Moonrise Kingdom’s trailer is such a ridiculous visual feast of a style that I simply adore. And so much of it makes me long for summer garden days. I am watching it over and over because it sparks ideas literally every single second. I wish I had a full set of stills to study.
Oh and that music — sounds so much like the Chicha music that I fell in love with when we made the first Leaf Magazine video. Do you remember it?
This installation in Jaujac, France by french Artist gaëlle villedary, not only feeds my incessant yearning for French travel, but it also so beautifully illustrates the power of lines on the landscape. A long grassy path leads visitors through the village to the heart of this beautiful place. It weaves through trees, and all manner of interesting places, and you can see by the pictures how natural it is for people to follow it.
I am struck by how powerful a line can be, how it leads us, draws us, and guides us. And I am reminded to remember this in design work.
To see more of this landscape art, visit Tapis Rouge Gaelle Villedary
(images from Tapis Rouge Gaelle Villedary)
Oh Friends — this is going to be one of those heavy posting days…..where I have plans to share a thing or two with you and then something just comes and smacks me in the face…..and it must be shared immediately. Like DanMala the flower mandalas that Kathy Klein creates.
Kathy creates the danmalas (defined in sanskrit as dān: the giver, mālā: garland of flowers, hence, the giving of flower circles) by first centering herself in a meditative devotional space. She gathers flowers and natural objects while her mind is kept in mantra and her creations are reflections of the nature and the beauty that she found in her surroundings.
To me they are like the wonderful feminine form of the Andy Goldsworthy style of art created by manipulated and gathered nature.
She also had a great poem on her site that I just love (and had to share) -
My mom carries an orb of light with her
wherever she goes.
She shows it to people sometimes,
and they laugh.
Sometimes it’s around her face
and her eyes glow like emeralds.
And when she is ready,
she sets it on the ground,
and flowers hover around it in perfect symmetry.
By Seffa Klein
Make sure to check out Kathy’s website where you can see a huge array of her amazing creations.
images from Trendtablet.
I am so torn, I thought this feature should be every week, then every other week, then now, I am back to thinking every week….Because I seriously just can’t wait to share with you the plan and the 3-D renderings for this super cool Garden Story project.
“The garden combines functionality and contemporary elegance to create an unusual and usable space. It is divided into three areas, each with a distinct purpose and ambiance.
The first section, adjoining the house, is dedicated to relaxation and entertainment. Directly outside the patio doors will be an area of oak decking, chosen to echoing the floor of the kitchen. This deck will be large enough to accommodate a weatherproof rattan sofa. Along the right side of this section will be an outdoor dining area. Surfaced with Mint Fossil sandstone, this area will benefit from a substantial dining table and benches constructed from railway sleepers.”
“The second, central area of the garden is planted with low maintenance architectural plants. Four screens of various dimensions emerge from the planting and help to obscure the rear of the space from view. Each screen features a different material: wooden panelling, textured stone tiles, stainless steel mesh and orange Perspex. A stainless steel water blade installed on one of the screens will give the space a contemporary feel that emulates the interior of the house.”
“To the rear of the garden the final section is home to the children’s climbing frame and a storage unit for bicycles. This section is hidden from view by a timber screen. An artificial lawn provides an extremely low maintenance and safe surface beneath the climbing frame. A low, timber framed tunnel with coloured Perspex lenses in the roof provides additional opportunity for play. Both boundaries will be softened and masked by climbing plants. The existing row of conifers at the back of the garden are to be retained to provide a backdrop to the garden and privacy from the road beyond.”
To see previous installments of this Garden Story click here and here….in order. Next week — We will see the construction get underway!
This might be one of my most favorite blog series’ of all time. The Fashioned Florals collection that Joy at Oh Joy! commissioned from Liz of The Nouveau Romantics is simply wonderful. It brings together everything I love about inspiration, art and design. The series takes art and photography of really anything and uses it as inspiration for a floral arrangement. This is perhaps my favorite:
The arrangement was inspired by the painting by Christine Soccio.
See the whole series of Fashioned Florals.
And find a few more of gems in the gallery.
I have been thinking about a little woodland patch right outside my living room window. Last year, I planted hellebores and sweet little epimediums and now I just want more. This year I will plant my spring containers with a composition similar to this cercis planting.
When the hellebores have overstayed their welcome, they will transition to that sweet garden nook where I can snip selections for early spring bouquets.
I love this gorgeous hand tied grouping of hellebore and pieris from Marigold & Mint
-Roanne
(Images: John Gruen and Marigold and Mint)
