The Flowers of Summer: Not your Ordinary Sunflower

What is it about Teddy Bear sunflowers that makes them, dare we say, adorable? Even people who find regular sunflowers ho-hum are charmed by these fluffy, furry monsters. Maybe their feathery yellow petals subconsciously evoke the feel-good qualities of a certain beloved big yellow bird.

The Flowers of Summer: Echinacea

We love this native American wildflower as much without its petals as with them. The name comes from the Greek echinos or sea urchin for its spiny center. It's great for adding both texture and a splash of color to arrangements. We've never taken the time to count each individual bristle but we expect, like sunflower seeds, the total would be a Fibonacci number, familiar to fans of The DaVinci Code.

Sidewalks of New York

The Upper West Side can boast of a bumper crop of scaffolding this summer.  We've been gratified by the number of people who stop in just to thank us for the artful treatment of the sidewalk shed we've been living under. This summer's airy Japanese lanterns have been a particular hit. Other crowd-pleasers: a salute to Savannah with tree branches dripping with Spanish moss arching across the sidewalk; the dancing moss balls; and Ribbonfest.