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Dear Friend,

I want you to be inspired by every issue of Southern Living. This month, I am delighted with the creativity found in our pages.

For example, turn to page 128 to see how Garden Editor Gene Bussell examines and explains the many parts of a complex garden. He focuses on specific ideas and uses them to inspire you to visualize the possibilities for your own yard and make great additions to it.

Discover Powell Gardens, which is located outside Kansas City, Missouri, with Associate Travel Editor Wanda McKinney on page 122. If you aren't inspired by those 915 acres of floral beauty, you surely will be when you gaze at the garden structures designed by noted architect E. Fay Jones. His vision, embodied in these buildings, is astounding.

Executive Editor Derick Belden used a little elbow grease and lots of creativity to make over his master bath. He and his wife, Aimee, are quite a pair when it comes to taking stock items from a home-improvement center and turning them into stylish accessories. see what they did on page 134.

Ultimately, though, at no time are we more creative than when we cover entertaining at home. Associate Foods Editor Vicki Poellnitz brings you delicious recipes by Texan Rebecca Rather. Pam and I can't wait to make the Chunky Peach Chutney when our local Chilton County peaches reach their peak. I guarantee that we'll serve it to our supper club this summer. The story starts on page 118.

In closing, I want to call attention to our new section, "Inspirations." These very focused stories are the handiwork of Alan Henderson, Van Chaplin, and Rebecca Rracke Gordon, under the direction of Executive Editor Dianne Young. The stories start on page 16, and I hope that our simple ideas become big hits with your family and friends. Happy reading, and enjoy this June issue. Let me know if you were inspired by our book this month.

Best regards,

John Alex Floyd, Jr., Editor

John Alex Floyd, Jr., Editor

Copyright Southern Progress Corporation Jun 2006
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