How magical! We bought our house in the wintertime as well and were so thrilled to discover that the craggy old bush that took up a large portion of our front yard was an heirloom lilac! It’s always so wonderful to see what surprises may be
Oh the winter purchase surprise reveal is such a joy, isn't it? You think you know what you've got and then spring arrives and the garden just starts announcing itself. An heirloom lilac is such a wonderful thing to discover. The best kind of waiting. 💛
I feel very drawn toward what you are doing. I can't quite explain it. There are a few places in the world I have any attraction to… I love being home. I am never bored. But your château and your forest with blue bells are places that would be lovely to see. Lucky you to enjoy them all the time.
"I love being home and I am never bored" is such a beautiful thing to be able to say, Anitra. And honestly, that's what we're trying to build here too. A place that holds you so completely that nowhere else feels urgent. The bluebells help. The chapel helps. The fact that it reaches through a screen and makes someone who loves their own home feel a pull toward it - that means more than you know 💛
You: a winter purchase in France that reveals bluebells in Spring.
Me: a summer purchase in Ireland that reveals....a leaky roof in winter.
You win.
🙈🤣🤣🤣🤣
Seriously, though. Our woods in Ireland are just like that. I can't wait to read your missive on the wild garlic in Summer! It is EVERYWHERE in Summer!
Oh we have the leaky roof situation, too! And Ireland is absolutely stunning - another one of my favorite places on earth. I can just imagine the forests in the spring. And one dream I have is to add wild garlic to our forest here!
This post has transported me to a magical world. I kept going over that plan to define and name the paths, how going into the forest should be intentional. It touched a place deep down. Love that. Be blessed 🙏💚
Thank you for this, Sahar - I'm so glad you enjoyed it. There's something about giving a place language and intentionality that changes your relationship to it. So glad it landed somewhere real for you. 🙏
The idea that you're not just buying what a place is, but all the versions of it you haven't met yet is soooo lovely. And the glass house in the middle of the forest!!! That MUST happen :)
Thank you, Olivia! The glass house is happening! (somehow) I don't know when but it's on the list in permanent ink. And yes - all the versions you haven't met yet is genuinely how it feels to live somewhere old. Spring confirmed it completely. 🌻
Oh what a dreamy forest! Such a treasure to have a peaceful place all your own to enjoy with your family. We also bought our house in the winter, and when the spring came (we live in North florida) we realized that the ugly shrubs lining the entirety of our property borders were several colors of Azaleas! All of them! Dark pink, light pink, and white. Sprinkled across three acres of hedges. Its truly the most glorious sight for about a month in the spring. We pinch ourselves that this is our home during that time. And then August comes and we wonder why we live in Florida! lol.
Thank you, Kelsey! The azalea reveal across three acres in multiple colors is such a perfect version of this story - bought in winter, spring arrives, something completely unexpected and extraordinary appears along every border. And then Florida in August doing what Florida in August does. We understand each other. 🌸
Thank you, Denise, truly. The photos I'll take partial credit for but the forest is doing most of the work honestly ☺️ It's one of those places that just insists on being beautiful no matter what you point at it. I'm so glad it found you through the screen. That's exactly what I hoped it would do 💙
“It just keeps happening naturally -we’re walking somewhere and we pass the entrance to the forest and it would feel wrong not to go in. So we do….. And people come out the other side slightly different than they went in. Lighter, maybe. More present. Like the forest gave them back a little piece of their childhood.”
There's a few places in the foothills above Jackson, where Ewa and I go in the Spring to check out the wildflowers, usually beautiful fields of poppies. But the Bluebells! You guys got us on that one 😁
Thanks, Dan! California poppies and wildflowers are some of the most beautiful in the world, and I do miss them! The bluebells are ready for you whenever you and Ewa are ready to visit ☺️
Thank you, Kate. I've been enjoying writing about it. In many ways it forces me to actually look at it rather than just pass through it. So glad it's finding the right readers 💙
How magical! We bought our house in the wintertime as well and were so thrilled to discover that the craggy old bush that took up a large portion of our front yard was an heirloom lilac! It’s always so wonderful to see what surprises may be
hiding in a new garden 🤍
Oh the winter purchase surprise reveal is such a joy, isn't it? You think you know what you've got and then spring arrives and the garden just starts announcing itself. An heirloom lilac is such a wonderful thing to discover. The best kind of waiting. 💛
I feel very drawn toward what you are doing. I can't quite explain it. There are a few places in the world I have any attraction to… I love being home. I am never bored. But your château and your forest with blue bells are places that would be lovely to see. Lucky you to enjoy them all the time.
"I love being home and I am never bored" is such a beautiful thing to be able to say, Anitra. And honestly, that's what we're trying to build here too. A place that holds you so completely that nowhere else feels urgent. The bluebells help. The chapel helps. The fact that it reaches through a screen and makes someone who loves their own home feel a pull toward it - that means more than you know 💛
You: a winter purchase in France that reveals bluebells in Spring.
Me: a summer purchase in Ireland that reveals....a leaky roof in winter.
You win.
🙈🤣🤣🤣🤣
Seriously, though. Our woods in Ireland are just like that. I can't wait to read your missive on the wild garlic in Summer! It is EVERYWHERE in Summer!
SB
Oh we have the leaky roof situation, too! And Ireland is absolutely stunning - another one of my favorite places on earth. I can just imagine the forests in the spring. And one dream I have is to add wild garlic to our forest here!
Gorgeous! How do you say bluebell in French? We also recently went down a similar line as you - am really enjoying reading your insights. x
Jacinthe des bois - and it sounds exactly as beautiful as it looks. So glad you're following a similar line and enjoying the ride! 💙
Merci 💙💙💙
That sounds — and looks — absolutely glorious. What an incredible thing you’ve done! And you’ve given your children magic. They’ll remember this.
Thank you so much! And I hope so - it brings me so much joy to give them a magical childhood, even if its imperfect.
This post has transported me to a magical world. I kept going over that plan to define and name the paths, how going into the forest should be intentional. It touched a place deep down. Love that. Be blessed 🙏💚
Thank you for this, Sahar - I'm so glad you enjoyed it. There's something about giving a place language and intentionality that changes your relationship to it. So glad it landed somewhere real for you. 🙏
The idea that you're not just buying what a place is, but all the versions of it you haven't met yet is soooo lovely. And the glass house in the middle of the forest!!! That MUST happen :)
Thank you, Olivia! The glass house is happening! (somehow) I don't know when but it's on the list in permanent ink. And yes - all the versions you haven't met yet is genuinely how it feels to live somewhere old. Spring confirmed it completely. 🌻
I love your writing! Thank you for sharing this incredible bluebell forest with us.
Thank you so much, Amy!
Wow. I’ve been marveling at the dogwoods and tulips in our newfound home in the south but this wins.
The south in spring with dogwoods is its own magnificent thing and I won't fully claim victory :). Congratulations on your newfound home! 😄
Oh what a dreamy forest! Such a treasure to have a peaceful place all your own to enjoy with your family. We also bought our house in the winter, and when the spring came (we live in North florida) we realized that the ugly shrubs lining the entirety of our property borders were several colors of Azaleas! All of them! Dark pink, light pink, and white. Sprinkled across three acres of hedges. Its truly the most glorious sight for about a month in the spring. We pinch ourselves that this is our home during that time. And then August comes and we wonder why we live in Florida! lol.
Thank you, Kelsey! The azalea reveal across three acres in multiple colors is such a perfect version of this story - bought in winter, spring arrives, something completely unexpected and extraordinary appears along every border. And then Florida in August doing what Florida in August does. We understand each other. 🌸
The photos and your writing are just amazing - makes me feel like I am right in that beautiful, magical forest! Thank you for that!
Thank you, Denise, truly. The photos I'll take partial credit for but the forest is doing most of the work honestly ☺️ It's one of those places that just insists on being beautiful no matter what you point at it. I'm so glad it found you through the screen. That's exactly what I hoped it would do 💙
“It just keeps happening naturally -we’re walking somewhere and we pass the entrance to the forest and it would feel wrong not to go in. So we do….. And people come out the other side slightly different than they went in. Lighter, maybe. More present. Like the forest gave them back a little piece of their childhood.”
Wonderful!
Thank you so much!! Truly means a lot 🥰
The Bluebells! Just WOW! 👏
There's a few places in the foothills above Jackson, where Ewa and I go in the Spring to check out the wildflowers, usually beautiful fields of poppies. But the Bluebells! You guys got us on that one 😁
Thanks, Dan! California poppies and wildflowers are some of the most beautiful in the world, and I do miss them! The bluebells are ready for you whenever you and Ewa are ready to visit ☺️
I'm enjoying reading about your bluebell forest.
Thank you, Kate. I've been enjoying writing about it. In many ways it forces me to actually look at it rather than just pass through it. So glad it's finding the right readers 💙