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In the garden, our eyes may search out the composition painstakingly planned, with objects man-made harmonizing with those nature created. It is deliberate, static, certain.
The sight of a dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) resting on an Aloe barbarae, creates its own composition without any intervention. We just try to remember the bird's name, and lose the moment it landed on the leaf to fluff itself. The thought has interfered with the moment.
In the eye's greedy search for beauty, the eye and brain may be forced to work: does this "go" with that? Ah, the orange matches the orange centers...so...yes? Thought makes satisfaction a labor at times. Work worth doing?
That labor is a whole different experience from the instant, brief perfection of a blurred impression.
Are these all images from your garden? That first one is playing with my brain. I like it, a lot, but you probably know my stance on garden art.
ReplyDeleteNo, just the last one. The rest are from a garden center.
DeleteNo garden art in this garden--I don't know how.
You make an excellent point! Sometimes, well often we over think things as apposed to experiencing them. I am horrible at names so I am free to observe and enjoy...you made me realize this is a gift! Thank you!!!
ReplyDeleteIt is a gift. Just being out there in the garden is a gift. :)
Delete'The eye's greedy search for beauty' is a phrase that will stay with me.
ReplyDeleteMy eyes are gluttons.
DeleteBalancing the work and the in-the-moment appreciation - that's the thing. Your photographic compositions are art.
ReplyDeleteYes, balance, balance.
DeleteI agree with what Kris said - your photos are indeed high art. I think you underestimate your own abilities, Hoov. Your posts are always feasts for the eyes!
DeleteYou are very kind! Happy you like them.
DeleteOh, I love those metal windmills! I have some garden art – mainly in the form of solar lights, but I would like to have a few more carefully chosen pieces. I am definitely not a gnome person and I would never have fairies and angles and things like that in my garden. I would however love to have a Norwegian troll in my woodland garden, but they are incredibly expensive so not for my wallet :-)
ReplyDeleteThe trolls in the "Frozen" movie are styled on Norwegian trolls? A clever person could perhaps create them from slightly altered found stones, perhaps (I am not one of those clever people). With time, moss growing on them would fit into a woodland and be subtle but fun.
DeleteSo much garden art does not work in Southern California, leading me to guess that what works in garden art is regional and climate-sensitive.
I had to Google ‘Frozen’ as I had not heard about the movie – and yes, the trolls have a similarity although Norwegian trolls are very distinctive looking and anyone Norwegian would know the difference, this is what we grow up with as bedtime stories :-)
DeleteYou can see one on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/NYFORM-TROLL-LARGE-45cm-T103/dp/B00MW5G2DK/ref=sr_1_35?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1472857866&sr=1-35&keywords=Norwegian+troll, these are meant to be displayed indoors and I can’t find any for outdoor use although I have seen them in Norway outside souvenir shops etc. I guess they would cost a fortune if I was buying them over here so I might have to get my sister to search for me in Norway. I would like some made of wood, not sure about made of stone although there are lots of nice figures made of stone – but they are not Norwegian trolls.
I agree that garden art is much up to the style of the garden or even the area of the garden. Trolls like these belong in a woodland setting and I would not put them in my rose bed for example – and neither in a desert style garden if I had one.