Northwest Horticultural Society

Today my friend Janet insisted that I must see Joyce Hawkin's garden which was on display as part of the Northwest Horticultural Society's garden tour.

For the past five years, Joyce and her family have been creating this fabulous garden. I took several pictures; hopefully you can get an idea of why this was a "must see". Joyce artistically composed colors and shapes which made her garden outstanding. Interspersed within the garden you would find Joyce's colorful sculpted cement leaves and "dinosaur eggs" of which I could not resist. Watch for a follow up blog when this piece of sculpture arrives in my yard.





And the ponds...




Have you ever seen a poppy such as this?




Lovely composition...


Needless to say, the garden was a feast for my eyes and soul.

Thank you Joyce!

If you would like to find out more about the Northwest Horticultural Society, please visit their website.

Arts Crush

If you live in the Pacific Northwest or planning to visit in the month of October, Arts Crush may interest you.

This is a FIRST and still in the planning stages.

Arts Crush, presented by Theatre Puget Sound, is a month-long festival that connects artists and audiences with invigorating new experiences at hundreds of events across the region. More than 200 arts organizations and innumerable artists from all over the Puget Sound will come together as a united arts community to share arts experiences with people of all kinds.

Spotlighting a different creative arts discipline each week, the festival features opportunities to participate in theatre, music, literature, dance, visual art and more. Arts Crush reawakens the senses by engaging people in the arts in unique ways; through hands-on participation, peeking behind the scenes, or experiencing art in unexpected places. In addition, Arts Crush extends an open invitation to sample the abundance of arts and culture in our region by adopting creative pay-what-you will or discounted fee structures for traditional arts experiences.

There will be an Arts Crush gatherings at SAM tonight and in Olympia on Monday. Tonight's conversation is focused more on the visual arts community but all are welcome. So if you have any questions or ideas show up.

Here are two Arts Crush Information Sessions where you will learn what is happening, provide details on the various ways to participate, answer any questions, and have an open discussion to brainstorm on any exciting ideas or collaborations that percolate.

Seattle - Visual Arts Organizations & Artists
Thursday, June 10 at 5:30pm
Seattle Art Museum - Arnold Board Room (1300 First Ave)
Please RSVP to Sam at 206.770.0370 or sam@tpsonline.org

Olympia - All Disciplines
Monday, June 14 at 12pm
The Olympia Center - Room 200 (222 Columbia St NW)
Please RSVP to Sam at 206.770.0370 or sam@tpsonline.org

More information can be found on the Arts Crush website.

Challenges

It has been well document in many resources about how when you are up against difficult challenges your meet your "best self."

Challenges make us grow, right?

I wonder if it is true in the plant world? I have certainly killed my fair share of plants. But I have a Clemantis that truly thrives on challenges.

I purchased this Clemantis plant way back in 2006 and kept in in a large pot. I trained it to climb the stair railing where beautiful blooms greeted me as I walked out the door. One spring I was possessed to create a watercolor painting of the emerging flower.


Last June I moved and decided to take the Clemantis with me. Detaching it from the stairs, and packing it in my car to move to our new location was traumatic for the plant. The Clematis suffered incredible summer heat and was whipped around by the spring winds. Regardless of all these challenges, this Clematis at the present time is donning eight fabulous flowers.

Way to go little plant!



TRULY AMAZING!

Land Art Continues.....

I received a comment from DJ in regards to yesterday's blog with a great idea for my Land Art creation. Today, I returned to the art and am very pleased with the results.



DJ suggested adding a design which definitely gives it a much more finished look than previously. I used pine cones as a path through the rock gravel. The rocks define the edge. I have not decided which size rocks I like best or to keep both. Comments? It was raining today so some of the gravel is dark gray instead of the light blue-grey when it is dry.

It will change over time...as does life and Land Art.

DJ also suggested Richard Shilling's, a land artist, blog. I like his "Laurel Reflections" and "May Day Colour Totem."

THANKS DJ!

Land Art

Having been inspired by Andy Goldsworthy, a land artist who I blogged about on May 19th, I decided to create something of my own using materials in my yard.

Many of Andy Goldsworthy's works are temporary pieces of art which change or dissove with the environment. I hope that the land art piece I created today will age with grace.

This is the first rendition:


As much as I liked the texture and color of the arbor chips, I decided it needed more definition. I added gravel and small stones. Which version do you like?

Katsura Tree

Yesterday I posted a blog relating to the tree selection for my yard.

I mentioned that I consulted with an artist friend, Karen Lohman; Matsushima Landscaping, who helped with the design. I love trees and it was a challenge to limit my selection. Karen insisted that I have a Katsura Tree. I never heard of one, have you? The Katsura Tree definitely appeals to the artist in me.

Katsura Tree is also known as the carmel tree. No, you do not get caramels from it, but some think the wonderful Katsura Tree smells like caramel or cotton candy when it loses it's leaves in the fall. Besides being wonderful to smell in the fall, the Katsura sports a lovely blend of orange, raspberry, and apricot-colored leaves. The Katsura is no slouch in other seasons, either. In the spring Katsura has reddish-purple new growth, in summer it sports heart-shaped blue-green leaves and in winter the gray, slightly exfoliating bark lends interest.

I have watched the heart-shaped leaves of my Katsura Tree turn from purple to red and now some green is emerging.......



The Katsura is native to Japan and eastern Asia and is widely used as a landscape tree in those areas. Katsura blooms in early spring. I read that the flowers are not showy. Maybe that is why I totally missed them? Or are they still coming?

I so look forward to its fall colors! I will definitely let you know if it gives off a carmel smell. But, I certainly do not want to rush summer!



Once again, I am overjoyed with Karen's selection of trees.

Choosing a Dogwood Tree

As I began planning the landscape for my home, I consulted with a friend, Karen Lohman; Matsushima Landscaping, who is very creative and knowledgeable. She helped me to decide what I wanted and drew the blueprint.

I had to narrow down my tree selection, but a dogwood tree was a MUST. Which one? Karen influenced my decision by suggesting an Oriental Dogwood tree, but Judy Manley another artist and landscape specialist, talked highly of a Korean Dogwood. Challenging decision! It took a third woman at Bark and Garden Nursery in Olympia, Washington, to help me pin down the perfect dogwood for me. When she explained the color development of the blossoms, I had to have this one.

First the blossoms are white and green with tinges of pink as you can still see in the background of this photograph.



Some of the blooms have grown larger and are turning pink.



The blossoms have such a lovely grace.



Needless to say, I am very happy with my decision and look forward to many years of watching this Korean Dogwood tree grow and bloom.