Washington-Willow Historic District Archives - Page 2 of 3

the unexpected side of Home Tour

May 9, 2016 By Talya Tate Boerner 7 Comments

We’ve been on home tour before. We participated in the Munger Place Home Tour in East Dallas, so we know about the pain and pleasure of having a cleaner-than-it’ll-ever-ever-ever-be-again house. But there’s an unexpected side of Home Tour I’d forgotten until this past weekend when we participated in the Washington Elementary Home Tour. Things beyond the sparkle of the bathroom sink. Beyond the thrill of declaring that honey-do list nearly (because it’s never really) completed. Beyond the perfect blue sky of a day we had for it.

Things like:

Lucy and Annabelle go to Headquarters House

August 21, 2015 By Talya Tate Boerner 5 Comments

Check.It.Out. Lucy and Annabelle recently took in a little Civil War history at the Headquarters House gardens—definitely hallowed ground, my friends. This gorgeous Greek Revival home was built in 1853 by Judge Jonas Tebbetts. Tebbetts was well known in these parts as a teacher, lawyer, city leader, and Union sympathizer, the likes of which eventually landed him in jail. During the Civil War, the house served as both Union and Confederate headquarters. (Not at the same time, obviously.)Continue Reading

The Bearded Ladies of Fayetteville

May 13, 2015 By Talya Tate Boerner 4 Comments

I love bearded ladies and by that I mean irises and not women with beards. (And yes, that’s a thing, too.) Irises are sometimes called bearded ladies because of the thick, bushy “beards” on the lower petals of the blooms. In our Washington-Willow historic neighborhood of Fayetteville, and all over the South, irises are in full bloom. They are my favorite flower because they remind me of my Nana who always grew them. One whiff of that sweet smell transports me back to the home place every time.

Here are a few pictures I took only steps from our porch.

Just wow. I love this apricot/rose color. If I knew the name, I’d tell you, but there are hundreds of varieties, and I’m certainly no expert.

These deep dark purple irises look like velvet. This might possibly be Superstition or Red Velvet Cake, but don’t hold me to it. Regardless, they are stunning.