Showing posts with label Hardscaping. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hardscaping. Show all posts

September 28, 2013

Giant pyramid garden and freemasonry...

Long, long time ago, in the eighteen century she discovered a mysterious link between the pyramids in English landscape gardens and the secret Freemasonry society...

Pyramids or similar to pyramid-like forms in the early English landscape design in gardens like Cirencester, Castle Howard, Stowe, Rousham, Studley Royal, Castle Hill, appeared at very early stage, long before the later eighteenth century archaeological explorations of ancient civilizations, thus is sometimes understood as an expression of freemasonry ideals of the garden's owners.

She found out there is an interesting link between the landscape garden in England 1710 and 1730 and the period of the European Enlightenment and diffusion of Freemasonry in England and Europe. 

In this period many landowners and intellectuals were freemasons. Also many famous figures like Alexander Pope, Arbuthnot, Edward Harley, the Earl of Chesterfield, James Addison, Richard Steele, Jonathan Swift, James Thomson, Lord Burlington, Lord Cobham, William Stuckley, Lord Montague, Voltaire and Montesquieu. 

She also discovered that as Freemasonry develops in this period of time a focus for intellectuals, politicians, the gentry, artists and architects, as natural result there was an exchange of beliefs, aesthetic values and ideas between English and European intellectuals. Those intellectuals who had links with freemasonry secret society or were part of it, were also strongly linked with the development of the arts, including landscape architecture. 
Don't you think it would be interesting to research the connections between Freemasonry and the early English landscape garden?

Below photos were taken during Floriade garden show 2012. This interesting and pretty construction that adds interest to the flat surface of the garden, clearly revokes pyramids. Does it have any other meaning?
What do you think?






August 2, 2013

Pretty, stylish DIY wood stick fence


Is it better than panels? Depends on what you like. Maybe you think that natural wood stick fence is more suitable for rustic gardens, but I think it looks great in different kind of gardens. The photos I am sharing were taken at Floriade, World Horticultural Expo last year in Netherlands. Simple wood stick fencing used in different places looked stylish, simple and natural. Combines well with rusted steel elements.  







It maybe sounds odd, but I remember in 2008 I’ve spotted similar kind of fence in one of Warsaw’s districts (Rembertow) – posted here. Not everyone needs to like it. This stick fence is a history. I was there last month and it’s gone, replaced with mesh metal wire fencing.

August 1, 2013

Do you like this cute affordable DIY fencing?



This idea is cute and simple to do-it-yourself with minimum technical skills. The genius human brain is able to come up sometimes with the best yet simple ideas.

Do you like it? 



July 30, 2013

Rusted steel design

We all divide in two groups: one accepts only shiny stuff in the garden and at home – if you are one of them, today’s post is definitely not for you, so may skip it this time and go on to the next page. The second group loves old stuff at home and in the garden, covered with patina and rust - if you are part of this group, welcome here today.


More and more at different garden shows that I am attending, I can see this trend getting popular. Rusted steel finish as different parts of designs. Rust is nice finish for garden art, garden sculptures and more.


Steel will rust anyway all by itself with the time if it’s exposed to little moisture, but there are methods to do really fast. Just google “how to rusted steel” and you will get the instructions. I am talking about really fast rusting methods – like in amazing just one hour. 
From what I know, there are available commercial patina solutions for rusted steel, but you can do it cheaper buying needed ingredients in the store. I found very useful instruction here. 

On the photos you can see that color of planting is complementing the rusted color. It looks pleasing, on the other hand little boring and static. But that’s easy to fix – you exchange some heucheras with neighbors or friends and it’s done, right?


Do you like rusted steel in the garden?

April 18, 2010

15 ideas of DIY pea trellis

How to build trellises for peas - do you also have such question? I will be constructing pea trellis this week from materials having at hand. I searched for inspiration and this is the collection of ideas to share. Click the picture to enlarge if you want to have closer look at mounting details. If you want to see more pictures of chosen idea click the name of the author which you find under every photo. Enjoy!


Picture by greengardenvienna

Picture by greengardenvienna

 
Picture by meganpru

Picture by sleepyneko

Picture by ksuyin

Picture by pdbreen

Picture by Dharmuti

Picture by Kratzy

Picture by unertlkm

Picture by Elle-Epp

This idea of growin peas in hanging basket is very interesting - I admit. I will try it apart from main veggie bed, where my Capucijner heirloom peas will grow.

Picture by mberry

Picture by FAF

Picture by UrbanCombing

Picture by VeritiCridland

Picture by navvywavvy

I wonder which idea you adapt for your garden?
If you have an idea that was not featured in the post - share it!

Pisum sativum

I would love to recommend you further reading The Vegetable Gardener's Bible (yes, this is an affiliate link, if you like my content, why not to click my affliate links? it would be nice "thank you for your work").  

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If you would like to improve your garden to a beautiful paradise, let me help you to design it. We can work online. Contact me at ewamariasz [at] gmail [dot] com.

Happy Gardening!

Xoxo,
Ewa

December 19, 2009

Winter gardens worth to bother?

Winter gardens can truly cheer us up when everything around is dull or even covered white with snow.
If you are still reluctant whether winter gardens are worth to bother, have a look at the pictures below and let me know what you think.

Do you remember great garden tour we had at the sloping garden?



Pictures of this airy light and beautiful winter garden were taken in December when everything was already dull and brown, short before snow appeared. By the way do you know that snow is like sex?




































October 17, 2009

13 Beautiful Examples of Wine Grape Growing

One of the main mistakes in wine grape growing is poor planning of arbor or other support. See this selection of of hand picked marvellous examples of grape arbors and get inspired.
If you plant grapes in the garden today, even your grand grand grand grand grand children can still enjoy it and remember you as the founder of family little vineyard.
The oldest grape with an age of over 400 years is still growing grapes. It is registered in the Guinness Book of Records as the oldest vine in the world and symbolises wine culture of Maribor, Štajerska and Slovenia.

Grape arbors are beautiful - they don't have to look sad.




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