here is the couple walking under the long pergola.
I was honored to have the photos taken here at my farm. I have known Chhiring and his family a long time. Here is a group photo of Chhiring, Sam, Alina, and Mingmar.
In the end, the couple and Don work together to choose the best photos from the shoot. The following are some of them. What a beautiful couple. (Photo by Don Hwang)
Here they are in the giant doorway of my stable. Don takes this image through the foliage of my potted sago palm. (Photo by Don Hwang)
Here is formal photo in the Sunken Garden. (Photo by Don Hwang)
And one of them looking at each other. (Photo by Don Hwang)
Here’s one of them walking down the Pin Oak Allée. Congratulations Alina and Sam. I am looking forward to sharing the wedding photos also! (Photo by Don Hwang)
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