Plant Talk

"Through the Garden Gate" Art Show Opening at Museo Gallery in Langley April 2nd

The place to be? Museo Gallery on First Street in Langley this Saturday night, April 2nd, from 5-7 p.m. for the opening party of this spring's not-to-be-missed art show for gardeners. Owner Sandra Jarvis has assembled a collection of art pieces both practical and beautiful, sure to appeal to anyone who loves gardens, flowers and nature...or anyone who needs one of local artist Bob Bowling's charming sheds, and who doesn't?

Come enjoy the work of more than twenty artists. Highlights are the botanical themed paintings of Lisa Snow Lady, sculptural garden works and other pieces celebrating the amazing gardens of the Pacific Northwest and Whidbey Island.

Come see the work of Bob Bowling, who crafts cravable little buildings like the ones below out of recycled materials:

And Lisa Snow Lady's graceful, colorful reverse paintings on glass - Lily White (left) and Garden Glow are both 14" by 11".....hope to see you at the opening party....

 

 

 

 

Rainbarrel? Nope, Watering Can

I spotted these ingenious pieces of artwork that function as water catchment while visiting the Anacortes Arts and Crafts Fair weekend before last. Believe me, we could see that they work beautifully, for it was raining like crazy all afternoon. It's a surprise to come on huge, crayon-colored watering cans attached to the sides of a warehouse on Commercial Avenue near the water...they dribble water down into freshly planted rain gardens all around the building...

Little and Lewis's New Digs Open Aug 7

It was a sad day when Bainbridge Island artist/gardeners George Little and David Lewis sold their world famous gallery garden.  We were afraid we'd lost these beloved Northwest artists to their new home in San Miguel de Allende...but they're back, and throwing open the gates to their new garden gallery this Saturday, August 7, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

A destination for gardeners from around the globe, the Little and Lewis garden was a magical place of brilliant colors and tropical-esque plants, a fantastical meld of art, foliage and flowers. Turns out George and David moved just next door, and have been busy creating an equally enticing garden gallery on a smaller scale. From lotus fountains to giant pomegranates, the designing duo have been working their magic again...come stroll through the garden, meet George and David, and consider taking an art piece home to amp up the enchantment level in your own garden....

Address:1974 Wing Point Way on Bainbridge Island; Telephone 206-842-8327; email littleandlewis@comcast.net; www.littleandlewis.com 

Here's a preview of Saturday's Open Garden, courtesy of photographer Linda Cochran:

 

 

Goodbye Lucca

Lucca Statuary is closing its doors next month, and our gardens will be the poorer for it. The charm of Lucca's classical European-inspired pieces, from fountains to gargoyles, has enriched and enlivened countless Seattle gardens over the years Francine Katz and Peter Riches have been in business.

The combination of dwindling retail sales and fewer big orders from designers has been discouraging, the cost of manufacturing their own line high, let alone shipping costs... the result? Lucca will close....but in the meantime, check out their amazing liquidation sale, with prices 50% - 70% off an all merchandise through January 31. Haven't you, or someone on your list, always wanted a gargoyle (urn, fountain, statue, Buddha....) for Christmas???

The good news is that Lucca Great Finds, Peter and Francine's very fun vintage shop on Ballard Avenue is still going strong....and be sure and check out the bargains at the Leary Way location...

Outdoor Art Reaches New Heights

Can you imagine driving through the little town of Connell in southeastern Washington (just off Highway 395, population 3,190) and finding flower sculptures towering more than three times the height of a tall man?  Recently installed by Jean Whitesavage and her partner (and husband) NIck Lyle, the  steel forged wildflowers, wheat and potato are scaled up enough to suit Connell's wide-open landscape..

You might be familiar with Jean's organic-looking metal work from the gates and sculptures at the Adobe campus in Fremont. But with these six new sculptures that refer to Connell's farming heritage and native wildlowers, Jean and Nick have reached new heights. Who besides someone with the sensibilities and talents of Jean could capture the delicate grace of a Shooting Star (Dodecatheon) in a giant metal sculpture??

We have the inspired partnership of the Washington State Art in Public Places Program, along with the City of Connell and the Coyote Ridge Corrections Center, to thank for commissioning "Prairie Flowers, Potatoes, and Wheat". The logistics of how the partners crafted such beautiful monstrosities - the Blazing Star, Fiddleneck, and Shooting Star are 17 feet tall! - in their Whidbey Island studio, then transported and assembled them to the far corner of the state, is mind-boggling. See more images at Whitesavageandlyle.