wildflowers

photograph by rinne allen

more of redcliffe plantation

this is a state park so go anytime.  besides the alley of 150 year old magnolias leading up to the house, there are also numerous old cedars of lebanon, with their handsome, spreading branches, and live oaks with their limbs hanging near the ground.  also on the property, a curious stable that is tall and skinny, with a sharply slanted, overhanging roof.

photos and words by rebecca wood

shells and flotsam

photograph by rinne allen

redcliffe plantation

built in 1857, redcliffe plantation is in beech island , sc (just south of augusta, ga).  it is a stately home with a basement and three floors.  it's built on a hill to catch the breezes.  there is a stable and two old slave cabins preserved there.  there is a wonderful alley of 150 year old magnolia trees along the driveway.  still have to go back for an inside tour!

photos and words by rebecca wood

ladder and chandi

photograph by rinne allen

3 porch farm at the southern

mandy once again made some beauties with flowers from her farm, this time for the lobby of the georgia museum of art for the southern c summit. some were for tables, but others were over 8 feet tall and lined a long wall. these photos do not do them justice, but you can still see her mix of textures and plant material. beautiful!

sumac

photograph by rinne allen

kinfolk community gathering #2: honey harvest

in late july, rinne hosted the second in a series of gatherings on behalf of kinfolk magazine. intended to bring people together to learn and enjoy each other (as well as good food & drink), the gatherings have been a great way to introduce folks to new things; this time around we were out at 3 porch farm where mandy and steve led everyone on a tour of their farm. they also guided us in a honey tasting; the honey we tasted came from all over the world! the group also learned to make infused honey...using dried herbs and flower petals. we tasted some mead, made by booger hill bee, as well as honey lemonade and a honey wheat beer. the spread of edible treats included different cow's milk cheeses from sweetgrass dairy in south georgia, as well as bread from the bakery down the road, the comerian. thank you to everyone who came! and, for those who are really inspired, the state botanical garden in athens has beekeeping classes coming up in late fall.

photogrpahs by rinne allen & michelle norris

sunflowers

photograph by rinne allen

shell tree

on a recent beach trip to the panhandle of florida, we found this palm tree covered in shells. we loved thinking about all the people who had passed by and added a shell over the years.

words and photos by rinne allen

feathered vines

photograph by rinne allen

slave cabin

on the way home from the beach, we stopped at redcliffe plantaion, outside of augusta.  we were too late for the house tour, but got to wander about the grounds of the historic site.  the house was built in 1857.  there is a curious barn and one remaining slave cabin.  here's the cabin for now.  i will go back and tour the house later.

saw cuts

photograph by rinne allen

our friend nancy's house

our friend nancy has an eye for detail, and a lifetime collection of cool artifacts.  here are a few vignettes from her home.

photos and words by rebecca wood

lace curtain

photograph by rinne allen

drying flowers

we love the flowers hanging up in our friend mandy's flower shack. they hang from the ceiling and from the walls; they are all so beautiful! mandy uses them in arrangements for local restaurants or for weddings, in addition to her fresh flowers or instead of them. drying flowers is a great way to extend the life of cut flowers- they can last years, really. but, even if they only last a few weeks, i love the way their colors change as they dry.

words & photographs by rinne allen

dandelion fence

photograph by rinne allen

a summer herb snack

this is my go to garden snack for the summer months.  i can whip it up in a couple of minutes and it always is enjoyed by all. 

all you need is some fresh garden tomatoes, diced herbs (I used basil, parsley, mint, and thyme), sea salt and pepper, a good balsalmic vinegar, goat cheese, and some artisianal crackers or fresh bread.

directions

-dice the herbs

-sprinkle over the tomatoes

-salt and pepper to taste

-lightly sprinkle some balsalmic

for the goat cheese...mix in some herbs to dress it up

photo by kristen bach

barn and dried jessamine

photograph by rinne allen

order up a year of beauty

visit here  to pre-order our book!  books will start shipping August 15 so reserve your copy today.