Nature is mankind’s greatest inspiration. Artists, engineers, pharmacists, and chemists look to the world around them to find answers to questions we don’t even understand yet. We have made helicopters inspired by humming birds, medicines that replicate natural remedies, solar panels that imitate photosynthesis, and Van Gogh’s Starry Night speaks for itself. Even Albert Einstein once said, “Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.” And this particular garden grants a level of clarity and inspiration that everyone can appreciate.
The air nips at the skin with a crisp morning breeze that carries the slightest fragrance of flowers. Birds sing and plants rustle. Gravel shifts and crunches underfoot, breaking the stillness of the morning. From the horizon, the rising sun begins to chase away the mist still hanging in the valleys and the mountains begin to glow. The day has officially begun, but the peace of daybreak still lingers in this hidden oasis.
Flag stone pathways wind thru the garden, connecting every alcove, section, and suite. Each little ‘room’ in this garden has a unique purpose. Here, natural boulders become a beautiful table, a convenient seat. Some sculptures act as fence posts to distinguish the different areas. Others are center pieces of flower beds, drawing the eye and accenting the artistry of the garden. Tucked away in a niche of the wall hides a silver sculpted seat.
Surrounded by boulders and Black-eyed Susan, this little bench is the perfect place to sit and contemplate the masterpiece that is nature. Its cold at first, but the seat is comfortable and invites its occupants to stay a while. You can hear birds skittering in the bushes, looking for any tardy worms to bring back to their babies chirping in the distance. It is spring after all, a world of new beginnings.
The sun continues to climb in the sky, burning off the last of the morning chill. And now, with the sun overhead, the flowers seem to shine with inner fire. Bees and butterflies have begun to congregate to pollinate and the air comes alive with their buzzing. The scent of flowers is stronger now and the view no less magnificent. The boulder walls that hold the garden beds in place begin absorbing heat and are no longer cold to the touch.
The plants try to outgrow their stone borders, growing over boulders and brushing any passerby who strays too far from the center of the path. They put out blossoms and leaves as fast as they can photosynthesize. The flagstones are even and level underfoot and none of the boulders will even budge when sat on. There’s no cement or adhesive of any kind, but the rock work holds firm. It’s called craftsmanship, when everything is put together so well that its sturdy and stable and reliable for years.
And then patterns begin to emerge. Spheres repeat themselves over and over in different mediums. The fence post sculptures all contain spheres. A stone has been rounded and smoothed to look like marbled globe. Even the hand rails and the pink echinacea flowers have little orbs of their own. It may just be a coincident, but life imitates art and this garden is definitely a work of art.
A wider view allows the color patterns to appear. browns in the flagstones/ fence sculptures/mulch, pinks and yellows over greens and grays
Craftsmen and artist built this garden.
Firepits are essential to any outdoor entertaining area!
This lower retaining wall is made of blue stone, complements the massive sculpture above.
This masterfully crafted garden was Suzanne and Jason’s baby for years as they worked.
