Getting out of the car, a minotaur and friends greeted me.
A kind woman out walking her dog saw me taking pictures and she explained that the house had been moved from across the street from the nursery and was undergoing a "very slow" remodel. The figures are carved from trees that were diseased/rotting and the city thought it was unsafe to leave them standing. The homeowners came up with this idea.
"Notice the fairy on the chimney," said my tour guide. "It was the first thing they did."
That's a pretty fancy chimney pot!
The poured concrete retaining walls were unusual and were topped with river rock.
A path up to the yard. I wasn't bold enough to trespass but was sorely tempted.
In a few of these indentations, in a different part of the garden it looked as if they'd put stained glass inside the mold before pouring the concrete. I wonder if they abandoned that idea. It would be super simple to cut glass to fit inside and affix it to the concrete.
Looks like quite a party.
If I'd parked in the parking lot of the nursery as I always have before, I'd have missed this spring fling. What a shame that would have been. Party on!
As soon as I saw the first picture I recognized the neighborhood, since I use the screet parking myself when I go the the WSN. I find these carved images startling, and the entire house a bit odd. The renovation, if you can call it that, has been going on for many years, and I can't quite figure out the "look" they are going for; Medieval Castle comes to mind. I can't wait for the WSN post: I think it's the first time you've visited since their renovation.
ReplyDeleteIt is a bit, shall we say, eclectic. Wouldn't attempt this in my own garden but I love the individuality of the place, especially in a time when there seems to be a big box store uniformity/landscape "installation"/conformist vibe happening, That being said, I agree that the carved images are startling.
DeleteHave to admit that I am not sure I would want to live across the street from this party but it certainly is a creative solution to losing trees.
ReplyDeleteI agree.
DeleteLove it! I might have to do that to my maple tree in the near future. I don't suppose you happened upon the name of the artist?
ReplyDeleteDon't know the name of the artist. There used to be a book kept in a slot in one of the sculptures where people could write comments and questions but it wasn't there this time. Maybe because of our unusually wet weather.
DeleteWow! I'm not sure I can find the right words. That's creative, but also kind of overwhelming. One would be fun in my garden, but that many is too much.
ReplyDeleteIt's true, the whole party is a bit overwhelming but also kind of fun.
DeleteVery, ah, interesting. A bit over the top for my tastes, and I agree with chavliness that I'm not sure what they're going for. "Boldly eclectic" is probably the best polite description.
ReplyDeleteInteresting is a good word. While not my particular cup of tea, I admire the creative and individual spirit behind it.
DeleteIn the words of my mom... "well that's certainly different" ... (used when she's not sure what to say and if she could come up with something it probably wouldn't be nice).
ReplyDeleteAs for the nursery I first read that the parking lot was full of rats. That would be rather unfortunate.
Moms can be so polite.
DeleteNo rodents spotted in the parking lot. Also didn't notice the chickens that used to be at the nursery but they're probably still there. Too many plant distractions to notice.
Bold sculptures there! Perhaps overwhelming as they are so close to each other and each figure is powerful. Spaced out with planting between them could be very nice!
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness! Someone is very talented.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Mark & Gaz, that space out with planting in between would be nice and not so 'in your face'.
You really come up with interesting gardening bits and pieces.
Have a great week ~ FlowerLady
Are you sure the dragon wasn't leading the lady? She doesn't look very happy. The sculptor is talented, although I'm not sure I'd like to live across the street from these indefinitely. They'd look better spread out in a garden setting I think. Maybe, the next time you're in the neighborhood, you can offer to help them with the stained glass inlays - you might get the minotaur in payment!
ReplyDeleteThose wood carvings show great skill! A bit startling, I guess, but really well done! What a fun find!
ReplyDeleteI wish we saw these fun gardens in Nashville! We're all pretty conventional down here.
ReplyDeleteMy first impression of the naked lady was that she was about to be dragged off by the dragon with her hands tied together. Then I figured out which end was which on the dragon. In the process of determining which end was which, I noticed the dragon appears to be a boy? Anybody else? Can't say I make a habit of looking, but that's the first time I've seen one of those on a dragon.
ReplyDeleteGolly, I'd not noticed until you mentioned that. Interesting.
DeleteThat would have caught me off-guard, but it's interesting. It's always fun to find places like that. I think I'd like the sculptures better if they were interspersed with plants and more a part of the landscape, rather than lined up like that. But the sculptor is definitely talented.
ReplyDeleteStained glass would look so cool there! But sculptures look kinda creepy, i can`t quite tell whether i like or hate them. Stained glass, in other hand, is difficult to install because you need to cut another hole in the concrete and it`s not a usual wooden frame stained glass installation as we all know
ReplyDeleteI was thinking of simply cutting a single piece of glass to fit the opening and adhering it to the indentations in the concrete. I've had good luck with silicone for outdoor glass to concrete applications.
Deletenice post
ReplyDeleteSerendipity is a wonderful thing. Not sure I would love living across the street from this tho.
ReplyDeleteVery distinctive, certainly. I like the Minotaur.
ReplyDelete