Last weekend we went to visit our good friend Hart, not just for the great company but also to stroll his garden just as it was alight with the blooms of over 40 Rhododendrons. Now, to me, not too many flowers are as exotic as Rhodos. And these blooms were hot! Like chorus girls on stage, they were aglow in every color, looking luscious. And along with the fact that Hart’s garden also boasts a lot of creative exuberance it just seemed right to save this post for today and show it off on Noel’s ” The Hot, the Loud and the Proud meme.
But first a little background. Hart has been a good friend for far more years than we’d all like to admit. Let’s just say he and Bill went to art college together way back in the 60’s. And Art college only brought out even more of Hart’s creativity and sense of fun which is well expressed in his garden. I have suggested on more than one occasion that he start a blog and show off his zany little plot of paradise but he refuses. So, with his permission, I intend to show it off for him. Consider this installment #1.
First let’s discuss the exotic. As I said earlier, Hart’s garden boasts more than 40 varieties of Rhododendrons. What’s to follow is just a little taste of what’s there. I can’t tell you the names or the exact title of each one. I’m not a master gardener, just an artist who revels in color.
But we can’t leave the garden without showing you some of the other things that make his garden so unique and fun. This little vignette in the succulent garden, is an example of his delightful little arrangements.
Next is just a tiny example of his creativity expressed in mosaics. Now I will admit that I did introduce him to mosaics. I won’t say I taught him. No, no, all I did was show him how I break dishes and how to glue them down and then I just stood back and let his amazing creativity and color sensibility go to town. He ended up teaching me a lot. This is just one of the stones decorated with tile in his garden and is a fave of mine.
And this is just one of the tables on the patio that he applied mosaic to. But in Hart’s hands the colors just work so well. I could just sit at this table and admire it for ages. If you ‘d like to see more of his mosaics, check out our Mosaic Gallery where Hart is our guest artist. I promise that one day this summer, I’m sure I’ll be giving you another peek at his hot and amazing garden.
Tags: mosaic patio table, mosaic stone, Rhododendrons in bloom, The Hot the Loud the Proud
Hi,
Wow!!! so many colors, it’s so beautiful.
That first rhododendron is a stunner. I’d love to have that in my garden. I just planted Mandarin Lights and hope it looks even half as lovely as this one.
Those tables are so creative. Hart does have an excellent eye for color.
Hi Helen,
Greetings from India! What a delightful post and an amazing garden. I’m visiting the participants of Noel’s meme and I’m so glad I landed here. Definitely a place I’d love to hang out:)
Loved your post. I’ll be back!
Kanak (Terra farmer)
Love, love, love Hart’s garden! Been there, seen it and can’t wait to see it again. I remember hearing that Hart’s garden was featured in a magazine once. Which one?
Hi Paul and Olya, Hopefully, you two will be out here again soon. It was in Gardens West many years ago and is even better now.
Thanks for sharing Hart’s garden with us! I love the colors of the mosaics, and the rhodies are really special. I can imagine how glorious all of them blooming must be!
Hi Deb, Wish I could have shown more of the rhodies, but there really are a lot of them and all in bloom too. The garden practically glows.
aloha helen,
wow how exciting to see all these beautiful rhodies, amazing. i really love the vignettes to, the yellow sempervivums are my favorite ground covers…the mosaic table is beautiful, i have some broken tile i’ve just been saving for some interesting project so now i see the inspiration.
Hi Helen, they are all so beautiful. Like Noel, i’ve been saving lots of broken tiles and plates for years but haven’t really sit and put them to use. Later i will study from your site on how to glue them together and use in the garden. I will put your link in mine so i have a handy resource. thank you.
Wow, hot, and hearty. Gorgeous, and stunning. Loving those colors.
Sounds like you had a great time.
Jen
Hi Andrea, glad you liked the rhodos and the mosaic. It’s so great that you have added my blog as a resource on your site. If you check my blog in the Pique Assiette catagory, you will find instructions to making a mosaic stepping stone. In your climate you’ll be free of freezing and thawing worries. Just checked out your blog, which is very good and love the Fire Tree in your last post.
Hi Jen, Hart’s garden, anytime, is always beautiful, but funky and my inspiration.
His garden is very inspiring. It is very creative and I love the unique touches! Very pretty.
Hi Amy, His garden really is a lot of fun as well as full of wonderful plants. And this post is just installment #1.
Wow, the Rhododendrons are really lovely and the colours are striking and rich. The mosaics are beautiful pieces of art too.
Hi Autumn Belle, glad you enjoyed the rhodos and the mosaics.
Hi Terra Farmer, glad you enjoyed my post and Hart’s garden. Just checked out your blog and I’ll be checking that again soon too.
Hi Sylvana, I agree about the first Rhodo too. As for the mosaics, only the last photo is of a table. The first is actually a stepping stone set into the garden, but it does look table-ish doesn’t it?
Hi Ellada, And this is just a few of the 40 Rhodos in bloom!
Hi Noel, As someone who teaches mosaics, I’m always finding people with bits of tile and broken dishes stashed away. Hope you go ahead and try mosaic. It’s a lot fun. There is my method for making mosaic stepping stones on my blog, just check in the pique assiette mosaic category. Have fun!