Beware what you plant by your front door lest it attract hungry birds, deer, or a squirrel sentry!
It’s too early still for flowering annuals to preside over the stone steps leading up to Rosslyn’s front door. Daytimes are warm, mostly, but nightimes are still getting cold. Soon, once the risk of frost retreats inland, we will transplant colorful annuals.
In recent years Pam has created Rosslyn’s welcoming summer bouquets. I asked her what she’s planted recently. 
A purple spike in the center with red mandavilla around the spike. Also some cascading white plants, sometimes scaviola or princess lobelia.
— Pam Murphy
Her arrangements have been consistently beautiful. This year she may be handing the proverbial baton to Teddi Rogers who will begin planting the new icehouse flowerbeds tomorrow. (More on that exciting project — the last major installment of the icehouse rehab — soon!)
Before Teddi and before Pam, Susan usually designed and planted these summer bouquets. Doug Decker often helped, and he was especially good at fall and spring arrangements like bundled corn stalks and pumpkins.
A dozen years ago Susan placed pussy willow branches in the green crocks flanking the front door. Huddles of wispy shoots festooned with furry catkins. They looked great!
And the gray squirrels agreed. It turns out these wild neighbors consider pussy willow catkins to be a bit of a delicacy. Welcome to Rosslyn sanctuary where the floral arrangements are (sometimes) edible!
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