That Incredible Arch

March 27, 2012


I was out in the garden this morning taking pictures and was absolutely struck with how beautiful the light was as it filtered through the rose and Pyracantha arch. It was really gorgeous. What started several years ago with, really, nothing, has grown into a fabulous arching tunnel of  green that covers nearly half of the hundred-foot brick walk. It’s just amazing. Great for pics, magical at night, and an enchanting entranceway from the city to a place apart. —David

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The Spring Garden at Chase Court, Part One

March 23, 2012


The spring garden here is incredible! That’s Pieris Japonica on top, and Heuchera Strawberry Swirl on the bottom. Heuchera are also know as ‘coral bells’ for the tiny stalks topped with little bell-like flowers that they send up later in the spring.


This is Heuchera Strawberry Swirl. Isn’t that a great plant name?


Bleeding Heart! Okay, Dicentra Spectabilis. These didn’t have flowers a day ago!

As always with the spring garden, more to come! —David

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The March Garden at Chase Court

March 15, 2012

It’s the middle of March, and the Chase Court garden is starting to show it’s spring colors! The apricot tree started to bloom a couple of days ago, and it is gorgeous!

Those beautiful blossoms turn into tasty apricots just about July 4th.

The ceremony garden is already alive with activity. This big beautiful flower is Camellia Japonica April Blush. It’s been blooming, one flower at a time, for a couple of weeks.


The Helleborus have been carrying on since early February. The blooms are starting to lose their vibrant colors and fade to green, which they’ll maintain for several months.


This is Oakleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia), just starting to open up.  As the season progresses, these shrubs become stars of the entrance garden with huge, absolutely stunning blossoms.

More soon! —David

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Early March Wedding in the Garden

March 10, 2012


We had a beautiful early March wedding today for 65 guests in sunny-but-chilly weather!


Isn’t this a magnificent set-up in the Ballroom! I love the look of long tables. The candelabras add a nice touch.

Venue: Chase Court
Catering: Absolutely Perfect Catering
Florist: Shelley Baker, Shelley’s Blossom Shop
Wreath over Fireplace: Blue Sage Floral
Cellist: Dorotea Racz
DJ: Mark Bishop
Cake: Absolutely Perfect Catering
Officiant: The Reverend Joseph Lettrich
Photographer : Stacey Lee Photography (Photograph above by Chase Court.)

—David

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Up-and-Coming Wedding Photographer

February 26, 2012

Jason Putsche (shown here with his bride-to-be, Ella) is a young up-and-coming wedding photographer whose work I really like. Not only is he a very nice guy, which helps, but he has a good eye for shooting the meaningful moments of a wedding. Equally important, Jason understands the technical side of photography. For example, his photographs made in the Chase Court ballroom make our guests look good while not ‘burning out’ the walls to white. Everything looks just like you’d see it with your eye. That’s what you want in your photographs.

Here’s a link to a whole wedding that Jason shot at Chase Court.

One of the standing pieces of advice about choosing wedding photographers is to look at a whole wedding. Anyone can get lucky for a few shots. What you want to see is how they did start to finish. I think you’ll love Jason’s work just as much as I do.

By the way, this wedding shows 96 guests at Chase Court, and it shows an indoor ceremony. Both look great and are a very comfortable fit in the space.

Viewing tip: Under the ‘Style’ menu switch to ‘Thumbnails’ to see many more images per page.

Venue: Chase Court
Catering: Sascha’s Catering
Bouquets and corsages: Wegman’s Grocery
Hammered Dulcimer & Violin: Ken Kolodner
DJ: Eric Filipowicz
Cake: Sascha’s Catering
Officiant: Tina Beneman
Photographer : Jason Putsche

Enjoy! —David

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