Garden Topiary Art

Recently I stumbled upon these beautiful topiaries at a garden nursery.

I haven't seen a flower topiary like this before. Makes me want to get out the chicken wire and clippers and tailor myself  a green shrub flower. It would always be in bloom wouldn't it? 

A mailbox topiary. Too cute! I also like the canopy one on the far left.

Grow this up through your patio table and you would never need to take the "umbrella" down for the winter months.

So many ideas and inspiration awaits at most nurseries. Another great reason for evergreen shrubs and trees. Not that I need one. Connecting up with A Southern Daydreamer and her fun group of outdoor enthusiasts and Fishtail Cottage.

White Thanksgiving Dining Room

It happened. I painted my dining room walls white except for one wall. No doubt tomorrow I will wish I had painted it but tonight I still like the two tone effect. It's so bright in there it makes me feel ten years younger. It is going to be a white thanksgiving inside at least. I hung my little aceo size canvas of a pilgrim girl, my version, in a gray dress with a gray cat from the handle. It's simple just add a thumbtack into the back wood and tie string around it and attach other end to the handle.






The patina on the galvanized pails is sparkly. I've noticed that the more white a room is, the less you want on the counters. Just a few objects are perfect. This bucket is filled with thyme. The room smells wonderful.




The tall bucket is filled with a rosemary standard topiary. The back wall looks darker here than it is. It is a light khaki color. This was the original color of the dining room.




I will turn into a minimalist if I keep painting things white. Wouldn't than shock my husband? A ten years younger minimalist. Although I could keep bringing in plants, but I won't. The buffet cabinet will be full in a few days. The herbs will have to be in the turkey stuffing.

Checked out of Hospital

Luckily my Dad got out of the hospital, not moved to a rehab facility, and is home. I gladly committed to being here night and day until he regains strength and can be back to his independent self. He is so happy to be home. Who would want to look out onto a gravel roof all day at the hospital?

When you have to stay in bed for weeks it really zaps your strength and it takes a bit of time to rebound especially when you are older. All of the physical and occupational therapists come here which is wonderful!

Right now I am looking out over the green fields at some Canada geese. When we came home from the hospital nine deer ran across the hillside jumping and kicking. A pleasant reception to be sure.

We are itching to get gardening again! The above photo is from the Green Animals Topiary Gardens in Rhode Island. (My husband checked out lots of beautiful books for my dad to look at.) One book says this is a camel and another says it is an elephant! Maybe it was originally an elephant that they let grow into a camel? It is formed from California privet which grows fast and is fairly cheap unlike yew. So we don't have any excuses for not growing topiary shaped animals.

Chihuahua Valentine Dogs Shabby Folk Art Painting

The chihuahua's have been Mexico's dog of choice for years. Now everyone loves them. History says it's ancestor's have been in Mexico way before Columbus wrote of them after visiting Cuba. Our neighbor recently purchased one for their children. The wind carries it's barks down our way and we try to imagine what he is saying. We know it is happy because we can hear the kids laughing. Sir Salty does not interpret for us except to look at us and smile.

Since Valentine's day is approaching this is what we know he is thinking about...L-O-V-E. This painting is titled, Heart Keeper, and she is taking very good care of his heart (that he gave her). She will not disappoint him and she will cherish him. Can't you tell this by her expression?

The chihuahua topiary form is balancing a heart on his nose. Talent.

For sale on ebay here.

Rabbit Sculpture Gardening and Folk Art Painting

Gardening with rabbits can be fun when you mix the real ones with the topiary bunnies. What fun! Here is Frida Kahlo with her green thumb and her pet bunnies. The sky is the limit in topiary gardening. Your imagination and clippers decide how cute it will be. It helps to start with healthy plants and keep them well fed. Repot once a year and trim back the roots. They like to eat good like the rest of us. I am trying to keep my gardening impulses under control. We gardeners tend to get itchy by the end of January.

For the colors of this painting I went old world with rich yet muted orange, pink, and browns. Basically I just looked at some of my clay pots and used the colors I saw on them.

This original painting is up for sale on ebay.

Valentine's Day Cupid Mexican Folk Art

Gardening is on my mind more and more these days as the seed and plant catalogs are avalanched to our door by the postman. Then Valentine's day has such a romantic pull to it. All you need is love...and a rascal cat. I added a cat mouse toy with little red hearts on it plus the hugs and kisses on Frida's blouse. Topiary heart plants and love. And they are evergreen which means love lasts through all seasons. No one can miss all of the symbols of love I reckon. Fun ones at that.

But better yet Frida is Cupid and with the help of her black cat she is going to plant lots of seeds of love in everyone's hearts. I think the colors show that Frida is very serious about being Cupid. Link to Painting.

Diego Rivera Frida Kahlo Green Living Portrait Painting

Frida and Diego in top topiary form in my new painting. Topiary sculpture is an art because your medium keeps changing and growing every which way.

There is lots of symbolism in this one, too. First do you see the heart shape that is between Frida and Diego? Do you see how they share an arm? That they are growing into each other and are a part of each other? I left Diego's legs bare so that it would be obvious that this was a plant and that his legs were the stalks. The background color is terracotta meaning we are all growing and learning on this planet like we are all in this big planter together.

Frida has put a flower in her Topiary Frida hair. The kitties keep the birds from stealing the flower. Birds like pretty things in their nests, too.

There is a group called the daily painters. To be a part of their group you have to put up a painting every day on your blog and tell about it...say something intelligent why, how or where the painting arrived. I have decided to accept the challenge (that might not be intelligent during the rush of the holidays) and here goes day one. So, if all goes as planned you should be able to stop by my blog everyday to see a new painting...maybe something intelligent, too.

This one is up for you on ebay.