Author: Frances

Connecting with nature is healing for body and soul. Ask any sheep or hummingbird. Better yet, call in the hummingbirds yourself by planting what they love. (Sheep, not so much…) In case you missed it, a few days ago I asked my most green-thumbed friend George Pisegna, Deputy Director & Chief of Horticulture at the Horticultural Society of New York, to take over my feed and give us all his tips on doing just that.

Head to my stories to see his tips, the flowers he recommends, and how we can support all the vital work that The HORT is doing! ​
Photography @raewarne

Mother’s day is upon us and while there is no gift big enough to do the day justice, we can try. Here are a few of my favorite finds, from a beautiful robe to beauty treatments and the best hack for a face mask. Huh, never thought I’d be talking about a face mask that wasn’t the beautifying or Halloween kind…Find the perfect gift in my stories….

Quick watercolor sketch of the irises around our pond. I want to get back down there with my oils before they go… .
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#iris #pond #rancholazaca #watercolorsketch #blue #purple #purpleandgreen #enpleinair #losolivos #santaynezvalley #santaynez

Monday morning, with the soft golden light and gray shadow in the olives, seems to whisper a reminder to be gentle with one another and with ourselves as we become increasingly restless, impatient maybe, snappish (who me?!) or anxious. A reminder that where there is shadow there is light; and where light, gratitude; and where gratitude, joy. My prayer this week is especially for the health care workers, who, after braving the storm week after week, will finally begin to have some relief; see some light in their schedules, some rest in their homes; and some time with their loved ones. And, like these old olives we will find a way to keep growing, to bear fruit, and to hold both shadow and light. Oh, and I love an armillary… .
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#mondaymood #mondayvibes #prayersforhealing #rancholazaca #olivetree #olive #olivegarden #prettylight #armillary

She did the best with what she had bless her heart. Bit of a scavenge for His Grace’s tiny birthday celebration tonight, but @rosestoryfarm roses never disappoint. This is their third season at the ranch and they are putting on quite a show this spring. Virus? What virus? Nature is loving us in our (relative) stillness. .
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#rancholazaca #californiacookingandsouthernstyle #crocusroses #queenofsweden #viburnum #rosestoryfarm #centerpieces

Yes, said Dorothy Parker, you CAN lead a hor-ti-culture: Special treat today with @thehort ‘s chief of horticulture telling us how to attract hummingbirds in our gardens. And everyone knows hummingbirds = good mojo. Head to my stories, and replay beginning if this video so you dont miss the funny part.

The irises say it’s May! . .
#iris #rancholazaca #homesweethome #swimminghole #pond

This morning I found myself lost in Liz Lange’s beautiful Palm Beach vacation house and figured you would love it just as much as I did! Inspired by warm memories of childhood trips to the town’s historic Breakers hotel, Lange chose an early-1900s Spanish Colonial—stucco walls, tile roof, ample pink bougainvillea—on the Intra­coastal Waterway, essentially a 3,000-mile-long extension of her backyard.⁠
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Full of whimsy and color, the dining room features wallpaper by Peter Dunham, a ceiling sheathed in a Cole & Son striped wallcovering and a vintage Mario Lopez Torres wicker monkey chandelier. Pop by my #linkinbio to take a tour!⁠
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​Photography @DouglasFriedman for @elledecor⁠
Design @lizlangeofficial and @jonathanadler

Tomatillos, sometimes called husk tomatoes, look like green, unripe tomatoes with a dry, leafy husk. The color is a beautiful bright green, which fades a bit once cooked—but hey, some of us just peak early, right? ⁠
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Tomatillos have a slightly more acidic, less sweet flavor than tomatoes and are the perfect base for one of my favorite recipes, Chili Verde With Chicken and Vegetables. Delicious, versatile, do-ahead, and great for a crowd, it’s loaded with vegetables, full of flavor and it’s what’s for dinner! Also freezes well…See the recipe through the my stories or of course, in my book California Cooking and Southern Style.⁠
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Photography: the_bojon_gourmet⁠
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The formerly busiest intersection of our (now even more) quiet little town of Los Olivos. I had to wait for this truck to roll by just so I could include a sign of life. My friends at @santaynezgeneral, who are designing an eventually-to-be-opened new restaurant in town, asked me to do a few paintings for it. I was so flattered, and terrified. This is the first. 11×14 oil on canvas. Hope they like it 😉 And thanks for the help @camillefineart and @rkart1

So many of us are unsure of how to proceed during these strange times. My best advice? Trust your instincts.

Surrounded by 600 acres of vineyards and orchards of pears, plums, lemons, oranges, olives and mandarins, @Babylonstoren is one of the oldest Cape Dutch farms in Cape Town, South Africa. I’ve long nurtured a love of Africa, and southern Africa in particular, and the Cape Dutch architecture characterized by thick whitewashed walls, elegant gables and stalwart fireplaces, is one of my favorites. I’m officially putting a stay at Babylonstoren on my bucket list. Any other Cape Dutch architecture lovers out there? Here’s looking at you @slimpaley @antheaboehmke @serenacrawford⁠
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