Last week I joined my new friend James and my artist friend Jason, to talk about a cool project that Jason is about to embark on in Fayetteville. We met at Jason’s home studio so that James could make a little video of their chat.

I drug enticed my son to go with me, since he was out of school for a teacher work day, and bless Jason’s soul (and his x chromosome, for giving him a son), there was a room full of Lego’s to keep him busy.

On our way home, we drove a couple of back streets and ended up behind the old Fayetteville courthouse, a building completed in 1905. The stone work is pretty amazing, but what really caught the Boychild’s attention was the HUGE 3-story wall covered top-to-bottom with English ivy. He was really fascinated. And when he asked me, with awe in his voice, what that stuff on the side of the building was, it became apparent that his horticultural education is sorely lacking. Bad mom.

Therefore, I am making a promise to myself to take him on a tour of English country homes in an effort to teach him the art and science that is garden planning. I know, I know… what a sacrifice, right? I mean, I have lots of things to do… I’m fairly busy most days. But if my son needs to learn things, I am willing to give up a couple of weeks of laundry and dishes to wander in the land of “Sense & Sensibility” and fill a couple of SD cards. It’s just what moms do.

Rumor has it there are also some pretty amazing castle walls and ruins covered with greenery in France. And maybe Germany. I am duty-bound to check those out as well. Better start a new Pinterest board to help me plan…