June 2015 | Nora Murphy Country House

When I see a gorgeous flowering plant, I can’t resist taking her home with me. A couple of my faves that are sporting glorious blooms right now are the delphiniums and foxgloves. I always look for the most spectacular one of the bunch. When I get home, I find just the right container – my…

“I almost wish we were butterflies and liv’d but three summer days — three such days with you I could fill with more delight than fifty common years could ever contain.” ~John Keats Just a little summer love from me to you: Three gorgeous 2015 calendars that you can download here: https://noramurphycountryhouse.com/magazine/winter-2015/calendar/#.VZE-pevODWd Each calendar features some of my…

Summer’s here. The 4th..almost. It’s time to get our red, white, and blue on! Happy Sunday! Love, Nora

In the Connecticut Country House gardens, I rely on a wide variety of support systems to keep my plants at their best. Whether in the form of simple stick teepees, bamboo stakes, painted trellises, rustic rambling stonewalls or a split rail fence, they provide a strong foundation to what’s growing in the gardens. On their…

Haricot Vert is French for green bean, and I just can’t get enough of them! They’re a more slender green bean than its American counterpart, and in my opinion more flavorful. My favorite way to prepare freshly picked Haricot Vert is to sauté them in a little olive oil with garlic, and sprinkle with a…

She’s in full bloom, my beautiful Eden. We’ve been together for a long time now, ever since I first planted her at our former home. When we moved to Connecticut Country House, it was only natural to bring her along to her new home. We found the perfect spot for her down by the old…

It’s official! The season of summer and the summer issue of Nora Murphy Country House Style are here! We’ve kicked off the season with an out of doors state of mind – and can’t wait to take you with us as we take Country House Style on the road! I’m so hoping this newest issue…

Last Tuesday was an emotional day for the Murphy’s. Tuesday marked another milestone for our family – Conor’s high school graduation. Murph and I tried to hold it together, but a milestone like this one flooded our minds with the everyday Conor moments and childhood milestones that instantly brought big broad smiles and tears to our…

Tending the gardens at Connecticut Country House, that’s what we do. And I guess you could call it a labor of love. On one hand, that labor of love comes from our commitment to be the best caretakers we can be of our 1767 home. And on the other hand, we surely love working the…

This is one of those posts, where I would love you to just take a minute, sit back, and enjoy the show! (P.S. If you do grow peonies, remember to deadhead them to encourage more flower growth next spring!) TGIF. Love, Nora

Flowers are bursting and blooming all around Connecticut Country House! So may as well go with the flow…Pompadore English Wedgewood anyone? Even when setting the table, let’s just let the floral frenzy flow! Love, Nora

“A garden is a grand teacher. It teaches patience and careful watchfulness; it teaches industry and thrift; above all, it teaches trust.” ~ Gertrude Jekyll Plant a Rosa Rugosa. They’re very hardy (Rugosas are the roses that grow at the beaches!), beautifully fragrant, and have very simple needs. I prune them in early spring, and…

This is no ordinary straw hat. You see this wonderful old hat is right on par with any one of my hardworking aprons. When I put it on, it means getting down to business in the garden. And that’s where I’m headed today – the kitchen garden, where I’m sure I’ll be putting in plenty…

It’s pretty amazing that even before I get my whole kitchen garden planted, the multiple clumps of fresh green chives are in full bloom and ready for their first harvest! So what to do with chives? Here’s a recipe I found a while back that answers this question so deliciously! Cheddar, Bacon, and Fresh Chive…

The rhodis (rhododendrons) at Connecticut Country House are on their final burst of the Spring 2015 season – and I think this year they’re definitely bigger and better than ever! (I probably say that every year!) One of the largest, and pinkest of the bunch was severely damaged a few years back from a really…

“To be overcome by the fragrance of flowers is a delectable form of defeat.” – Beverly Nichols Take time to smell the peonies…Love, Nora

Whether you’re walking around inside or outside at Connecticut Country House, you’ll see one consistent thing – big old seashells parked by nearly every door. Practically they serve a much needed purpose on a breezy day, but more so they’re a constant reminder that summer is always here! Happy Sunday! Love, Nora

A simple way to freshen any sightline is to fill an antique basket with potted annuals or perennials. Here in the parlor, I stuffed my old whitewashed basket with potted Lavendar that I had just brought home from the nursery. Until I’m ready to plant them, I keep them watered, and housed in this spot…

I always keep extra packages of frozen puff pastry in the freezer – it’s a staple in my kitchen. So when I’m expecting a couple of friends and I’m in a time crunch (which is usually most of the time!), this ooey-gooey warm little nosh is perfectly served with a crusty French baguette and chilled…

For the past year now, I’ve been envisioning the interiors of my Connecticut Country House painted out white. Don’t get me wrong, I love my earthy paint palette that’s throughout the house, but for some reason I have this unrelenting need for the bright, light, and clean palette of the house’s exterior to come indoors!…

A beautiful shrub grows in our gardens down by the old stonewall at Connecticut Country House – and has gone nameless until now. Meet Fuzzy Deutzia (pronounced Doot-zee-uh). She’s quite the survivor. A few years ago, one of our majestic 200+ years old Maple trees decided one day that she was done living on this…

“Spring being a tough act to follow, God created June.” – Al Bernstein Please be sure to download your free June calendar for your desktop! https://noramurphycountryhouse.com/magazine/winter-2015/calendar/ Enjoy! Love, Nora