Also very nice was "A Novel Idea," the creation of Olympic Landscape and Irrigation. It is my understanding that they have, for many years now, put together a garden for this show. There is no show garden competition in the Tacoma Home and Garden Show so it was great to see some gardens and vignettes at the show.
The pink/purple on the leucothoe leaves echoes that of the phormium.
I'd not seen the name of the garden and couldn't figure out why books were hanging from the trees.
Interesting to be sure but I wondered why one would a) do this to a book and b) place it outside where it would certainly not last long.
Garden furniture and décor are from Summer House.
Another book taking flight.
Fountain by Tom Torrens Sculpture Design.
Am I the only one who wants to pick up the books? Maybe it's because we're in the Pacific Northwest in the middle of the rain festival (October 1 - July 5.)
Viburnum "Pink Dawn" adding its fragrance to that of sarcococca (not pictured.)
Turning around, there were some folks discussing plans for their own landscape design.
That was a nice garden. I am so unobservant, I didn't even notice the flying books in the trees, and I didn't notice the books lying around until you pointed it out the day we were there. You're right about wanting to pick them up and put them away, here they would get destroyed in the rain.
ReplyDeleteIt's always interesting to me how they put these gardens together in such a short time!
DeleteLooks like the display has worked and they have gained themselves a new client!
ReplyDeleteSpiders spin webs, landscapers make pretty gardens. It's important to know one's audience.
DeleteGosh you've reminded me of something I saw but can't remember where. Books left outside to break down from the weather and become a surface on which things might grow. Darn I wish I could remember more!
ReplyDeleteInteresting!
DeleteThe rubber duck with the shades cracked me up! Small enough not to make me gag, just laugh. Although the book ornaments were totally unpractical, they looked beautiful, like an unusual bird house. Now someone need to figure out how to make it from a durable substance. Peter?
ReplyDeleteI was thinking about it but if you treated them with enough epoxy to make them safe from the elements, they'd be shiny and loose some of their appeal. Maybe we should enjoy them indoors instead.
DeleteIf you could make those flying books' loops small enough to house mason bees you could rule Etsy. They'd totally disintegrate but people would buy them.
ReplyDeleteOMG, you're totally right. I'm seeing a new career in your future.
DeleteI'm always kind of amazed at how they set up water features indoors like that!
ReplyDeleteI know, right? Crazy lot of work!
DeleteThe Tom Torrens fountain has set my heart palpitating. I think practical considerations are not a big part of these shows, but the loopy hanging books strike me as charming. Someone on Etsy does all sorts of paper crafts using the pages of old books which are lovely. I still get a little twitchy at the idea of desecrating books.
ReplyDeleteThat was a beauty! I liked the hanging books too. After having visited a Goodwill Outlet Store (will wonders never cease?) and seeing how many beautiful hardback books were in the bins being given their last chance to sell for fifty cents before they went to the big library in the sky, I think making art of them might be a better fate.
DeleteLots of great/interesting ideas......I'm with you re. the books - and they WERE used in a novel way.
ReplyDeleteUsed in a novel way is inspired! I'd not thought of that at all but you are absolutely right!
DeleteThat rubber ducky is one cool customer. The books are examples of book art (google "book art" and you'll find some incredibly elaborate and detailed works) and while I can appreciate their interest and/or beauty I just can't stand the thought of doing that to a book. Except maybe a college textbook.
ReplyDeleteThanks Evan, I'll definitely google "book art." These were lovely and I suppose it would be better for this to happen to a book than to have it discarded.
DeleteLike Heather, when I saw those books, I thought mason bee houses rather than novels crafted to fly like birds. Were there any clues in the titles of the books?
ReplyDeleteI looked but they were pretty high up so it was impossible to read the titles.
ReplyDelete