Monday, May 23, 2011

WANT A "QUICKIE" ? - TODAY



“Quickies”

(All “Quickies” are photos taken and posted the same day)
These photos were taken just today at the Gardens at Waters East. - Monday afternoon May 23, 2011

Enjoy

 White Tulip reaching for the Clouds

Daffodils

Star Magnolia & Clouds


Virginia Blue Bells & Lake Michigan

Daffodils

Cushion Spurge - rounded

Succulents in pot on Asian Patio

Virginia Blue Bells & Clouds

Daffodil

Wood Violet - White & Blue

White Tulip with Purple Edge

Reference Note:  For a complete list of the ten (10) Principles of Design used here and throughout Gardens at Waters East, check out the archive postings for November 14 – 24, 2010.

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Monday, May 16, 2011

First Flowers of May



It has been a very long Winter, very long.  May is here and Spring has started – finally.  It has been so cold and wet, even the Spring is slow in coming.  Last night there were frost warnings for the area and tonight there are freeze warnings for the areas West of Gardens at Waters East.  Yet the flowers have begun to show and bloom.  It is the little things that make gardeners happy!

Here are a few photos of the early May flowers now blooming and bringing color and life during these first two weeks at Gardens at waters East.  It is indeed a joy to see them.

Enjoy

 Tardia in the Asian Garden

Dwarf Iris

Butterbur - Panacides japonica

Daffodils & Forsythia
This is 1 of the more than 112 bunches of daffodils in the Gardens at Waters East

Cushion Spurge

Grape Hyacinth

Newly emerged Petasities japonicus - "Dinosaur Food"
To see this plant in its full glory refer back to the posting
Blog Shots #3 of December 22, 2010.
The leaves on this plant get up to four feet across on stems up to six feet tall.

Hyacinth

Pasque Flower

Puschkinia  Libanotica

Scilla - Siberian Squill
among the peony sprouts

Star Magnolia

Scilla Peruviana

Yellow Tulip

White Scilla - Siberian Squill

Windflower - anemone blanda

Wood Violets
There are blue, white, and yellow Wood Violets in the Gardens at Waters East


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Monday, May 2, 2011

The “GOLDEN Principle of Design”



The “GOLDEN Principle of Design” - - - - - Editing


On November 14th to 24th of 2010;  Gardens at Waters East posted the Ten (10) Principles of Design used throughout the garden property.  More detailed information and photos about each principle can be found by checking the archives for those posted dates.  The principles listed there are the following:

1.     favor the use of  “indigenous” material
2.     develop seasonal interest
3.     make inside / outside connections
4.     highlight perspective and borrowed views
5.     use a variety of structures
6.     create multiple “garden rooms” with seating areas in each
7.     display objects of interest and art --“focal points”
8.     use shape and form
9.     showcase native plants
10.  mix a palette of colors and textures

Held back at that time of the November postings was one remaining principle which Gardens at Waters East calls - - - - -

“The Golden Principle of Design”


People in the design profession say that the true designer knows how to Edit” a space.  In decorating inside or out, it becomes easy to add this item or that item.  We like this, we like that, so we end up adding it into our house or garden.   We bring this or that home and put it some place where it may add to the overall design as we see it at the time.  Nice.

However, there comes a time when a person may need to look at all that is “there” and ask honestly, “Is the addition of such and such, adding to the design or detracting from it?”  Professionals in design say that the real test of a designer’s art is the ability to “edit”.  That is, to remove items from an area.  It is far easier to add than to remove.  Getting to the core items of a designed area, allows each piece selected to have more value in the overall space.  Whether in the home or in the garden, editing takes real skill.  More is not always better in design.  Professionals tell us that less, and the ability to “edit out”, is the real sign of any designer, and might I add, gardener.  As with the rooms of your home, the rooms in your garden may need a bit of editing.

It was Leonardo da Vinci who said: “simplicity is the ultimate sophistication”.
It seems fair to say that these are insightful words of advice
from a very respected source.


Words to think about as you move through your space both inside and out.  Is there so much that nothing is seen?  Are your senses so overloaded that your mind gets burned out trying to take it all in?  Editing out is a skill that most of us have to work at.  It is not easy to keep, to choose that which enriches the area, and to remove that which makes it all to overwhelming.  All the objects and items, or varieties of plants and bushes, may be great to have, but too much can be like having “horticultural diarrhea”!


For the Gardens at Waters East, editing is a ongoing effort.  Having the right balance of all the things and plants the gardener loves to have, and keeping it simple enough so that each and everyone has its “place in the sun”, takes some deliberate planning.  It is a skill that takes years and is constantly needing work. In the Gardens at Waters East, there is this ever ongoing “battle” to “edit”, which probably is the case with most gardeners.

Just a thought.
What do you think?


Any comments or photos you wish to share, will be made available to all readers of this Blog.  Your insights and thoughts on “Editing” could be helpful to gardeners everywhere.  Send a comment.  Would all like to hear what you think.



If you wish to email a message or share photos of your garden please do that through this Blog site or with an email to: