As you can see, most of our trees are leafless. Because we are situated in such a way that we get a lot more wind on those windy days than others, we seem to lose our leaves pretty quickly. I have to re-learn that every year. The only upside is that I’m done with raking until Spring. It was a very dramatic day yesterday, with sun, then heavy clouds and sudden showers, then sun again.
I was going to recycle but I decided to do something I’d been wanting to do for a few months. I figured it was now or not until next spring because the chances of me driving there in the winter were nil. I decided to drive to Westport, CT to walk through Terrain. Terrain is a shop full of plants and hip plant-related accessories, as well as kitchen items, stationery, candles, and items for the home. They are a part of the Anthropologie empire, so the fact that they are beautifully designed is a given. There are two locations out East – Connecticut and Pennsylvania. And two more on the West Coast, in Walnut Creek and Palo Alto. Like Anthropologie, items can be pricey. But I found some very good buys as well, which I’ll share with you soon.
It took an hour and a half to get there and when I arrived the parking lot was full to the brim so I had to maneuver into an adjoining grocery store parking lot.
It really is gorgeous. I didn’t take many photos because my battery level was low after using my phone for navigation purposes on the way there.
A bit blurry, but it’s the best I could do. Several employees were up on ladders, decorating for the holidays. Though I can and do appreciate the beauty, it’s too early for me. Plus, I have more than enough Christmas decorations!
I spent most of my time looking at the houseplants that were everywhere. I bought one – another rescue. It is a split-leaf philodendron and it was in the sale area and extremely root bound. I repotted it, but I might have to go back in and release a few more roots. I’ve never seen a plant as root bound as this one was. Nevertheless, it was in the process of unfurling new leaves and looks healthy. More research on what to do will be done today. I also bought a couple of pots and some very small sansevierias, which I have potted.
You remember my pilea peperomiodes? It’s currently the plant that everyone wants but its scarcity makes it a bit pricey. You can find it on Amazon and at certain shops for a somewhat reasonable amount of money. I saw it in Terrain:
Nice, healthy plants in small pots. Over $50. Yikes! I will say this for them, they had a lot of pilea on hand and I rarely see it. But I admit to gasping when I saw the price.
They have a wonderful café, so I had some lunch.
Headed back home and did some repotting before settling down for the evening. Today, I do have to recycle as well as mow the lawn – probably for the last time.
My bush is turning a vivid red. I love that.
Temps at night are supposed to dip into the twenties later this week, so I am bracing myself to say goodbye to my porch plants. Ah, well.
Happy Saturday.
Linda @ A La Carte says
What a lovely store. I truly could live in part of it (not where the Christmas is up already please)! My house plants need some TLC before I leave on my trip or they won’t survive. It is foggy here today but warm. My trip to walmart with Mom was a long one so today I’m hoping to rest a bit and visit with Carter! Hugs!
Claudia says
It’s always a worry when you travel – who will water the plants? Or will they be okay until you get back?
Becky says
Your trip to Terrain sounded really nice, and once again I enjoyed the pictures! I almost rescued a grocery store plant yesterday. I thought your plant rescues. I may run by after while and grab one.
We are knee deep in football in Oklahoma. My oldest grandson plays high school football as a Freshman in his little northwest OK wheat farming town. Scares me, of course! We have our intra state rivalry game today between OU vs OSU better known as Bedlam. Lots of divided houses!!!
Well the leaves are at peak color in our part of the world. We live in a wooded neighborhood next to a large city park. The park is named Wintersmith. Isn’t that a pretty name? Well, I must get busy with chores before watching some football with my 88 yr old mother and her neighbor. Go Sooners! Have a great Fall y’all. Becky
Claudia says
I’ve never been really into football, except in high school, and I think that was due to the social aspects of it! But when you have kids and grandkids playing, I get it!
Kay says
Wow, what a place. Kind of glad I don’t live nearby since I cannot resist temptation. That’s also one of the places our nephew’s wife sells her gorgeous jewelry. The trees here in southeastern Wisconsin are hanging onto their leaves. We had a very hot fall and I’m worried about the long-term effects on the trees. I don’t think we’ll even be able to rake before the first snow flies.
Claudia says
I know! It’s very tempting.
I saw the jewelry but didn’t stop to look at it or I might have seen your niece’s designs.
We also had a hot fall – very unseasonable.
Vicki says
You do look ‘autumn-turning-to-winter’ with the bare-tree landscape. I love seeing your cottage in all four seasons.
I’ve never heard of Terrain; it looks magical. Ambitious girl you are to take such a long drive to it.
Have lost track of how many days now, of cloud-filled and mostly-gray skies we’ve been having here in SoCalif (so unusual [which it could have brought some rain; sigh]; such a welcome break from extreme heat) but, today, we’ve awakened to baby-blue sky with sunshine and bare wisps of white clouds which I think is entirely apropos for the birth of my neighbor’s baby boy this morning (c-section); so happy for them. What a beautiful day to come into the big, wide world!
Vicki says
Ugh, my eyes and/or sleepy brain this morning;” WISH it could have brought some rain”… (I make more typos lately…).
Mixed emotions on the ‘time change’ tomorrow and setting back the clocks. It’ll be lighter in the morning for my husband getting off to work but I seem to have less productivity with the shorter days.
Claudia says
I do not like the time change. I do not like the time change. I do not like the time change.
Claudia says
Congratulations to your neighbors!
Chris K in Wisconsin says
We have a maple tree right beyond our living room window which changes to an almost startling golden yellow each year. However, it never even starts to change until we are into November. Most of the trees in our ‘hood are all bare, but this maple must be a stubborn one and maybe it dislikes winter as much as I do!!
Sounds like you had a fun day yesterday. We are having a cold and rainy day here. Hope you have a productive Saturday!
Claudia says
I think we’re going to get your ‘cold and rainy’ today, Chris. So far, no rain, but I’m told it’s in the forecast.
Wendy T says
The Terrain in Walnut Creek is actually a part of the Anthropologie store, like one of the departments in a department store. It seems smaller than the Connecticut store by your photos, but crammed with plants and plant-related things. We had bought some very pretty terra-cotta pots and saucers there. My daughter has herbs in the pots. We have to return for the holiday decor.
Claudia says
This Terrain is huge and no Anthropologie in sight!
Marilyn says
That store is lovely. Christmas decorations are out everywhere you look. Poor Thanksgiving it gets overlooked.
Marilyn
Claudia says
I agree. My birthday and Thanksgiving are this month and I, as you know, refuse to decorate for Christmas until the second week of December.
Janet in Rochester says
Coming back to comment after zipping off to check out Terrain’s website. Only spent AN HOUR there – psych!! Clipped a lot of pictures to save – ideas, future purchases etc. Lovely way to spent part of an overall-quite-dull Saturday afternoon. Thanks for writing about it, Claudia. For me, it was safer than actually visiting there. Would probably have spent a chunk but this way, I still had fun & didn’t spend a dime! Ah, the burning bushes! Had one alongside the patio at my old place. Hope it’s “on fire” now too. Enjoy the rest of your weekend. PS – extra sleep tonight! I love ‘Fall Back’ night, don’t you? Peace…🌛
#Resist
Claudia says
No! I do not love it. I still wake up when I normally wake up, but now it’s an hour earlier. And it gets dark way too early!
Grace says
What a beautiful store! Amazing!!!! Thanks for sharing Claudia<3
Claudia says
You’re welcome, Grace!
Diane Cayton-Hakey says
I am so excited for Christmas this year. We have not had a full sized tree up in our house for MANY years, and this year we bought a super nice tree. Now to find the perfect space to put it… and I will probably need additional ornaments for it too. Can’t wait!
That store in CT looks wonderful! I could spend a lot of time walking through that!
Claudia says
I bet your tree will be beautiful, Diane!
Nancy Blue Moon says
Your first picture of the sun shining on the trees and dark clouds in the sky is very interesting!…Terrain looks like a wonderful store…I don’t will have to see where they are located in PA…with my luck it will be in Pittsburgh or Philadelphia like most stores I would like to visit!…lol…I guess the pilea pepermiodes are out of my budget but I will keep looking for a bargain…I had a burning bush here but it just died off two years ago….don’t know why…I miss seeing it turn red!
Claudia says
I think they’re located outside Philadelphia – that’s where Anthropologie was started and I think their headquarters are there, as well.
Donnamae says
Thanks for the tour of Terrain. I’m actually glad I wasn’t there…I’m sure I would have spent way too much money! We had company today…yeah. Our old friends from college. Old friends are the best! ;)
Claudia says
It’s impossible not to spend money there, Donnamae! Glad you had time with your friends.
Melanie says
Never heard of Terrain – looks like a wonderful store. You can tell it’s part of Anthro; their styling is phenomenal. How fun would it be to be on the team that designs and/or sets up those store displays? I saw the money plant on Amazon when I was looking for one…even on there, it’s $30 for a 2″ plant. Yikes.
Can you believe we still have a lot of leaves left on our trees? They’re really late in completely falling this year because it hasn’t been truly cold yet. However, like your area, we’ll be dipping into the 20’s at night later this week, so I’m sure that’s when the leaves will finish falling. Brian’s already cleaned out the gutters once. He’ll have to do it a final time.
You mentioned not having much battery power left on your phone due to using the GPS feature while you were driving. Don’t you have a car phone charger?
Claudia says
Brian’s lucky. We’ve had to clean our gutters several times!
Yes, I have a charger and I use it, but there was no time to completely charge it before I headed into the store.