Cucurbita Female Pumpkin Flower
The strange, fluid, other-worldliness of the pumpkin patch looks far more like it belongs under the sea than under my kitchen window
The strange, fluid, other-worldliness of the pumpkin patch looks far more like it belongs under the sea than under my kitchen window
Sea Anemone or Landlubber Flower?The flowing openess of the flowers. The languid look of the large petals. The coiling tendrils. It is all very, very fluid.
Ready to Swirl and Sway In the Ocean?
These are more like plants I would see on a scuba dive - ready to swirl and sway in an ocean current - than plants exposed on a dry, rocky outcrop.
No Elvis Here, Just Ringo
Some people see Elvis; others see fractals; I see sea anemones. The garden sets off free association imagery like dominoes knocking one image down against another image of experiences and pop culture, (and now add to it blogs,) in my head. In the days of hodden grey, the church and nature provided imagery stimulus so folks saw the Madonna in the tree bark. Nowadays of mass media culture people see Elvis in a gherkin or an Octopus's garden in a pumpkin patch.
...Or , how about Chihuly...
Picture of Chihuly's Persians - Photo credit unknownDale Chihuly is an artist whose glass sculptures - the Persians series - drift through the other-world of my pumpkin crevasse. No, I haven't eaten Datura, but I have blown glass .
Pumpkin Visions Come From My Blowing Glass...Not From My Eating Datura
Every time I look at the pumpkins I am stunned with images of Chihuly's Persians I have seen in Victoria, Seattle, Las Vegas, galleries and museums. See fer yerself - thar ain't no denyin' it...Pumpkin Visions Come From My Blowing Glass...Not From My Eating Datura
Picture Credit: PERSIAN POND"CHIHULY IN THE PARK: A GARDEN OF GLASS" NOVEMBER 23, 2001 - NOVEMBER 4, 2002GARFIELD PARK CONSERVATORY, CHICAGOwww.chihuly.com
Godly Gourd - The Good Pumpkin - Served At The First ThanksgivingCanada we have Thanksgiving in October Whilst Our American Neighbours in November
And yet, with this neglect, they still graciously rewarded me with the beauty of their special world! Because of their location up on the rock and the sun shining through them I had a wonderful vantage of being below them looking up into their pumpkin realm, almost like I was floating through them. I feel kinda guilty though ....
Terry and Lisa (my sisters) Portraits in PumpkinThe pumpkin abuse isn't over yet...in a couple of weeks they will go under the knife for pies and for my pumpkin art!
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Genius Loci thought: Pumpkins are kin to the spirit of the place. They thrived against the odds and settled in to the natural beauty of the landscape. Next year they get care, attention, and a wee bit of coaxing in their sex life.
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Genius Loci thought: Pumpkins are kin to the spirit of the place. They thrived against the odds and settled in to the natural beauty of the landscape. Next year they get care, attention, and a wee bit of coaxing in their sex life.
24 comments:
Good Lord, are those portraits of your sisters done in real live true pumpkins? I have done a great spider or two with those fabulous pumpkin carving tools, but those are truly amazing. I mean worthy of some sort of "classic" status. Wow!
Beyond me! Left me speechless, totally agree with Steve. Your photos of pumpkin blooms are stunning! There's a very magical-children's- story-book-in-pictures kind of quality about them!! Loved my visit here!
You captured lovely photos of the pumpkin flowers.
Steve,
Those pumpkin tools do work great. Bet your spider-kins were very cool.
I was missing my little sisters who lived away from home and I had an enormous pumpkin and voila! I am so glad you think it is classic.
It's kinda eerie how the pumpkin flesh glows with a candle and gives the carvings quite a life-like presence.
Regards
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Kanak,
I never thought of the children's story book aspect before.
What a lovely perception.
Thank you.
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Hi Crafty,
Shooting flowers is fun.
Cheers
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First it starts one year with some pumpkin seeds carelessly thrown on a hillside. The next year you decide to tend them. Next thing you know, you will be hooked, and entering the biggest pumpkin contest at the local fair.
I enjoyed the pumpkin imagery, both blossoms and carvings.
I just wanted to add something, if I may. The Chihuly glass work is always otherworldly.......I have seen every single bit of his work I could possibly get my hands on. I feel that he is a monstrous huge figure in Modern American Art and I adore all his work. Huge kudos to you for using him - and with unique (to me) works of his to boot!
Northern Shade-
More like the biggest bumpkin with the littlest pumpkin award - and I would be so proud of it, too.
But you are too, too right. I am already delving into last year's seed catalogues for the grand, the gorgeous, the groutesque - lords of the gourds - pumpkins!
And you just know I'll be able to count on fellow blogger wisdom for pumpkin growing ways.
cheers
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Steve
Thanks so much for adding about Chihuly. He is indeed one of our contemporary greats.
It is living art - not the dusty-for-museums-only art (Disclaimer: I really do enjoy a bit of art dust myself).
It is a thrill to see his glasswork pieces in public spaces - I feel lifted. I think, yes - civilization still does exist!
Cheers
Hi there! Lovely artwork!!!
AMAZING!
Can I link your blogg to mine? It´s that ok?
Linda
Linda Luna
I would be honoured Linda.
Love the creativity of your ceramics and beautiful photos.
What a delicious treat this post is, as is all of your blog!
You have such a witty way of looking at the world. Each post is a long awaited surprise, like marzipan in a stocking!(Thank you for your comments, very appreciated)
:)
Those pumpkins and those images!
Chihuly,sea anemones and I am reminded of Rafflesia, those huge flowers, only these are not stinky!
Not at all, and I enjoyed your pleasure of observing them from above their crevasse.
Just marvelous, and a wonderful way to start my day by reading Garden Brae!
Best regards,
Philip
Another wonderful post!!!
I love the way you showed the similarities of the pumpkin flower to Chihuly art. I had always associated them with the anemones and am now delighted to see blooms too. And your carved pumpkin is amazing! I wonder what you will carve this year?
It is always a pleasure to visit your blog!
Have a beautiful day~
Karrita
Absolutely gorgeous!
Philip -
Again, you have expanded my world in wonderous ways - Rafflesia? Hmmm what could that be?
Only "Tenko", Raffles Hotel & Singapore Slings sprung to mind as I had not heard of that plant.
Had to investigate that stinky flower and had Google gander...
Fascinating, bizarre, queerly beautiful and it truly does look like it belongs under the sea.
"...the distinction of being the world’s largest flower, reaching a diameter of about three feet..."
I just know that tidbit of knowledge is bound to help me beat TV contestants on Final Jeopardy
...and lo what's this "...gets its name from Sir Stamford Raffles, the founder of the British colony of Singapore"
I'll always think of this plant while Sling sippin'
cheers
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Karrita,
The pleasure is truly likewise!
Still not sure and open to suggestions ..was thinking of Jonathan Frid as Barnabas Collins for a little carved pumpkin fun this year because I love '60's "Dark Shadows'.
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Nefaeria
Thank you for visiting and the lovely comment.
Who would have thought that pumpkin flowers could be so beautiful! Lovely pics!
Greetings from a fresh blotanicalist (or what IS the term? :-)
Camellia
What a fantastic post....I love the comparisons with Chihuly's work. Was lucky enough a few years ago to visit his studio, the one with the art in the pool. Pumpkins are my favorite flesh....you done them proud!
Beautiful, beautiful photos! Thank you for sharing them. Lovely blog.
Camelia
- Swedish garden grump, fresh Blotanicalist, graphic designer living in horticultural harmony in England - all of them terms of intriguement.
I am delighted you popped by my blog!
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Compost In My Shoe
-Lucky you to have been to Chihuly's art pad - as if living in Charleston isn't blessings enough!
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True Girl
- Happy to meet you, thank you for such nice comments.
I see you like blue - my house is blue and my dog is, too. Your little pooch is adorable - I like her blue bow.
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H a P P y T h A n K S g I v i N g
to all you Canadians out there!
Lets all V O T E on Tuesday!
Oh WOW! Thank you so much for leaving a comment at my blog--so that I could come here and find yours in return. That I couldn't wait to get to the next paragraph here says a lot... because I have typically rolled my eyes at all of the praise heaped upon Chihuly. But you make a very compelling case to counter my usual contention that he is overrated. :)
Kim & Coco
From one eye-roller to another.
Thanks for the great comment. So glad you visited.
I expect the bull***t and hype of an artist is the major part of their body of work...and it often does turn out to be the only creative thing about it;)
Best Regards
Can´t find the words I want to say so WOW.....
I see I'm very late. I love Dale Chihuly's work. Thanks for pointing out the similarity to your pumpkin flowers, vines and fruit. Last time I was in Seattle, he had so much work visible he was practically part of the natural landscape.
Eden,
I am so glad for your comment as it introduced me to your blog.
WOW upside down spells MOM. WOW I thrilled to see your posts about Ireland, my dear Mom is from Dublin.
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James,
I can't imagine how you can pull yourself away from the majestic paradise you are creating at Federal Twist to do anything else but be in your garden.
Late is the overdue library books I took out on Piet Oudolf and Noel Kingsbury.
Who knows where to download XRumer 5.0 Palladium?
Help, please. All recommend this program to effectively advertise on the Internet, this is the best program!
Good Day!!! gardenbrae.blogspot.com is one of the most outstanding informational websites of its kind. I enjoy reading it every day. Keep it that way.
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