Two NEW Features ADDED TO THE EVENT SPACE PROJECT?
- Sandy Sheldon
- Jun 27
- 6 min read
Yes, it's true, there were two new features added to the event space project. I confess, it was me. Sometimes it's hard to stop a creative brain from kicking into overdrive. In this instance, one feature is born out of necessity, one out of pure joy to install something really cool.
Hello Everyone!
This past week was very transformative. With the addition of ten 140 year old olives trees weighing around 12,000 pounds each, one can say the magic has been delivered. And boy-o-boy are they beautiful!
Over a two day period, and after four truck loads, we were able to get all ten trees into the two spaces - the event space, and the new location I'm creating out in front of the Taj Ma Garage. These magestic hunks of landscape beauty were tossed, scooted, swung, and spun around by fork lift until they were seated and in position ready for their closeup.
At one point it felt like we were playing musical trees. Each tree is unique unto itself, and trying to get them all positioned so they compliment each other was quite the challenge, given there are eight trees packed into a relatively small space.
Once all the trees were placed, the crew began tucking them in by installing a short rock border around the base of each tree. This is when we got a peek at how beautiful this space is shaping up to be. It's amazing that every single rock installed came from the property itself.
Over the past several weeks, as this space has been taking shape, it became clear we were losing seating capacity as things shifted as both man and nature put boundaries on us. A few weeks ago, I had the vision of where I could carve out some extra banquet seating, I just needed to wait until after the trees were installed to see if my idea was viable.
It's here. Can you see it?
It has the potential to become one of the best seats in the house.
All of the elements in this mockup are for visual purposes only, and may not be the actual decor brought into the space.
FIRST NEW FEATURE - Tucked back into nature through rock framed trees, an extra 10 to 12 guests will enjoy dinner under an outdoor crystal chandelier enhanced by flickering candle light. Guests just may feel extra special for being given this experience by way of a seating chart.
As you can see, we have a lot of work ahead of us to hide eyesores outside the border of the space, namely, this large solar array. We have a few ideas up our sleeves so hopefully we'll be successful.
This is probably our biggest challenge. For a wedding ceremony, the bride and wedding party will enter the event through these two trees. I have an idea to block the ugly obstacles, and once my landscape designer brings in some beautiful plant material, I think the problem will be solved, fingers crossed.
Pavers for the stage are arriving soon, so that should be another impactful element once it gets installed.
When you arrive for an event, you'll take a winding path through the trees and come to this. It will be a tunnel effect thru the canopy of two trees when you get your first peek of a beautifully decorated wedding or other type of special gathering.
Ok, I think I've given you an idea of how the event space is shaping up. Let's head out to the new space being created across from the Taj Ma Garage.
All day as I watched these trees go in, I think I was in a state of AWE!! It's been a long-time dream of mine to bring olives to the farm, but as I watched these men maneuver these beasts into place, I saw men with amazing ability and expertise. I also found it amazing that these 140 year old trees could be extricated from their root systems and plopped down in a whole new environment and asked to thrive. They truly are amazing specimens.
FACTS ABOUT OLIVE TREES:The average lifespan of an olive tree ranges from 300 to 600 years. However, they are incredibly resilient and can live for well over 1,000 to 2,000 years, with some ancient, certified specimens in the Mediterranean producing fruit after more than 3,000 years.
Key Lifespan & Growth Facts
Average Lifespan: 300 – 600 years.
Maximum Lifespan: 2,000 – 3,000+ years.
Almost Immortal Root System: Even if the trunk or above-ground wood dies, the hardy root system can continue sending up new shoots, allowing the tree to regenerate indefinitely.
Fruit-Bearing Age: Trees typically start producing noticeable amounts of fruit around 3 to 5 years, reach maturity at 15 years, and can produce quality fruit for centuries.
When I first added these two trees to the overall scope of the project, my intention was to give this field, which is opposite the metal garage, some presence, some acknowledgement if you will, that it is not forgotten, it's a part of the farm's family of features.
They instantly gave balance to each side of the driveway. In addition to balance, my desire has been to install another garden to grow vegetables on the property, and this addition seemed like a perfect entrance into that new space.
I have been obsessively watching garden channels on Utube. There is one particular channel that I enjoy so much, and when they showed a certain element, I was stopped dead in my tracks, my heart may have even missed a beat. I instantly knew Mrs. Colonial and her gracious acres was the perfect place to build one. I gave a hint on IG that I was bringing a special feature to this space.
I feel like it needs a drum roll!
It's a HARTLEY!!!
SECOND NEW FEATURE - A few days ago I signed on the dotted line and my very own Hartley Botanic greenhouse will be making its way to the farm! It will go into production soon in England, and then in about four months it will be installed by Hartley personnel. If you're not familiar with Hartley Botanic, they are time-honored craftsmen of custom glass houses and greenhouses since 1938.
I'm beyond excited to have such a beautiful feature to garden within. My late father was an organic gardener, and I have such fond memories of helping him build his greenhouse out of scrap material. Dad, we've upgraded!
I'm slightly nervous about getting the site prepped and ready. I'm responsible for the foundation, brick stem walls and flooring, electrical and water. That portion must be completed before the greenhouse can be installed. The fact that there is a pretty good slope here adds to the nervousness. I'VE GOT THIS?!
I saw this quote on social right after I completed the sale. It was perfect timing as the reality of what I signed up for began sinking in. I have it running through my brain on repeat.
If you're looking for some garden inspiration and advice on how to install and grow plants, one of my recommendations is the husband and wife team of "Garden Answer". You can get to their Utube channel HERE. My contact, John, at Hartley Botanics also helped them get their greenhouse. He sent me a link to the time lapse video of their greenhouse being installed if you'd like to view it HERE.
I hope I've given you a good idea of how things are coming together here at the farm. It's still in a pretty rough state but I think you can see where we're headed.
If you've been wanting to reimagine one of your interior spaces and need some inspiration, I hope this ensemble helps. To read the full post and get prices, links to purchase product, and paint samples, use this LINK.
Ok my friends, I hope you have a beautiful Fourth of July celebration. I'll be at the lake house with family. I'm not sure if I'll be able to get a post out next Sunday, but I'll definitely publish one the following week.
With love from Sandy and her magical home, Mrs. Colonial.
PS: We've decided to sell our camping trailer. You can see it in one of the pictures above. It's a 2022, 25 ft. Airstream Globetrotter, top of the line fully loaded, never moved from the site, only used by one guest for two nights. It's in likenew condition and beautiful. If you or someone you know have been thinking about getting an Airstream, you don't need to wait for one, you can enjoy this one this summer right now. Reach out to me on IG or here on the website.
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