Ornamental grasses like those at the Display Garden on Suncrest create kinetic interest of another kind. Photography Courtesy of Fernwood Botanical Garden “If you want attention to go to a certain location,” he says, “this movement draws eyes.” A fragrant dogwood, custom dovecote (raised home for pigeons) and nestled bench invite lingering at Fernwood Botanical Garden. Like those meters, Griz’s works - including a carousel, fish and pineapple among other as well as abstract shapes (see page 40) - twist and turn in the wind. “At least 20 years ago I took our children on the Disney cruise line and we were sitting down by the pool,” he shares. His kinetic art marries skills he refined during years working in Ford Motor Company’s fabrication shop with inspiration he found on a cruise ship. “It appears,” he says, “to be responding to the wind.”Īnother Michigan artist, Peter Griz of Oxford, creates copper and stainless steel pieces that do move in the wind. So the towering dandelion bends as individual seed heads hang from trees downwind from where it “grows.” That’s why 63 poppies he created for a pop-up playground at Epcot Center in Florida to promote Disney’s 2013 movie, Oz: The Great and Powerful, “grew” to 18 inches in diameter and why a dandelion at Midland’s Dow Gardens - “Making a Wish” - stands 16 feet tall.Įven though Smith sets his imagination free in his work, he also pays attention to real-life details like the direction of prevailing winds in the settings for his pieces. Photography by Jeff Garland (bottom) Photograph Courtesy MSU Horticulture Gardens/Art Cameron (top) Natural tones made by striking rustic wooden chimes and xylophones with a mallet lend all-ages appeal at the Sound Garden in Cadillac. The former painter draws inspiration for his 3-D work from his own garden, then lets his imagination flower. Left in place by the couple when it died four years ago, the shrub’s convoluted branches provide architectural interest, and its light tan hue contrasts beautifully in snow.Īrt crafted for the garden by hand is the forte of Lansing-based glass artisan Craig Mitchell Smith. Janis added wind chimes, a duck decoy and a heron statue to deter real birds from savoring the “regular 15-cent Meijer goldfish” living in her pond.Ī five-foot Harry Lauder’s Walking Stick is another garden keepsake. He also made several birdhouses that adorn the plot and the trellis embraced by yellow trumpet vine. On three occasions, Jerry reconfigured the waterfall higher not only to make a bigger splash, but also so the couple could view it better from their back deck. Janis Glassner’s private garden, featured with five others including the Claus retreat last July during the Friendly Garden Club of Traverse City’s Annual Garden Walk, is a legacy of her 22-year union with husband Jerry, now deceased. Photography by Joan Magnotta (top) Randy Blankenship (bottom) Often made in collaboration with metal artists, Craig Michael Smith’s unique kiln-formed glass creations (above and below) stop visitors in their tracks and emphasize surrounding garden beauty. “To me, all gardens are sensory,” says Art Cameron, Ph.D., horticultural professor at Michigan State Universityįrom the Horticultural Gardens overseen by Cameron at MSU (see pages 44-45) to the Clauses’ homegrown oasis, gardens both public and personal are prime spots to stock up on Vitamin N - and plenty of sensory inspiration. Ulrich, Ph.D., a Swedish researcher renowned for evidence-based healthcare design ( ).īut natural settings can engage the senses and work their magic without being complex. Scientists view Vitamin N seriously: Looking at natural settings for as little as five minutes can positively affect stress indicators like blood pressure, heart rate, muscle tension and the brain’s electrical activity, says Roger S. An enticing fountain draws the eyes and ears of those passing by the Clouses’ haven. Orchestrated with a strategic mix of textures, scents, colors and sounds, these so-called “sensory gardens” are often tailored for children and adults with impaired vision and hearing - and those simply needing a shot of nature’s restorative power, “Vitamin N,” to promote health and well-being. Insightful gardeners like the Clouses combine water features with plants, grasses, structures, art and other elements they know will delight the senses to heighten enjoyment of green space. Both pursuing second careers as landscape designers, husband and wife have outfitted their yard with other ponds, waterfalls and a bubbler, too, that’s so close to the kitchen window Elizabeth can see birds tipping their heads back to swallow.Ī faux heron guards a goldfish pond (above) and a waterfall cascades (below) in the Glassner garden.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |