Laura Spector’s art falls into the category of Modern Master — I don’t put too many things or people in the category, but she certainly qualifies.  Her pieces are beautiful celebrations of woody vines and branches that create some of the most beautiful garden furniture and arbors I have ever seen.  Make sure to click through to her website to see other pieces of her work that are for the interior of the home too.

Thanks Louise for sending me the link!

I am planning a family trip to Italy later this fall.  Unfortunately, I think we will miss being able to see gardens and general greenery as it will be too late in the season.

This morning, my good friend emailed me about this tree cathedral that is being inaugurated tomorrow (September 4th 2010).  I think even without greenery — this may be end up being a stop on our tour.

image from wired.co.uk

The Tree Cathedral is located outside of Bergamo, Italy, on the slopes of the Arera mountain, and is the creation of famed Italian contemporary artist, Giuliano Mauri.

Giuliano Mauri, is a ‘natural architect’ who died in May 2009. The structure was his last work, to signify the International Year of Biodiversity. It stands 21 metres tall, with five aisles and 42 columns. It’s 28.5 metres long and 24 metres wide, and has been built from 1800 firs, 600 chestnut branches and 6000 metres of hazel branch that’s been weaved into the design. 42 beeches have been planted inside, which will grow over time to provide the roof to the structure, which remains open to the rain for the time being.   Here are some interesting images of the making of the cathedrale, but with all good gardens, I am excited to keep an eye on this one and see how it matures with time.

Urban Rooftop gardening is is quite vogue but while the reality of actually creating such a garden can be daunting (think hauling all that dirt to the roof) – this garden is quite inspiring because it literally looks like someone went through the apartment building and picked up all the stuff that would have gone down to the curb and instead took it up to the roof to create this quirky but appealing mix.
Found over at urban garden casual.

So I have this idea for a new regular feature here.  My husband insists that is shoudl be called “WTF is that?” While I agree, that does seem the perfect name, I am struggling to commit to the ‘F’.   I am an avid ‘F’ user but to have it as the title of a regular post seems a little unprofessional and pushing decorum slightly too far.  But then I think, WTF?  What do you think?   Anyway, here is the new feature — maybe you can help me decide what the name should be.

Crinkle Crankle Wall. What is that?  I love the names for things in gardening and garden design.  My husband is forever accusing me of making things up — the latest Latin…kirenshoma palmata (he thinks I made that name up), now this morning…crinkle crankle walls….No, I am not making this up.

image by the vintage cottage

Other names for it are ’serpentine walls’ or ‘ribbon walls’ which are perhaps somewhat more descriptive.  But in many places (particularly in England) they are Crinkle Crankle Walls.  They are also found in the Netherlands (having thought to originate there in the 16th century) where they are called slange muur—snaking wall.

image by *Notes

Crinkle Crankle walls have curving lines following a serpentine path rather than a straight line. This layout gives the construction added strength and does away with the need for buttressing.

image by bluesoccerelephant

It has been used in conjunction with growing fruit as it is thought that the curve of the wall traps and radiate the rays of the sun, which assist the fruit in growing.

This type of wall is more resistant to toppling than a straight wall; so much so that it can be made of a single thickness of un-reinforced brick and so, despite its longer length, can be more economical than a straight wall.

Do you remember a post here I that make a couple months ago about using stacked cinder blocks to make a vertical planter?….you can re-visit it here.

I remember thinking as I wrote, how easy it would be to make a more refined version (in fact I think I said that in the post) — well someone else had the same idea…and made this ultra sleek (but super cheap)  garden….

found at apartment therapy

I am so impressed with the bevy of pretty projects for the garden that blogger Benita over at Chez Larsson created in a challenge set forth by a concrete crafting company.

Here are her beautiful and inspiring results….

She has a full set of instructions for each on her website.  Here, here, here, and  here are the links to all the projects you see above and below.