Garden Tripod 27 by Garden Tripod

GTARDEN RIPOD ART Issue 27 December 2014

www.gardentripod.com Horticultural Science Technology & Art All The Materials Contained May Not Be Reproduced, Copied, Edited, Published, Transmitted Or Uploaded In Any Way Without the artist/photographers Permission. These Images/writings Do Not Belong To The Public Domain. All images and information within the Garden Tripod magazine are the responsibility of the owner/artist/ writer/photographer & not the Garden Tripod magazine 2012-2014â&#x20AC;¨

GTARDEN RIPOD ART Issue 27 December 2014

Cover Image The Christmas Tree...Evergreen by © Janis Zroback

5 Editor’s Review 6 Oﬃce News Hound 8 Painting is my passion © Janis Zroback 21 New Zealand Artist Hilary Weeks 28 A Favourite Image - And What Makes It So 43 What makes a Christmas Tree? by Marilyn Cornwell 55 Exhibition Garden Tripod Group Fine Art America 64 Flowers of Christmas 89 The Garden Shed Challenge Winners Karen Ilari 97 The Garden Shed Challenge Winners Mike Savad

GTARDEN RIPOD ART

Editor’s Review

Welcome to the festive edition of the Garden Tripod. For anyone who has missed us .. no we have not hidden two issues under the mat, but we have been tied up with so many things we missed two publication dead lines. So now issue 27 is our small but perfectly formed Festive edition. I would like to thank Janis for her amazing image The Christmas Tree…Evergreen to be used on the cover. Also Marilyn for the wonderful selection of images from the conservatories that she visits at Christmas. Some features are missing from this edition and we can only apologise for this. We hope to cover them in future issues.

Just Chillin' by WhiteDove Studio kj gordon

Merry Christmas by Marilyn Cornwell

The team at the Garden Tripod would like to wish ALL its followers and readers a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year. As always .. we are keeping the text real, so spelling mistakes and grammatical errors are all here for free. We have also hung a very small collection of our cards up here for everyone to enjoy, thank you all that have and still are sending in cards, they are super. The office dog has our card to you .. hope you like it Ed

Merry Christmas by ienemien

Greetings to my RedBubble Friends by Clare Colins

GTARDEN RIPOD ART OďŹ&#x192;ce News Hound

Gosh .. its that time of year again .. Do not feed me chocolate or Crimbo pudding .. I love them but they can make me and all other dogs very ill .. so for my Crimbo treats I will stick to dog foods and treats .. but will look longing at everyone who's eating the festive nosh .. just be strong .. don't give in .. don't let me eat it. This time of year in a vets s no fun .. come to think of it .. any time of the year stuck in a vets is not fun ! So.. that just leaves me to say .. have a great festive season x Guess I am trying to say .. woof :)

Stay Safe Princess Summer

Seasons Greetings Seasons Greetings From All at the Garden Tripod

ainting is my passion…..

I paint in many diﬀerent styles and feature a myriad of subject matter, which I show as individual collections….  I am inspired by the world around me and love interpreting it in brilliant colours, often influenced by books I’ve read, including famous authors and poets from the past…  Sometimes I am moved to write short stories and poems to better illustrate my point of view, but in fact the works can stand entirely on their own…

TORONTO, CANADA

Seasons of the Mind...

Who or What Am I?

Living Gold...

The Miracle

Severance

To See and To Tell..

Again...

Quietude...

Deep January...

The Harbour...

Landscape..Winter Walk

Canon...

Thoughtful Stillness..

The Heart Knows....

The Secret of Life

It Was Evening All Afternoon...

Look A New Day...

The Wild Sun..

Evening...

Books

by Janis Zroback Engagement Calendar 2013

Recipes for Textured Surfaces Textures to add excitement to your paintings

Trees An Artist's Vision Paintings in Watercolour and Mixed Media Winter In The North Watercolour Landscapes

Food Glorious Food Food In Still Life Painting

Earth Songs An Artist's Relationship with the Earth

The Little Book of Cherries

Flight...

GTARDEN RIPOD ART Welcomes

Hilary Weeks

Hilary Weeks is an artist based in Auckland, New Zealand.

hilaryweeks.co.nz

23 ARTIST STATEMENT I began to paint again 2 years ago, 20 years after my last solo exhibition of British megaliths/burial chambers and standing stones. At that time I was described as a “narrative and figurative Expressionist using postmodern melodrama and irony in her work” (Warwick Brown ” 100 New Zealand Paintings” 1994) Little has changed in my painting since then apart from the subject matter. My focus is now on the Big Cats, with the purpose of d o n a t i o n o f a l l p r o c e e d s t o a Z o o Conservation Fund. This arose in a single cathartic moment at the Auckland Zoo on February 26th 2013, at about 3.30 in the afternoon. I had gone to the Zoo to try out a new small digital camera which had been purchased for use during an Art Safari to Namibia with my sister later in the year. (www.artsafari.co.uk) A video had described how the female tiger, Malek, spent a couple of nights with her Australian mate every 2 years…this seemed to me rather sad and I found her hiding from the public in the dark of the bushes at the very back of her enclosure. My camera, however, penetrated her privacy with ease , with a resulting perfect portrait of a very proud and beautiful and lonely animal I resolved then and there to use my art in aid of the preservation of endangered species, starting with the Big Cats. hilaryweeks.co.nz

Predator or Prey? www.hilaryweeks.co.nz

25 The most recent series features a range paintings of the “Big Cats”.

The paintings follow a Predator or Prey theme with symbols leading viewers to decide what is a predator and what is prey. The subject of the painting or the viewer?.

Hilary Weeks

hilaryweeks.co.nz

GTARDEN RIPOD ART Welcomes

All Glorious Gardens

RedBubble Group hosted by Marilyn Cornwell & MotherNature Your Favourite Image - And What Makes It So

29 Mother Earth -- La Terre Mère by Sandra Fortier In the summer of 2013, the Montreal Botanical Gardens was host to the world’s biggest horticultural event of its type, the Mosaicultures Internationales The theme was “Land of Hope.” There were 50 masterful living sculptures with 20 countries competing. Mother Earth was the winning entry standing 15 metres tall. She reconciles man and nature in a masterful and visually spectacular fashion. I stood in front of this beautiful sculpture many times taking away with me a sense of hope and peace.

Classical by marxbrothers Classical" This was taken at a place called Forde Abbey in Somerset. It was a drizzly day so it wasn’t easy taking photos and keeping the camera dry. The grounds are lovely and as gardens go it’s very photogenic. Very peaceful. The gardens looked good from any angle so I wanted to capture a picture reflecting that. The picture shows the “temple” a bench, with water cascading down some steps. To me, it just looked like a classical setting so I named it as such …so there you have it…………

Belgrade by Ana Belaj This is one of the most beautiful parks in Belgrade. Exudes sophisticated beauty and peace. It’s surrounded by beautiful walking treelined. In a small pond to swim ducks and swans, blooming water lilies. Here you can find superb serenity and relaxation.

In The Presence Of Beauty by StephenRphoto Story about my image – I loved the situation of the tree in the photograph with it’s orange berries against a green backdrop, and the orange and yellow flower beds in the foreground just seemed to frame it nicely. Then the bright blue sky gave it a real summertime feel.

Garden Maiden by debidabble I fell in love with this “living sculpture” in the Balboa Gardens in San Diego, California, USA. I love the expression on the pottery face and the choice of plants used to make up the body of the woman. I may forget some of the plants I saw but will always remember her.

My Blue Heaven

by naturelover I came across these Church Gardens by accident, full of glorious bluebells and Wild Garlic, felt as though I was in Heaven:) Looking at all the other entries I think Enchanting sums up a wonderful collection

Enchanted Garden by Selina Ryles It is one of my favourite shots because I came across this area by surprise, turned a corner at Bodnant Gardens in North Wales to be faced with such a breathtaking view. It is one of my favourite places to explore as every season inspires me

Quintessentially Autumn by Mortimer123 The garden at Sheﬃeld Park has so much to oﬀer at every season, but I think it’s the fabulous colours that make autumn my favourite time of year here.

Garden of Tranquility Glastonbury by kalaryder I enter the Garden of Tranquility of Glastonbury simply because I loved the arch and the greenness. I like the light and shadow and to me the elegance of the shape.

Walk With Me The Edwardian Way by Marilyn Cornwell Hatley House, on the grounds of Royal Roads University in Victoria considered one of the great Edwardian Romantic gardens on the west coast. This walk demonstrates all the qualities of a Romantic Garden. I like the image for two reasons: The lighting is even as it was an overcast day so the colours are intense and saturated. The second reason is the composition which causes my eye to travel through the picture a few times, taking in the focal points and colours. This garden had a big impact on my own garden in Grimsby. When I visited the garden 2 years ago, I became aware of the attractiveness of Romantic gardens. I realized my garden in Toronto was a Romantic garden – the Poet’s House demonstrates this. This awareness inspired the current garden design in Grimsby – a truly Romantic garden – with the paths, the rendezvous, the conservatory, the delicate tool shed. So Hatley House turned out to be a great inspiration in my garden work.

Cosmos by John Velocci

I entered this picture because i’ve always loved this flower and only seen it in pictures. then one day on my trip to Blue Mountain in Collingwood, Ontario I was at a park and turned around and saw these flowers right behind me. so I spent about 15 minutes taking pictures of them while my family was waiting impatiently for me. :)

SouthBank Parklands, Brisbane by PhotosByG This arbour covers 5 blocks of what used to be (26 years ago) a seedy and run down part of Brisbane, along the river, opposite the main part of the city. Then in 1988, Brisbane held World Expo 88 (a small version of a Worlds Fair) and the area was all demolished for the Expo. It ran for 6 months and had over 18 million visitors and was a huge success. After the Expo finished, the whole area was transformed into parklands and outdoor eating areas and coﬀee shops and restaurants and apartments etc and they installed this arbour which twists and turns and runs the length of the site. It’s covered in bougainvillea the whole length and it flowers most of the year. I love the magnificent colour of the flowers and its great to walk the 5 blocks and to see this the whole way.

Jet in the garden. by Jeanette Varcoe. “Jet in the Garden” is my favourite image. This is a picture of my sisters garden with her cat Jet in country Victoria. My sister moved up there 5 years ago, I miss her, and my brother in law and nephews a lot. I occasionally go up and stay for the weekend. The garden is an important element of life to me and my siblings. We all love our gardens, this is something our Dad passed on to us and is a connecting thread between us all. Our Dad passed away a few months ago and this connection is extra special now.

A Planter Garden at Coffee O - Falmouth MA #2 by MotherNature This picture, A Planter Garden at Coffee O – Falmouth MA #2, is especially poignant for me because to is one of the planters that grow each summer on the patio of Coffee O. Coffee O is a humble coffee shop that serves the Falmouth community (and neighboring villages, too), and this is where folks stop in for a cuppa and a treat. They sit and chat and go on their way. It is a true community spirit that pervades the place. My mother and father went to Coffee O just about every day; after my mother died my Dad continued to visit almost daily. The owner and young people who worked there knew him by name and always joked with him and spoiled him. The owner had a special gathering when Dad died to honour him. Today Coffee O has expanded to include a branch in Woods Hole, near the steamship authority. We love both places but the Falmouth location is still home:>)

A Time For Everything

by Marie Sharp The darkened empty bench is a contrast to the new life in the pretty tulips. A reminder that there is a time for everything. Also, this reminds me of my Mother who loved tulips.

Selenium Calla Lilies by Denice Breaux My next door neighbor’s property, though the same size as mine, seems to be an endless ramble of surprises. The calla lilies are among my favorites in this wonderland. Sadly, my elderly neighbor had to move away after the death of her husband, but the “gardens” remain and will always remind me of one of my favorite people!

Once There Were Petunias Here by SummerJade Once there were petunias here (spring 2005) but now they are only a faded memory, never to be duplicated. Funny how it seems like it would be so easy to recreate this tousled display of years ago, but though the same plants are bought from the same nursery… nothing is the same anymore. …Just a vision in the rear view mirror of the mind, a memory falling further and further into the past. If we could turn back time, we’d all be forever young. ☺☺ ☺ (From my description…the image… it’s all about feelings.)

Comfort For The Soul The Bridge of Life by TonyCrehan My favourite garden image at the moment is of the red bridge in the Japanese Garden at the Irish National Stud not only because it is a memory of the best holiday my wife and have ever enjoyed but it symbolises the atmosphere of the walk through the garden, an enchanting and deeply meaningful journey representing life itself.

Potted Cat by Vicki Spindler (VHS Photography) I didn’t want to add the same image that I’ve added for most of these challenges so I thought I’d go for this one instead! It always makes me smile and reminds me of when I was there. This cat belongs to my mum’s friend, she has a lot of cats and that’s the reason I never remember the names of them. This one is one of the male cats, he’s quite a large boy, he always comes and says hello to me when I visit. It was a warm summers day and we were out in the garden and this guy was sleeping in the pot, just under the tiny tree so he was under some shade. I said hello to him and he opened his eyes slightly, he was clearly enjoying his little sleep and I woke him up but he didn’t seem to mind. Later he came over for a cuddle but just before I snapped this shot of the ‘Potted Cat’!

37 Pick 'n' Mix by wiggyofipswich Pick ‘n’ Mix is set in the fantastic gardens of Great Dixter, Northiam, Sussex, England. They are one of the best gardens I’ve visited anywhere. I’ve always loved the oast houses of Kent and Sussex and to have some stunning flowers in the foreground was an added bonus for me

Garden Beauty Toowoomba, Qld, Australia by Sandra Sengstock-Miller Hi, the story behind my image is as follows. Every year the town of Toowoomba holds their Carnival of Flowers. This garden which is privately owned won the open Champion Garden both this year and last year. The whole of front fence line is just so beautiful welcoming you into the most beautiful garden. Every time I look at this photo I can see and smell the perfume from all of the garden.

Toowoomba Garden 2 by Graeme Hyde This garden appeals to me because of the variety of colours and the way the plant shapes flow from one to the other. To achieve such an eﬀect in a normal suburban house block is a brilliant eﬀort. It was no surprise to me to find the garden was judged as one of the major prize winners in the annual Flower Show.

Autumn Landscape by cclaude Valley Garden Park in Wilmington in a little gem, especially in the fall. That late October day turned cloudy, but the sun broke out in patches as we were ready to leave. The top of the hill lit up, glowing in the soft and warm light. It looked one one of these traditional landscape paintings, and it lasted only a moment, just long enough for a fresh favorite image.

Beguinage (Begijnhof), Bruges by Ludwig Wagner My garden image is a recent discovery. I visited Bruges for the first time a few weeks ago and came across this lovely scene of the Beguinage which just epitomises a classic scene which hasn’t changed for 100s of years!

39 Stairway Garden-Galles, Italy by Deborah Downes This image I captured in the Italian village of Galles represents all the wonderful times my husband Fred and I explored nontouristy places during the years we lived in Italy. It was in little towns, like this one, we felt the strongest connections to Italy, plus discovered delightful scenes such as this one that’s oﬀ a small piazza. There we heard a child’s laughter and smelled a delectable simmering sauce, as well as sweet floral scents.

Autumn Yard by WildestArt I have always loved this house. Its a 19th century gem. They always have the nicest seasonal displays. I especially loved the American Flag and the soldier statue on the porch. Their son is overseas…

Cotwolds Cottage Garden by doatley Typical Costwold Cottage Garden, a hide away! Painted in water colours on good quality bockingford water colour paper.

California Garden by Kenneth Hoﬀman While on a vacation in Southern California I happened upon a beautiful garden surrounded by a tall picket fence. Not to be deterred, I poked my camera through the slats and took a picture. It is a favorite of mine because of the wonderful colors and friendly feeling of the garden. I also appreciated two people who paid me for a 20 × 24 framed, matted and glassed.

41 I Stand Tall - Digital Oil byÂ Sandra Foster I Stand Tall is an image in one of our local country gardens where I had the privilege to do a photo shoot. I especially liked this shot on the edge of a pond scene with the majestic looking bird yet seemed dwarfed by tall beautiful trees around it. This shot was taken in garden approximately one and a half acres, I only captured parts of it. I did a 3 1/2 minute slide show titled A Beautiful Country Garden if you care to see the rest of the garden.

Japanese Garden byÂ Celeste Mookherjee This Japanese Garden with its 150-year-old stone lantern is the first part of the South Coast Botanic Garden (Palos Verdes Peninsula, California) that visitors see after walking through the entryway courtyard. The entire botanic garden has nurtured my photography and my very soul for many years, but I have two special loves in the Japanese Garden: the sago palms on the left, which are a delight to photograph when their new fronds are emerging, and the small koi pond out of view on the right where I had my first encounter with a flame skimmer dragonfly (Libellula saturata). The garden commissioned me to create a series of postcards for them in 2012, and this is one of the images they now sell as part of the garden postcard collection.

Copy's available via the Garden Tripod web page at www.gardentripod.com All profits go to the Blue Horse Rescue

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What makes a Christmas Tree? by Marilyn Cornwell Living in the northern hemisphere, we have lots of coniferous choices - fir, spruce, pine and hemlocks are standard Christmas trees. We grow them on Ontario farms where they are trimmed into the even conical form that is standard for us so they are readily and abundantly available. How the horticultural world interprets the Christmas tree takes this tradition and moves it into the realm of magic and wonder. We get to experience Christmas anew from fresh eyes. In North America, the largest and most splendid horticultural interpretation of Christmas is at Longwood Gardens, just south of Philadelphia. To experience Longwoodâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Christmas is to step into a magic land.

The Grand Entrance At the grand entrance to the Conservatory, the immediate trees are decorated with Dianthus (Carnation) bouquets. Of course, Longwood has abundant displays of traditional trees with the typical ornaments along the great Conservatory walk. The decorations are in keeping with the elegance and gracious colour themes of red, white and green.

Once we move into the reflecting pool garden, the tree form is there, and now is made of gingerbread men, arranged in rows around the conical shape.

Silver Garden. It isn't possible to walk t h ro u g h t h e S i lv e r Garden without stopping to marvel at the beautiful tree of succulents set in Spanish moss. It is a captivating sculpture. The same experience occurs in the Orchid house where there is a vast wreath of orchids.

Parsley with Tomato ornaments.

Longwood has a series of working greenhouses that display crops such as vegetables and espaliered fruit trees. Here the tree was made of Parsley with tomato ornaments.

At night, the lights are everywhere inside and out, transforming each conservatory room anew. My favourites are the fountains where the conical shape is replicated in the water fountains.

Closer to my home, the Niagara region is a premiere growing location for poinsettias. I can walk into any of the commercial greenhouses now and see them in rows of pinks, reds, and whites into infinity. So Niagara Fallâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s floral showcase greenhouse each year has a poinsettia tree on display.

Allan Gardens and Centennial Park The Toronto conservatories of Allan Gardens and Centennial Park showcase their horticultural talents with topiary trees in diďŹ&#x20AC;erent materials each year. Allan Gardens had a splendid silver display a few years ago.

Christmas in North America is a magical time. The garden designer, florist, horticulturalist and landscape architect all come together to bring magic and mystery alive in one of the great living arts. Marilyn Cornwell

GTARDEN RIPOD ART Welcomes

Fine Art America

Vivid Scarlet Amaryllis Flowers - Happy Holidays Georgia Mizuleva

Heavy Laden Lois Bryan

Red Splendour Marilyn CornwellÂ

Spider Lily Stuart Harrison

Red Epiphyllum Study Denise Clark

Soft Blues and Pink - Spring Blossoms Miriam Danar

Singing down the sunÂ Rabiah SeminoleÂ

Jewel Lucinda Walter

Flowers of Christmas Country Gardens Come Grow With Us Challenge

Low Light Amaryllis byÂ autumnwind