Sunday, April 26, 2009

Antique Garden Catalogs

These beautiful catalogs is what the post man would have been delivering about a century ago to the Shabby Old House. Make sure you click on the picture as it is amazing.
I am sure that the ladies of the house would have been scouring the pages dreaming as I often do of the beautiful flower beds that could be created around this old Victorian home.
This is a wonderful collection of Joseph Freedman and this article was in an old May
1994 Victoria Magazine that I found.
What I love about the old Victoria magazines is the history that they wrote of which keeps the magazine as interesting today as it was in 1994.
I learned that a sum as small as a dollar was enough for a magnificent garden.
The seed companies hired top artists to draft horticulturally accurate flower illustration, which were reproduced as lithographs and accompanied by the proud words, "drawn from nature."



This catalog from 1925 portrayed the garden of George Washington's sister Betty.
Oh how pretty the Shabby Old House could be with flower beds and gardens surrounding her.

Any ideas from you girls that study those wonderful gardening books?
I am open for lots of comments. I have a dollar too! lol So
if you want to come bringing your gloves and shovels I'll be happy to name the garden after you.




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15 comments:

  1. Debra HowardApril 26, 2009 at 5:46 PM

    What a great post. I just love those antique garden catalogs. The colors are so beautiful.
    Debbie

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  2. Garden Antqs VintageApril 26, 2009 at 5:55 PM

    I'd love to come and help you. I've been drying flowers today. I think I have almost every old Victoria Magazine that was published and I love to look back at them. Such a beautiful home.

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  3. KrisApril 26, 2009 at 6:13 PM

    Hi Becky, Love the antique garden catalogs. Such beautiful illustrations. I wish I could come help you plant a lovely flower garden, but unfortunately I'm not much of a gardener. I wish I was, just haven't found time to add gardening to my busy schedule. I am, however mean with tools. I'm sure I could dig a hole for you. :) and I'll give you a dollar.

    Have a happy day
    Kris

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  4. LisaApril 27, 2009 at 5:32 AM

    Thanks for the History lesson. I did not know that about the catalogs. What beauty! I can just imagine your beautiful home with a cottage garden all around it!

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  5. Just A GirlApril 27, 2009 at 9:46 AM

    Hey Becky, I'll be there as soon as I can with gloves, trowel, and some delightful tea!!! Have you ever seen a double poppy? They're perfect for a vintage garden and would look lovely in yours.

    xoxo Cori

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  6. SoniaApril 27, 2009 at 4:54 PM

    How precoius are those catalogs. I love them!!

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  7. CarolynApril 27, 2009 at 4:58 PM

    Hi Becky,
    Your Shabby Old House looks so pretty it doesn't need any adornment but I can picture some antique roses or blue hydgrangea around it.
    To answer your question on my blog-when I plant roses I put compost or manure in the hole with a banana peel or two and some epsom salts(few tablespoons)and some alfalfa pellets(rabbit food).Water it well and give it a good soak at the base when it is dry.Roses like lots of sun and good air circulation.
    Good Luck!
    Carolyn

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  8. Mrs. Cherry HeartApril 27, 2009 at 7:26 PM

    Ohhh Becky I'd looooooove to come and dig and plant gardens to accent your beautiful home!
    We could fill them with old fashioned roses, hydrangeas, hollyhocks, peonies and ...........
    I could go on and on!
    I love designing new flower beds!
    :-)

    Have fun

    Hugz & Blessings,
    Dolly

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  9. Chrissy...The Apothecary ShopApril 28, 2009 at 9:53 AM

    Oh, I have never seen any thing like those, so beautiful!! Great post, going to keep my eye out this summer for some seed packs!!

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  10. bygone bungalowApril 28, 2009 at 3:35 PM

    I see hydrangea nestling up against the house.

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  11. parledgeApril 28, 2009 at 8:46 PM

    It's your long lost Alabama friend, Tricia. I can't log onto my own Blog anymore! I was just about to die to see if you had the Shabby Cottage ready for pilgrimage, I love that little victorian of yours.

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  12. FEDERICAApril 28, 2009 at 11:49 PM

    Hello Becky, thank you so much for stopping by for a visit and for your comment!
    Of course you're not one of those shy ones! :)
    I saw that you have many blogs, they're very beautiful!
    See you soon and have a nice day!
    Warm hugs, Federica.

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  13. ChandaApril 30, 2009 at 7:33 AM

    Oh wow, your home is awesome. I would love to come and spend the summer there and help you with the gardens, if it were only possible. I love that sort of thing. My home is now landscaped and it was once pasture land for centuries. It is all doable, yu have a great canvas to start with. I would suggest lots of flowers with some evergreen added in here and there. Lots of hydrageses and butterfly bush too. Can't wait to see it all completed,
    Shana

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  14. FEDERICAApril 30, 2009 at 9:51 AM

    Hello Becky, how are you?
    Today was a long and hard day of work for me...but tomorrow is a national holiday here in Italy and then I'll come back in the office only Monday!! Yeahh!!!
    You're right, Mo is really nice and sweet. You too!!
    I was in florida three years ago, I had a lot of fun!!I hope to return soon!
    Hugs & Blessing
    Federica
    P.s. I hope that my English is not horrible...

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  15. FEDERICAMay 1, 2009 at 11:59 PM

    Hello Becky, to answer your question, I took a degree in law at the University of Bologna, probably the first University in the western world. And now I'm a labour consultant, a lot of work to do...but I love it!
    Federica

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