Once upon a garden.

The article presents information about children's-book illustrator James Hale's house. Clipped boxwood and arborvitae and a century old stone lion, carved by an Ohio folk at list, define open-air rooms. Hale sets his outdoor dining table with 19th-century Blue Willow transferware, heirloom linen and a mix of old family silver and vintage pieces he has collected. This pearl-handled pickle fork and engraved butter trowel are favorites. West Indian teak chairs flank the cast-iron café table, illuminated in the evening by a vintage hanging oil lamp.