Don't That Take the Tassel Off'n the Corn?

As summer fades, us gardeners have to look for other forms of amusement and wonder in nature. Yes there are still the asters and mums, but most of the blooms are finished. Leaves and gourds bring us color among only a few other things.

I found a new and delicate form of Garden Art in the secret rows of corn fields. For years, crafty types have made Dolls out of the dried corn husks. Or Granny Heads out of dried apples. But lately I have seen creative images of small princess locks of braided silky tassels - while still on the cob. 

From a horticultural perspective, this silk is the female part of the corn. Think of them as long tubules where the male pollen will land and form the kernels of the corn. While they are developing, the larger husk wraps & protects them. Namely, it keeps most birds and animals from eating the cobs. When we harvest, the first thing we do is rip off both the husks and then the inner silk tassels.

These sweet and fragile images show simple braiding of the tassels while still in the field. The colors vary from golden blonde to slightly warmer ambers. And are often laced Baby's Breath or other tiny wildflowers found nearby. They are mini, magical wonders each. I suggest that any of you taking an outing into any of the many corn mazes for Fall fun, take a handful of small wildflowers or other jewels along with a spool of thread. Find a single ear still on the stalk. And spend a few minutes in nature to create a surprise for someone else who will be a few steps behind you. I know that I am going to try to create at least one.

 

Lovely Lavender Labyrinth

I was just talking about the new trend of both Sunflower and Wildflower Farms here in MN, where you can stroll through the late harvest season enjoying the blooms, and leave with a handful of flowers to take home and continue the joy of nature.

This is a similar farm a few states away in Michigan near the shores of the Great Lake. Cherry Point Farm sounds much like my native roots in Western Pennsylvania, where a combination of lake breezes and fertile soil allow for bumper crops of fruit trees. The website shows pics of seemingly perfect Concord grapes, cherries and apples. They have a market of what look like incredible baked goods and many things grown on the farm. Also Summer Fish Boils and Tuesday Teas. If it was a bit closer it would be a perfect weekend get away.

What grabbed my eye though, is a stunning Lavender Labyrinth that has become a draw on the Farm. They make a point that it is not a maze to wander in like many of the corn maze fields around here. But more like a spiritual labyrinth, that you stroll through at a slow pace being mindful of the beauty surrounding you. The centerpiece is a stone circle and it is supported by a vast herb garden of 36 beds and a stretch of trellis arbors. The whole scene appears a wonder of geometry, landscape design and inspired planting. 

Much like our horrible growing season in Minnesota, I also note that their website also apologizes for the sad crop and meager display of the lavender in 2022. I have given up on finding varieties of Lavender that are tolerant to our MN winters - I know of only one person who manages to bring it back year after year. But they still welcome people to visit, take in the herb gardens which are thriving and meditate while walking the grounds. Judging by pictures, it is a bucket list adventure I hope to take in some day.

 

Cherry Point Farm & Market

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hurry! It's Lovely Up Here.

This line is a title from the Broadway Musical On a Clear Day. It is the opening song sung by Daisy Gamble who is psychic and can also make flowers magical bloom in seconds.

 On these hot summer nights and days, I also spent hours in the garden tending my flowers, weeding, and watering as I give my attention to each and every plant. I have also been spending time just laying on my back with Rosie next to me. Usually looking up at clouds. Sometimes just hearing the birds chirp or a lawn mower whirring. But lately some of the images are from under the canopy of my Cherry tree limbs which hang low or through the whispy leaves of my River Birch which has grown huge over the last few years.

 We spend so much of our time looking down or straight ahead. Maybe occasionally glancing up. But to truly lie flat on your back and peer through branches gives a fascinating perspective. These photos are from various feeds and posts that I have collected in a folder. They are from underneath a blue Hydrangea, a Mushroom, a field of Lupines.There is no great magic in them. Just the sheer scope of seeing things from a new perspective; from down under. I have to imagine that Rosie, being only 16 inches tall, sees so many things this way as her norm. It is a bit of a mind bender to see things from a slightly different angle. A fresh take is always good.

 

Glass Flowers of Harvard

One of the unexpected surprises of our recent Boston trip was the collection of Glass Flowers as part of the Harvard Museum of Science. It had not come up on our radar at all, but was a must-see from almost everyone that we talked to. Being a garden lover as well as an artist, I was overwhelmed with what we saw.

You have to imagine the museum just as you would expect, an old giant, red brick academia structure with little signage out front. We had gotten confused and went to the Art Museum and were given a small hand drawn map with a trail in blue marker on it that took us to a different part of the campus. We obviously were not the first to ask this question. The Collection itself was front and center as soon as your enter and was only a modest room with 5 rows of glass cases, so expectations were not high at first. But what was inside those glass cases was magical!

Over a hundred years ago before the silk flowers we now find readily at Michael's crafts, were these specimens. A smart and dapper guide explained to us the process behind them. It was not glass blowing, but a very specific and rare process called glass "pulling." Harvard was needing some sort of Botany specimens for their horticultural studies and they stumbled onto the idea of a craftsman Leopold Blaschka in the Czech Republic who was dabbling in a new art form. His original pieces were modeled after sea urchins like jellyfish and not plants at all. From the 1880's forward to the mid 1930's Leopold and later his son Rudolf had 3 contracts with the University to compile specimens for the collection. By the project's end, there are nearly 800 species in the collection, of which only a handful are on current display.

 

Each model has a strand or stem of the blooms. Sometimes a progression as a plant was coming to fruit or maturing. Then there are also magnifications to show the intricate parts on a larger scale that students would be able to study.

The glass pulling that they used was done by heating very small pieces of glass and then pulling them into very thin, tiny layers. These could be petals, leaves, thorns, fruits and then even the smaller pistols and stamens of plants. Stems were wrapped wires and all the components were then glued onto the stems with a clear animal adhesive. To get the different textures prevalent in the plant world, they would experiment with dust, hair and other elements to fight against the translucence of glass and make it more opaque as needed. Also, like stained glass, color was added to the parts prior and most of the vibrant colors have faded in the 150 years hence.

Each species was collected and studied at length. At first from local markets there. But as demands grew, they needed more variety from around the globe. They did not have transport like we do today. So, often they would work with other conservatories there and later in the process began to cultivate some of their own gardens to catch the samples at all stages of their development.

Our guide talked about the incredible process of shipping them over to Harvard in giant crates where air was their best ally instead of trying to pack tight with cushions. Newspapers and oversize worked best. The museum also had a feature on damaged models. How they maintain them and what repairs have been made. There is no one that can replicate their process in the world today. Also, the way glass is colored is different now. Our guide corrected several guests on the fragility of the wooden cabinets while we were admiring.

It was awe inspiring seeing so many flowers I was familiar with and seeing them exactly as they bloom in my yard. The concept that they were glass was beyond comprehension. My pictures barely do justice to the craftsmanship other than a bit of color and the shape of each. An unexpected diversion. And if you are ever in the Boston area - this is a must-see

 

House at Pooh Corner

I'm not sure what Spring has been like wherever this finds you. Ours has been one dreary weekend after another. Rain, clouds and gusty breezes. The sort of days that make you crave a cup of tea, maybe a good book or crossword and a couch to curl up on. A perfect place to steal away with Winnie the Pooh & Christopher Robin in the 100-acre Wood. 

Amazingly, there is such a place in our real world. One year ago in 2021, this fabulous gem of a retreat was constructed in celebration of the 95th anniversary of Pooh and A..A Millne. This incredible lodge is located in Ashtown Forest south of London, which was the inspiration for the 100-acre Wood in the original stories. AND it is a designated AirBnB that can be booked.

Kim Raymond who has been illustrating the Winnie the Pooh classics for the last 30 years was tasked with bringing the vision to life based on the interior designs of E.H. Shepard. It was built by wrapping tree branches around the base of a giant trunk. On entering, it is a magical but tiny complex of rooms. Adorned with kitsch wallpaper and cabinets filled with custom honey pot china.

From the old booking link on AirBnB, it appears it may have a been a short term window only, and limited to residents of the UK. But it is certainly a charmer and would be perfect for these blustery afternoons.

Actual AirBnB listing

 

 

Magical Raindrops

Today is our first true rainy day of the Spring season. Yes, it is dreary grey outside. But I am having no problems working from home and listening to the dirge of the raindrops pelting at the roof for hours now. The ground has thawed enough that it is absorbing the rain. And I know with the oncoming sunshine, it will only add to the greening that is about to arrive.

Here are a handful of miraculously timed photographs of drops of water hitting the surface.

Ronny Tertnes calls his artwork Liquid Sculptures. I think he is the third artist from Norway I have featured at some point. They seem to have a niche on where art collides with nature. Obstacle #1 is making sure you have a VERY quick shutter speed. His minimum is 1/500th of a second. #2 is experimenting with both lighting and background to make sure it is interesting enough to add an artistic quality, but still bright enough to capture the impact moment in high resolution. #3 is adding gels to the flash which can turn a clear water drop into a dynamic red or lavender. And trick #4 is that what you are actually seeing is not likely a pure raindrop. He mixes water with other liquids to give it density, color and weight. And I can't speak from experience, but I would guess it is also a mix of patience and luck to land just the right shots out of 100s that are taken.

Again, the wonder of raindrops if we could freeze them and watch them one at a time. Perhaps, they are just like snowflakes where none is like another?

Walk a Mile in My Showshoes

I will admit that I have been pretty adventurous in these last 2 winter months. Part is being stir crazy from COVID isolation. Part is again, my curiosity and wanting to see what is out there. That does not mean that it has always been comfortable and convenient. Our MN Winter has proved to be its predictable challenge with the usual frigid temps. There have been a few days that the car engine just refuses to turn over - and I wish I was able to do the same in bed.

In the spirit of our present Great Northern Festival, I wanted to celebrate something even more massive in terms of art meeting nature. I know our festival is showcasing ways that art and winter Mother Nature can intersect. But nothing on this large of a scale.

I introduce you to the work of Simon Beck. He uses large fields and mountains as his canvas. And snowshoes as his paintbrush. With these two simple tools, he makes a labyrinth of winter art that is magnificent and sadly, temporary as well. I find it not surprising that he is both an engineer and map cartographer by trade. This makes logical sense as you see the scope of his works.

His process begins with computer drawings that are created in basic contrasts of light and dark with texturing. Once on site after scouting his open location, he frames out a grid of straight lines using a compass to navigate. He states that finding the shape of his curves is purely by instinct, and that has gotten better over time. Important next, is step size and being well aware of distances between points. Lastly, it is creating density and depth by retracing steps in certain areas to make the tracks deeper and darker.

He is a one-man show. There is not some small crew that is working with him on these. He also speaks that he needs to be both an artist and an athlete to invest the hours of manpower needed to create each one step by step. Thanks to drone photos, it is the best way to fully appreciate the art; seeing them from ground level does not allow the viewer to really receive the full impact. Which makes it even more astounding that he is able to create these panoramas without perspective. Over the last decade, he has worked residencies around the globe to create over 200 art installations. We need to get him here for our Winter Carnival! Enjoy the beauty of Simon Beck and his winter wonderlands.

He has several time lapse videos if you search YouTube.

Collection of Simon Beck snow works

Simon Beck Snow Dragon: Siberia, Russia