The Art of Seeing

I have been looking for inspiration. I need to learn how to use light as well as water for a project set in Arizona. I need look no further than Luis Barragan. He is one of the foremost architects of Mexico and a winner of the Pritzker Prize for Architecture in 1980.

His work has been called minimalist, but is nonetheless full of colour and texture. Pure planes of stucco, adobe, timber and water, compose the elements, which interact with the surrounding environment.

Barragan called himself a landscape architect. "I believe that architects should design gardens to be used as much as the house that they build, to develop a sense of beauty and taste and an inclination toward the fine arts and other spiritual values. Any work of architecture which does not express serenity is a mistake."

He is noted for remarking on the importance of religion and myth, beauty, silence, solitude, joy, death and gardens.

Luis Barragan 1902-1988

Mirror, mirror . . .

Mirror, mirror in the garden, who's the fairest camellia of all?

Stripey or

Patchy?

Rose Red, or

Snow White?

Or a simple pink blossom.

I love them all the same.

Myrtle x

The Fabulous Mr Fox

This fox stands guard outside Glendurgan Gardens, in Mawnan Smith, home to the famous Fox family of Falmouth. The gardens have been given to the National Trust, but the house still remains with the family.

This is just one of the views down to the Helford River.

Pretty, pink Nerines. These photos were taken before Christmas.

Strawberry Tree, Arbutus unedo.

Cornish Agaves

The Laurel Maze

Hope you can find your way out.

Love from Cornwall,

Myrtle x x x

It's All Happening

I know of few better antidotes to humdrumness than getting outside, getting a lung full of fresh air and finding an early crocus, poking itself out of the ground.

Witch Hazel, Hamamelis, elegant, but scantily clad for the catwalk.

Christmas Box, Sarcococca, fragrant blooms in winter, shiny berries in early Spring. A useful addition to every garden.

Christmas Rose, Hellebore. Such delicate beauty defies description.

Acacia Pravissima.

This Acacia is intensely yellow, robust in its weeping habit and incredibly, unbelievably and almost obscenely, fragrant. Wish we could do smelly blogs.

Happy Springing.

Myrtle x x x

Cutting Edge

Well, okay.

Cut flowers are not exactly cutting edge.

But it is fun to have fresh flowers inside that reflect what is going on outside. This magnolia is glorious, but, unfortunately, only for about a week. The wind and rain usually knock the petals off as soon as they begin to open. But, I love these magnolias that bloom early, before their leaves appear.

Chrysanthemums - left over from Valentine's Day.

Glorious hellebores.

And again.

A camellia from the back garden.

Flowers in Jugs by Emma Dunbar.

Spring has sprung.

Hurray!!

Holy Hellebore!!

I love Cornwall in the spring. It is magical, beautiful and reminds me why I have stayed here for such a long time.

Here are a few of the Hellebores that I have been given by friends or bought from the Hellebore centre of the Universe - Bosvigo House in Truro (www.bosvigo.com).


Hope you love them as much as I do.

Yes, that's me. I seem to be missing a finger. I am certain that I put it somewhere safe.

Mrytle. x x x

Missing You Madly

We have been away. So many things to do. But we are back. And I am back, behind the lens.

I won't make excuses. Please let me offer up a few images of our recent trip to Arizona.

I am studying desert plants, desert environments, in fact, all things dealing with the desert.

Quite a contrast to Cornwall.

All comments are, as always, welcome.

Teddy Bear Cholla Opuntia bigelovii

Aloe

Saguaro Carnegiea gigantea

This is pronounced suh -WAR- oh by the locals.

Agave

Arizona was beautiful - we had a lovely time.

Tristan is a living doll.

Myrtle x x x