The Sculpture Garden

The lower gardens include a myriad of sculptures all tied to this place, all tied to the earth. They honor what once was, the dreams of what may come and the life connection of all that is.  Even under a blanket of snow their beauty and mystique radiate through.

Discarded slate tiles from the Pennsylvania German Bank barn.

Twisted rebar from the replaced one-lane bridge down the lane.

Slate lifted from the earth.

The Dreamer surrounded by the snow covered circuits of the labyrinth.

The energy of the pyramid pulsates through the snow.

The vines entwine calling to us to walk further down the path.

Winter’s Waning

13 days and still Gaia is blanketed by white

The earth refuses to give up her cover and allow spring’s flowers to stretch and bloom

After the storm
After the storm

Early March snows melt quickly creating vignettes that are etched into my mind

But still I count down the days until spring

Snowdrops in snow
Snowdrops in snow

Sumac berries in the snow
Sumac berries in the snow

A dusting of snow on the Witch hazel
A dusting of snow on the Witch hazel

Ice Encased

A glass of wine, winter boots and my daily pilgrimage into the gardens. 

These past few weeks the Arctic’s cold breath has ended with a whisper of southern warmth.

Horned-lark on frozen corn field
Horned-lark on frozen corn field

Winter’s white morphs into a glass encased landscape.

Witch hazel encased in ice
Witch hazel encased in ice

Ice encased Norway spruce
Ice encased Norway spruce

I take care not to slip and spill my wine…

Holly leaves encased in ice
Holly leaves encased in ice

Norway spruce branch encased in ice
Norway spruce branch encased in ice

Laceleaf maple encased in ice
Laceleaf maple encased in ice

Visitors to the Gardens

As much as I love the flora of a garden, the fauna is why I plant. The creatures of Gaia’s world are welcomed, no, encouraged to jump the garden-gate and enjoy the fruits of labor. Some I have planted, some they have shared.  If I find there is something they like that I also cherish, I have learned to give it up and plant something we can both enjoy. 

Each month someone new emerges or enters. The diversity of color, shape and  purpose is mesmerizing.

JANUARY 2018 Mourning doves on Staghorn sumac
JANUARY 2018 doves on Staghorn sumac

FEBRUARY 21, 2018 Entwined garter snakes
FEBRUARY 21, 2018 Entwined garter snakes

MARCH 22, 2018 Male cardinal on Norway pine
MARCH 22, 2018 Male cardinal on Norway pine

APRIL 12, 2018 female bullfrog
APRIL 12, 2018 female bullfrog

MAY 21, 2018 Female Baltimore Oriole in Honeysuckle bush
MAY 21, 2018 Female Baltimore Oriole in Honeysuckle bush

Male Baltimore Oriole on sumac June 4, 2018

Male Baltimore Oriole on sumac June 4, 2018

 

JULY 12, 2018 Redtail hawk
JULY 12, 2018 Redtail hawk

AUGUST 26, 2018 Saddleback caterpillar
AUGUST 26, 2018 Saddleback caterpillar

AUGUST 7, 2018 Black swallowtail butterfly
AUGUST 7, 2018 Black swallowtail butterfly

 

SEPTEMBER 3, 2018 Blinded Sphinx moth caterpillar
SEPTEMBER 3, 2018 Blinded Sphinx moth caterpillar

SEPTEMBER 2018 Red-bellied woodpecker on sumac

SEPTEMBER 2018 Red-bellied woodpecker on sumac

OCTOBER 23, 2018 Garter snake in lower gardens
OCTOBER 23, 2018 Garter snake in lower gardens

OCTOBER 23, 2018 Wolf spider on fallen tree

OCTOBER 23, 2018 Wolf spider on fallen tree

NOVEMBER 1, 2018 Wild turkey
NOVEMBER 1, 2018 Wild turkey in oak tree

DECEMBER 19, 2018 Bluebird and Downy woodpecker on sumac

DECEMBER 19, 2018 Bluebird and Downy woodpecker on sumac

 

 

A Year in the Life of the Garden

The garden has matured as I have grown older. 

Old gardens have evolved as new ones emerge.

Plantings encourage new visitors while old friends come and go.

Yet I struggle with new-found freedoms.

Like the gardens I can jump boundaries and begin again. The garden embraces all that is new and all that is unplanned. 

Can I do the same? 

THE GARDENS IN 12 PHOTOGRAPHS

JANUARY 2018 the labyrinth in snow
JANUARY 2018 the labyrinth in snow

 

FEBRUARY 2018 Lyman Whitaker wind sculpture in snow
FEBRUARY 2018 Lyman Whitaker wind sculpture in snow

MARCH 2018 Winter aconite at the standing stone
MARCH 2018 Winter aconite at the standing stone

APRIL 2018 bowling ball garden
APRIL 2018 bowling ball garden

MAY 2018 daffodils near the road brought from the old house
MAY 2018 daffodils near the road brought from the old house

JUNE 2018 labyrinth and lower gardens
JUNE 2018 labyrinth and lower gardens

JULY 2018 summer rock garden
JULY 2018 summer rock garden

AUGUST 2018 new bowling ball sculpture
AUGUST 2018 new bowling ball sculpture

SEPTEMBER 2018 Cut and stacked fallen trees
SEPTEMBER 2018 Cut and stacked fallen trees

OCTOBER 2018 bowling ball garden in autumn
OCTOBER 2018 bowling ball garden in autumn

NOVEMBER 2018 the barn and berries
NOVEMBER 2018 the barn and berries

DECEMBER 2018 looking down at the labyrinth
DECEMBER 2018 looking down at the labyrinth