Gardening Gone Wild has invited us all to post about art as an inspiration for the garden as part of their Garden Blogger's Design Workshop series.That made me think about the art I have in my garden, the connections from the art to the wonderful people who gave it to me or who made it, and the beautiful juxtaposition of the ever-changing plants and ever-solid art pieces.
The wind chime on the left was a gift from Country Mouse's daughter. Maybe it's not art, but it's so pleasing to the eye, and I can see the bright yellow stained glass sun right from my kitchen window. What better sight on a gloomy day? What better thought then friendship and connection? What better inspiration?
Around the corner, a Chinese porcelain seat on which I've currently placed two frogs that were a gift from my mother in law. I'm very fond of frogs, and looking at them serenading my on their bright yellow brings instant joy. Yes! I'm in the garden now"
For me, a garden becomes a garden not just through the plants. Humans bring their gifts to the garden in the form of beautiful pottery, attractive benches, fountains, and of course, sculpture.
My favorite piece is my Buddha face, a Christmas gift from Mr. Mouse. Nestled between the stones and ferns in the redwood habitat, it reminds me of the great Buddha faces surrounded by tree roots in Cambodia.
Moss is slowly starting to grow on the face, more noticeable in winter, and I'm hoping the face will grow into the garden more and more.The Buddha from Indonesia, quite a bit smaller, is in the shade, quite well hidden. I enjoy it when I come across a small piece of art as a surprise, and while I know this buddha is here, I still enjoy that it's a little hard to see.
The third Buddha statue we have was from a temple in China that was flooded as part of the three gorges dam project. My meditation teacher had several buddhas and buddha heads for sale at one time, and Mr. Mouse and I liked the Maitreya immediately.
It also seemed to be a very reasonable price considering how old it was supposed to be. Well, we later found it it's actually not that old, but I actually prefer not to have a valuable antique in my garden. Maitreya Buddha, the Buddha of the future, is traditionally shown seated in a chair. That, leaves space in front and to the sides for an attractive display of flowers, and in spring I enjoyed the blossoms of blue-eyed grass and an attractive annual around the base. Now that it's fall, only a small succulent remains, but we can still enjoy the statue itself and its beautifully carved head.
In that way, the different art pieces in my garden remind my of people I love, and inspire me to work on making a home for them that's tranquil yet full of life. And my music are the fountains and the songs of the birds.
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