I am almost done with the holiday and winter work. Sometimes some of the best comes at the last. These pots could not be simpler-sticks and lights.
Dark Days
Light is such a powerful element in the landscape- critical to the well being of plants and people alike. The story of how light from the sun reaches the earth is astonishing. But more importantly, light is life giving, and life sustaining. There would be no garden without it. No wonder that at that time of year that the light is so low in the sky, and shy to show itself at best, the garden sleeps. Would I choose to hibernate if I could? No. I like the daily schedule-the dawning of a new day, the close of the old. My garden has no need of a daily dose of vitamin D. It sleeps.
I am awake by 5:30 am, and still awake at 9:30 pm. This means I am spending a lot of time in the dark. The light retreats early this time of year. At five past five, the landscape is largely dark. On a good day, the sky is still streaked with the remains of the light of the day at 5pm. The light sleepily emerges, after 7:30 am. Lighting the winter landscape is naturally on my mind.
No artificially generated light could possibly replace the light that comes from the sun. A sunny spring, summer, fall, or that rare sunny winter day-enchanting. Those seasons, days, and times when there is little in the way of light, gardeners have options. Votive candles glowing in the winter season-not so much a representation of the light from the sky, but a special kind of light with its own warmth and charm.
The landscape can be beautifully, and differently, lit in the winter. I took this picture at the shop very early in the morning. The holiday incandescent lighting is very different than the light on the fountain-courtesy of a photocell light on the building. Different kinds of light in concert makes the night view more interesting.
The loss of the summer sun-there is nothing to be done for it. This means that any effort to light the night will cheer the lot of us. The work of lighting the winter night can be as simple as a lighted pot at the porch or a garland hung in a tree. It can be as festive and inviting as what you see here. I hope next year to convince them to light the underhand of the tower. This would wash the second story with a little light.
The bright lights here come via one of Rob’s light rings, and the lights in greens in the window boxes. The light washing the walls is too strong-I think the fixture needs to be further away from the wall, or the wattage in the fixture turned down. Some light needs to be soft, and some light should be strong. Thoughtful visual punctuation, and rhythm is important to successfully lighting a winter landscape.
Winter light is entertaining at a time when not so much outside entertains. Once the snow comes, the light will be all the more interesting, given that stormy relationship. Winter lighting is anything but uniform. It is directed. This creates opportunityfor a lot of visual drama. Stand outside in the dark, and imagine how and where some light would delight you.
The materials for lighting your night are readily available. Extending a warm welcome has never been easier to achieve.
Posted on: December 12, 2012 3 Comments
More On Winter
This past week was devoted to getting a lot of clients ready for the holidays and the winter to come. Every client’s take on the season is different. How I love that. Every project we do involves different materials, different emphasis, different style, different execution.
There are those landscapes that are very spare-they ask for seasonal company in the same vein. There are those who love sparkles, and those who want anything but.
The architecture makes its own demand. Ignore that, and your winter container arrangements will look jarringly out of place. These containers look in keeping with an idea that was established by the architecture.
There are those who delight in the light. I will confess I am one of them. The daytime look here-sumptuous. The night time look-electric.
This client has small children. The mudroom door-this is their front door. A dog, and a few pots dressed for the season-appropriate to the occasion.
We had occasion to obtain a number of French made baskets with leather handles. Not that you could spot those handles here, but they finish this basket in a very beautiful way. I am sure the original intent never involved a winter container arrangement.
How beautiful and comfortable they look at this front door. Though the arrangement is simple and subdued, the overall shapes are generous and clear.
This 19th century white painted wirework planter is a garden ornament/container that organizes this entire garden. For the winter, an arrangement that is just as serious as the planter. I am particularly pleased about how this looks-and will look-all winter.
These mossed topiary sculptures in French pots add a graceful note to this massive stone fireplace. They will be a welcome and personal note-all winter long.
The shape and size of a container, and the location of those containers, provides plenty of clues about how to shape and size an arrangement.
This client has beautiful terra cotta pots that sit on this porch during the summer months. In the winter, we fill fiber pots with twigs and greens. Very simple and uncomplicated, yes. What would be complicated would be the idea of living with this massive porch all winter long-bare.
Michigan winter weather adds its own touch to every winter container arrangement. This is why we construct them to withstand whatever nature has to dish out. We might get a dusting of snow. We might be buried in it.
Eucalyptus is a plant whose stems and leaves are amenable to absorbing color, and preservative. I would not want to do without this material over my winter. A winter container stuffed full of eucalyptus-not too dressy or dramatic. Just warm.
Another material not native to my zone-southern magnolia. I buy the branches by the caseload. The glossy leaves hold up over my winter beautifully. The leaves dry the most gorgeous shade of pale platinum green you could imagine. The cinnamon brown felted backs of the leaves-this color is persistent. Winter long. The color and shape of the willow-a great companion.
The relationship of the color of dried limelight hydrangea flowers to the willow and magnolia-pleasing.
Whitewashed eucalyptus is a material of choice for those clients that swear by white. Interested in pairing materials? Noble fir has that blue white cast that makes it a natural companion for whitewashed eucalyptus.
That very same eucalyptus is a gorgeous companion for the containers we make at Branch. Steely blue.
Any container that sits empty over the winter bothers me. I like the idea that no matter the season, the spirit of the garden goes on. I know my trees, shrubs and perennials are sleeping. Fine. It is about to be winter. But if I have anything to say about it, I fill the pots. To overflowing. Welcome, winter.
Posted on: December 9, 2012 2 Comments
At A Glance: Other Holidays
2003
2004
2005
2005
2006
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
Posted on: November 25, 2012 2 Comments