Lewis Ginter Gardens in Richmond

Cherry blossoms in bloom at Lewis GInter in Richmond, Virginia, do my soul good. Additionally, heavenly-scented hyacinths are blooming in the splendid conservatory, alongside tulips, clivia, orchids, and bougainvillea. 

The charming thatched roof cottage has numerous fairy houses inside. 

These pictures were taken late March, at a time when the state of Virginia has just about threatened to throw in the towel because of Spring's slow arrival. 

Flowers, BLOOM!

Your imaginary gardener,

Patsie

Graffiato's Goes Creative

Dear Fellow Foodies,

If you watch Bravo TV's "Top Chef," you may have heard of Mike Isabella, a young creative chef who puts his own flavors on traditional Italian cuisine to bring it into the twenty-first century. 

Pizza has never seemed more creative than here, with far ranging options including cauliflower, squash, arugula, and even calamari pizzas. Side dishes excel, with a delicious roasted Brussels sprouts with pancetta that I found to be extraordinarily tasty. 

Mike has restaurants in both Richmond and Washington DC, as well as his Greek place Kapnos, which I hope to visit sometime soon. 

Trendy and tastefully industrial inside, his restaurants are deliberately noisy, so this is not the place to have a quiet chat with your lawyer, your grandma, or your first date. 

James River Plantations

Some of the first plantation owners in the early eighteenth century South lived on the James River in the state of Virginia. They mostly grew tobacco, and then shipped it back to Mother England.

This is one such home owned by wealthy English colonists, who faced tough weather conditions and Indian problems in America.

Picasso and Paloma, from Paris to RIchmond

Dear Imaginary Viewers,
Yesterday, I had a great trip to the Virginia Museum of Arts on Richmond, VA, where I saw the huge Picasso exhibit with my non-imaginary friend Michelle.  The show traveled all the way from the Musee' Picasso in Paris.
I found out that Paloma was one of four children of Pablo Picasso. Her mom was Francois Gilot, who was married to Picasso for ten years. After Francoise, he had a new young girlfriend named Jacqueline, despite his advanced age. Picasso, whom many think of as very modern, was actually born in the nineteenth century, two centuries ago. Makes you stop and think, doesn't it?
Your Imaginary Friend,
Patsie