Artistic Tuesday - Pau for Now!

"Pau" in Hawaiian mean "out" or "done".  I am sorry to say that my short lived "Artistic Tuesday is pau for now.  I am finding it hard to find time and inspiration to get the post completed in time.  I am still very much in favor of art in the garden and will continue to post on this subject.

Read more...

Artistic Tuesday - Buddah!

"Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense." Buddha

So, here's the thing, a Chinese farmer has created a Buddha pear.  Believe it or not!?!  Apparently, it is true.  I have seen the articles and I have seen the pictures, BUT I have not seen it for real.  At least I see it as ART!  I am thinking of Santa Claus tomatoes!  What do you think???

Read more...

Artistic Tuesday - Mo'o

This Mo'o (Hawaiian for lizard) was made by Pacific Gunite. With some down time due to the depressed construction market he spent lots of hours tiling!  What a great art piece for the garden and perhaps a new career!

Read more...

Artistic Tuesday - Phytopathological and Art????

Searching the internet for a topic this week I ran across this interesting art contest sponsored by the American Phytopathological Society (APS).  These are the people who study plant disease!  Who knew they were into art!!!  Unfortunately I can not enter, you have to be a member of APS and I am only a Wanna Be Mater Gardener and a backyard artist!

Here are the categories. I especially like #4!

• Microscopy—SEM and other microscopy images.
• Whole plant/nature—from the field to greenhouses and pathogens in nature.
• Digitally altered—changes to the original image, e.g., changing the natural color, orientation, kaleidoscope effects, cloning images, etc.
• Wacky/humor—plant pathogens represented in slightly less scientific ways.
• Crafts—hand made objects out of various materials representing phytopathology subjects.
• Art—paintings, drawings, sculptures, and other forms of physical art.

Seriously - what a great idea to infuse the creative with the scientific!  Check out the website for more detailed information.  2010 Art in Phytopathology Contest  .

One of the winning entries from 2009

Read more...

Artistic Tuesday - Color and More Color

This is a simple Artistic Tuesday post - Color. I found these photos on the internet and there is no need to comment. A picture is worth a thousand words! And color is one of those words...

Read more...

Artistic Tuesday - Sculptures

If I could afford art pieces for the garden I would have lots of them!

I was recently reading some garden blogs when I cam across The Gardens of Petersonville blog.  In it I noticed a tag called "art".  I selected this tag and was happy to see so many art pieces that complemented the garden.  Of course I have my favorites and I am sharing three with you today.

For artistic ideas for the garden, check out this blog! The Gardens of Petersonville

These photos were copied with permission from The Gardens of Pertersonville.

Read more...

Artistic Tuesday - Copper Orchid Hanger

Today's Artistic Tuesday is a gardening craft project.  I thought of this idea the other day when I needed a gift for the host of a dinner party to which I was invited. I had all of the materials avaialble in my home.  I actually think I will make some for myself!

Required Materials:

• copper refrigerator tubing
• the fibrous like cloth from a coconut palm or a similar organic product
• an orchid plant

Instructions:

• Cut a length of refrigerator tubing.  You can get this at the local home store. To make the cutting easy, buy a special tube cutting tool at the local home store. The length will depend on your plant size and the required hanging length.
• With the cut length, begin to bend the copper into a cone-like shape for the roots of the plant to rest.  Be as creative as you want.  Note:  The copper will begin to "work harden" if over bent making addition manipulation of the copper difficult.  So have an idea of how you want to bend the tubing before you starting.
• You can see the cone-like shape in the second photo.

• At the other end bend it so that it can hang from a tree or wall or where ever you intend to put it
• Take orchid out of the pot and retain as much soil media as possible
• Take the coconut fiber-like material and loosely wrap it around the orchid roots and soil materials so that the soil does not want to spill all over the place!  This is especially important if  you hanging this indoors.
• Carefully tuck this assembly into the copper tubing cone-like shape you have created.  You may need to re-bend/tweet the cone to accommodate your plant
• That's all there is to it!  BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!  And easy!

Note:  As you can see I created a separate pocket for a succulent.  I am not sure the orchid will like this so I am not reccomending it at this time.  I want to see how they behave together first!

Read more...

Artistic Tuesday - Pruning

Art can take many forms and "a pruned plant" is one such form.

I found the picture to the above on another blog I follow, Fennel and Fern.  It got me thinking of "pruning" as an art form.  Ah ha, but of course!  There has alway been the bonzai, and the famous Walt Disney topiaries. And of course the formal English Gardens. 

 

But what about us simple guys?  Can we prune our garden to make an artist statement without spending hours doing it?  Well of course! And the first picture in this post shows the simple possibilities.  Only the row of trees is pruned to the same height, higher then one would expect in a natural setting.  It brings special attention to the flowers below, creating a pleasant and simple artistic picture...

For more information on pruning check out these sites:  

• Tree Pruning Techniques (.pdf file)
• Pruning Made Easy (book)

Read more...

Artistic Tuesday - Flower Lights

Of course I was searching the internet for something other then what this post presents, and came across these lights.  I immediately thought of my Artistic Tuesday post and thought aha this will work!  Sooooooo, here you go!  The Hannah Nunn light collection.  The inspiration for the design is obviously from the garden!

        

Read more...

Artistic Tuesday - Urinal???

The synergy of Nature, Art and Practicality...

Nature inspired urinals!  

Check out their other plant and nature inspired urinals!  

URINAL SCULPTURES

What a hoot! 

Read more...

Artistic Tuesday - Color

Nature is artistic as seen in this beautiful succulent planting.  Even without the thoughtful placement of plants, the color variation alone is pleasing to my eye.

Credit:  I found this picture from a fellow gardener's blog - floridafriendlyplants.  

PS I am starting a regular Artistic Tuesday post with the mission of providing an artistic touch to my blog.

Read more...