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
Oh, I LOVE all this rich, glorious colour! Our rhododendrons in my garden are yet to flower except for the earliest PJM and a couple still to be planted, but I so love them. Love those mosaic pieces, too…we have a couple of mosaic stepping stones in the garden, and a broken birdbath that I somehow need to fix, and a couple of pots, and and and ….(all done by local artisans. Mosaic sings to me with its soul-drenching colour.)
Hi Jodi, Glad you enjoyed the rhodos. I don’t have any in my garden at all. I just go over and enjoy Hart’s. As for the mosaics, I’m sure you would love making your own too. It’s really a low tech artform and easy to learn. Especially as you obviously enjoy them so much.
I’m looking forward to seeing more of Hart’s handiwork and creativity in the garden, thanks for the tease!
I notice that you are into pique-assiette mosaics. I would love to learn how to make these and am looking for someone in Calgary who teaches this skill. Do you know of any artists/studios that teach this?
Thanks,
Jennifer Harris
Hi Jennifer, Glad you are interested in learning this art form. I’m not sure myself who is teaching it in Calgary. I taught myself through trial and error and a lot of research in the library.